History II / The Road to the Second World War
Practice question · Put in order

Arrange the steps by which each unpunished action lowered the cost of the next.

Hints
  1. The sequence runs from a condemnation to an agreement.
  2. The last step is the one where the powers formally consented rather than merely failing to act.
Show the answer
  1. Japan takes Manchuria and the League condemns without acting
  2. Italy invades Ethiopia and sanctions exclude oil
  3. Germany remilitarises the Rhineland and France does not respond
  4. Austria is annexed without opposition
  5. The Sudetenland is transferred by agreement at Munich
Why

The final step is qualitatively different and that is the point. Manchuria, Ethiopia and the Rhineland were met with inaction; Munich was met with signature. Moving from failing to prevent something to agreeing to it is a change in kind, and it is the change that made the guarantee to Poland necessary six months later.

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