How to Revise Conflict and tension: the inter-war years, 1918–1939 — AQA GCSE History
Conflict and tension: the inter-war years, 1918–1939 is a topic in the AQA GCSE History specification. This guide covers learning objectives, examiner tips, common mistakes, and key terminology to help you revise effectively.
Examiner Tips for Conflict and tension: the inter-war years, 1918–1939
- Use specific evidence to support arguments about why the League failed.
- When discussing the outbreak of war, ensure you link events chronologically to show the escalation of tension.
- Practice evaluating the 'convincing' nature of interpretations by using your own contextual knowledge.
- Be prepared to write a narrative account of key events, ensuring a clear focus on cause and consequence.
- Use the terminology of the period (e.g., Diktat, Weltpolitik, Appeasement) accurately.
Common Mistakes in Conflict and tension: the inter-war years, 1918–1939
- Confusing the terms of the Treaty of Versailles with other peace treaties.
- Over-simplifying the reasons for the League of Nations' failure without referencing the impact of the Depression.
- Failing to distinguish between the different motives of the 'Big Three' at Versailles.
- Neglecting the role of the USSR and the Nazi-Soviet Pact in the final stages of the outbreak of war.
- Treating appeasement only as a mistake without understanding the contemporary arguments for it.
Key Marking Points
- Aims of the peacemakers at the Paris Peace Conference (Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George).
- Terms and impact of the Versailles Settlement (Diktat, territorial changes, military restrictions, war guilt, reparations).
- Formation, structure, and membership of the League of Nations.
- Successes and failures of the League in the 1920s (e.g., Aaland Islands, Upper Silesia, Vilna, Corfu, Bulgaria).
- Impact of the Great Depression on international relations.
- Manchurian and Abyssinian crises and their consequences for the League.