OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
The changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation…
Full specification wording
International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: The impact of the worldwide economic depression.
This topic asks you to explain how the worldwide economic depression of the early 1930s changed international relations in the 1918–1939 period.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic asks you to explain how the worldwide economic depression of the early 1930s changed international relations in the 1918–1939 period. The depression began with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in the USA and spread as American loans were recalled and world trade shrank. Learn the chain of consequences: mass unemployment and falling production pushed governments towards protectionism, which deepened the slump; desperate populations turned to extreme political movements; and states such as Japan and Italy pursued aggressive expansion to secure resources and prestige. Link this to the weakening of the League of Nations, because member states focused on national recovery rather than collective security. A strong answer traces cause and effect rather than listing facts, and keeps every example inside the 1918–1939 window.
What earns the marks
- Explains that the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in the USA triggered a worldwide slump as loans were recalled and demand collapsed.
- Links mass unemployment and falling trade to the rise of protectionism, which deepened and spread the depression.
- Connects economic hardship to the growth of extreme political movements and to aggressive expansion by states such as Japan and Italy.
- Explains that the depression weakened the League of Nations because member states prioritised national recovery over collective security.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treats the depression as a purely American event.
Put it right: Explain instead how it spread through recalled loans and shrinking world trade.
Lists consequences without linking cause to effect.
Put it right: Show instead the chain from crash to unemployment to political extremism.
Places the depression outside the 1918–1939 period.
Put it right: Keep every example inside that window.
Exam tips
- Read the question stem carefully to identify whether it asks for a cause, a consequence or a link between the two.
- Eliminate options that describe events outside the 1918–1939 period before choosing.
- Check that your chosen option explains impact rather than merely naming an event.
Try the lesson
The start of the International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: The impact of the worldwide economic depression. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What happened to levels of international trade during the early 1930s depression?
Listen
This topic asks you to explain how the worldwide economic depression of the early 1930s changed international relations in the 1918–1939 period. The depression began with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in the USA and spread as American loans were recalled and world trade shrank. Learn the chain of consequences: mass unemployment and falling production pushed governments towards protectionism, which deepened the slump; desperate populations turned to extreme political movements; and states such as Japan and Italy pursued aggressive expansion to secure resources and prestige. Link this to the weakening of the League of Nations, because member states focused on national recovery rather than collective security. A strong answer traces cause and effect rather than listing facts, and keeps every example inside the 1918–1939 window. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains that the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in the USA triggered a worldwide slump as loans were recalled and demand collapsed. Links mass unemployment and falling trade to the rise of protectionism, which deepened and spread the depression. Connects economic hardship to the growth of extreme political movements and to aggressive expansion by states such as Japan and Italy. Explains that the depression weakened the League of Nations because member states prioritised national recovery over collective security. Exam tip: Read the question stem carefully to identify whether it asks for a cause, a consequence or a link between the two.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Economic cause and consequence
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The Wall Street Crash and its global spread
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Political extremism and aggressive expansion
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Weakening of the League of Nations
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Economic cause and consequence
- Tracing how the depression began with the Wall Street Crash and spread as American loans were recalled and world trade shrank, rather than listing facts.
- The Wall Street Crash and its global spread
- The depression began with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in the USA and spread as American loans were recalled and world trade shrank.
- Political extremism and aggressive expansion
- Desperate populations turned to extreme political movements, and states such as Japan and Italy pursued aggressive expansion to secure resources and prestige.
- Weakening of the League of Nations
- Member states focused on national recovery rather than collective security, so the depression weakened the League of Nations.
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