Appeasement and Pacifism Notes

Appeasement: The Munich Pact

Definition of Appeasement
- A policy aimed at maintaining peace by making concessions to an aggressor.
Historical Context
- Munich Conference (1938)
- A pivotal moment where European leaders attempted to prevent war through appeasement.
- Key Figure Quotes
- Neville Chamberlain: "Peace in our time.”
Key Players Present
- Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister)
- Adolf Hitler (Chancellor of Germany)
- Édouard Daladier (Prime Minister of France)
Decisions Made
- Germany permitted to keep Austria (Anschluss).
- Germany allowed to annex parts of Czechoslovakia.
- Agreement to stop further aggressive expansion (not successfully adhered to).

Word of the Day
- Definition: Opposition to all forms of war.
Public Sentiment Against War
- Slogans used by the America First Committee:
- "Save Our Sons"
- "No Convoys"
- "War means death for American boys."

Formation of Opinions
- Many individuals vocalize opinions without full understanding.
Characteristics of True Opinions
- An opinion is formed after examining evidence, not simply echoing hearsay.
Essay Structure Similarity
- Present a thesis statement supported by factual evidence.

Group Division
- Students will work in groups, analyzing both primary and secondary sources.
Role Play
- Students to act as reporters in 1938 analyzing Chamberlain's appeasement.
Thesis Development
- Formulate a thesis statement with three supporting arguments.
- Importance of original wording and comprehensiveness in evidence presentation.

Format
- Students can question opposing arguments while remaining civil.
Objective
- Aim to persuade classmates that your viewpoint is the most valid.

BBC News Format
- Each group will present their argument as if in a news report.

Canvas Poll
- Participate in an anonymous poll regarding views on appeasement:
- Reflect on today’s debates to vote on whether appeasement was the right choice for England at that time.