1. What caused the Great Depression? What factors made it particularly harsh? How did the federal government deal with it? How did it end? Compare and contrast with a recession before World War I.
2. Discuss the effects of totalitarianism in the early 20th century. How did totalitarian movements arise? How did they thrive? What destructive effects did they have? How did they fall or remain in power? How did some Americans grapple with the origin of ideas that would lead to totalitarianism, and with the results that it had produced? Use specific examples in your answer. Also, compare and contrast this with the development of a militaristic movement in the 19th century