Appeasement is the policy of making concessions in order to avoid a conflict. In the 1930’s it
became the dominant French and British international policy toward Germany and other aggressive
nations. The League of Nations had been created to peacefully resolve international disputes.
However, without the United States as a member or any military force, it was ineffective at
preventing belligerent nations from violating agreements.
When Italy invaded Ethiopia and Japan invaded Manchuria and China, the League could no nothing
but impose economic sanctions. Adolf Hitler realized that democracies sought to avoid a
confrontation and continued to test their limits. First, he remilitarized the Rhineland then turned his
sights on a region of German speakers in Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland.
In September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler in Munich to
discuss his demands. The Sudetenland held most of Czechoslovakia’s border defences, heavy
industries, and banks. Without consulting Czech authorities, however, Chamberlain pledged to give
Germany all the areas with a German population of more than 50%. France was persuaded to agree.
Hitler then demanded all the Sudetenland and Britain and France agreed to his demands.
Chamberlain returned to Great Britain claiming he had secured “peace for our time.”
Appeasement was not without its critics, however. Winston Churchill
believed in a firm stand against Nazi Germany. When Germany seized
the remainder of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, it was clear that
appeasement had failed. Chamberlain resigned and Churchill became
the new Prime Minister of Great Britain.
---------------------------------------
“When I think of those four terrible years and I think of the
7 million young men who were killed, the 13 million who
were maimed and mutilated… I have said before, and
what I say now to all the world – in war, whichever
side may call itself the
victor, there are
no winners,
but all are
losers. It is
those thoughts
which have made me feel that it was my prime duty to
strain every nerve to avoid a repetition of the Great
War in Europe.”
― Neville Chamberlain
--------------------------------------“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping
it will eat him last.”
― Winston S. Churchill
Name___________________________________________
Directions: After reading about appeasement, answer the following questions.
1. What is the best definition for “belligerent” as it is used in the 1st paragraph?
a. Weak
b. Hostile
c. Peaceful
d. Isolationist
2. What made the League of Nations ineffective?
3. What was Neville Chamberlain’s justification for his policy of appeasement?
4. Based on the Munich Agreement and resulting events, what adjective most likely describes Hitler’s
view of Chamberlain?
a. Intimidating
b. Wise
c. Gullible
d. Bold
5. Do you think Churchill’s quote accurately describes the relationship between Hitler and
Chamberlain? Explain why or why not.
6. Think of a time you made a concession in order to avoid a conflict. Explain what the conflict was
and why you gave in. How would the outcome be different if you had not given in?
Name ____ Answer Key/Teacher’s Guide _________
Directions: After reading about appeasement, answer the following questions.
1. What is the best definition for “belligerent” as it is used in the 1st paragraph?
a. Weak
b. Hostile
c. Peaceful
d. Isolationist
2. What made the League of Nations ineffective?
The League of Nations was ineffective because the United States never joined (thinking it
would drag the country into more conflicts), which reduced its prestige and also because it
had no armed forced. It had no way to stand up to a country or enforce peace. It could only
suggest economic sanctions or other “slaps on the wrist.”
3. What was Neville Chamberlain’s justification for his policy of appeasement?
Neville Chamberlain’s justification was the terrible death and destruction of World War 1.
The Great War resulted in so many millions of deaths for so little that he believed he had to
avoid another war at any cost.
4. Based on the Munich Agreement and resulting events, what adjective most likely describes Hitler’s
view of Chamberlain?
a. Intimidating
b. Wise
c. Gullible
d. Bold
5. Do you think Churchill’s quote accurately describes the relationship between Hitler and
Chamberlain? Explain why or why not.
Open to student opinion provided they support their answer and show an understanding of
the results from the Munich Agreement.
6. Think of a time you made a concession in order to avoid a conflict. Explain what the conflict was
and why you gave in. How would the outcome be different if you had not given in?
Open to many possible student answers. This always results in a great discussion for my
classes. Students might complain that they can’t think of anything at first, but I insist that
there’s always a time that everyone has appeased someone else, even if it is something
small. We talk about how sometimes it can be a positive thing and other times when it
turns bad and will create a chart on the board based on student responses. Always an
awesome lesson and discussion!
© Students of History - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Students-Of-History