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Quizzes > History > Wars & Historic Events

Great Depression & WWII Quiz: Prove Your World History Expertise

Ready to tackle this World History Quiz? Test your Great Depression trivia and WWII quiz knowledge today!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Great Depression and WWII quiz banner on golden yellow background.

History buffs and curious minds, unite! Dive into our Great Depression and World War II quiz to challenge your knowledge of major 20th century events. This World History Quiz blends Great Depression trivia with tough World War II quiz questions, offering the ultimate 20th century history quiz experience. Start with our Great Depression quiz to explore economic upheaval, then prove your mettle in our World War II quiz. Along the way, you'll uncover fascinating facts, test your memory, and see how well you know these defining moments. Join the online history trivia fun and start now! Are you ready to ace history? Let's get started! Test your skills, beat the clock, and share your score with friends for extra bragging rights.

In what year did the U.S. stock market crash, marking the beginning of the Great Depression?
1932
1921
1925
1929
The U.S. stock market crash occurred in October 1929, often called Black Tuesday, wiping out billions in market value and eroding consumer confidence. This crash is widely regarded as the event that triggered the Great Depression. It led to bank failures, unemployment, and a steep decline in industrial output across the nation. Wikipedia
Which President introduced the New Deal?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Herbert Hoover
Calvin Coolidge
Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the New Deal in 1933 to address the economic crisis of the Great Depression through a series of programs, reforms, and regulations. His administration established agencies like the WPA and CCC to provide relief and recovery. The New Deal aimed to stabilize the economy and alleviate widespread unemployment. Wikipedia
What was the name of the severe dust storms that devastated the Great Plains during the 1930s?
Black Blizzard
Sand Storm
Dust Bowl
Great Storm
The Dust Bowl refers to a series of severe dust storms in the 1930s that damaged the ecology and agriculture of the U.S. and Canadian prairies. Poor farming practices and prolonged drought exacerbated topsoil erosion. This environmental disaster forced many families to migrate west in search of work and safety. Wikipedia
Which act passed in 1935 established the Social Security system?
Social Security Act
National Housing Act
Glass-Steagall Act
Wagner Act
The Social Security Act of 1935 created a federal insurance program based on the automatic collection of taxes from employees and employers to fund retirement benefits. It also included provisions for unemployment insurance and aid to families with dependent children. This Act remains the foundation of retirement and welfare programs in the U.S. Wikipedia
Which country did Germany invade first, triggering WWII in Europe?
Czechoslovakia
France
Belgium
Poland
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, using blitzkrieg tactics that overwhelmed Polish forces. This unprovoked attack led Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the official start of World War II in Europe. The invasion also led to the division of Polish territory between Germany and the Soviet Union. Wikipedia
What event prompted the United States to enter World War II?
Battle of Midway
Attack on Pearl Harbor
D-Day Invasion
Fall of France
Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, led to the United States declaring war on Japan the following day. This event galvanized American public opinion and ended prior neutrality, bringing the U.S. fully into the global conflict. Subsequently, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. in support of Japan. Wikipedia
Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for most of World War II?
Neville Chamberlain
Clement Attlee
Winston Churchill
Stanley Baldwin
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940 and led Britain through the critical years of World War II. His speeches and radio broadcasts bolstered British morale during the Blitz and other crises. He remained PM until 1945, overseeing the war effort and liaising closely with FDR and Stalin. Wikipedia
The alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan was known as what?
Tripartite Pact
Central Powers
Axis Powers
Allied Powers
The term "Axis Powers" refers to the alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan, formalized by treaties starting in 1936. They coordinated military strategies and signed the Tripartite Pact in 1940 to solidify their partnership. The Allies opposed them during World War II. Wikipedia
Which U.S. government program provided jobs through public works projects during the Great Depression?
Works Progress Administration
National Recovery Administration
Federal Reserve Bank
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Works Progress Administration (WPA), created in 1935, employed millions of Americans in public works projects like roads, bridges, schools, and arts programs. It was one of the largest New Deal agencies designed to reduce unemployment. The CCC focused on conservation, while the NRA regulated industry codes. Wikipedia
What was the primary goal of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930?
Decrease tariffs to promote trade
Regulate stock market speculation
Provide relief to unemployed workers
Increase U.S. import duties to protect domestic industries
The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act raised U.S. import tariffs to historically high levels, aiming to protect domestic farmers and manufacturers. Instead, it triggered retaliatory tariffs by other countries and worsened the global economic downturn. Many historians view it as exacerbating the Great Depression. Wikipedia
Who was the leader of Germany during World War II?
Otto von Bismarck
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Adolf Hitler
Erwin Rommel
Adolf Hitler was the Führer of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945, directing its aggressive expansion and genocidal policies. He led Germany into World War II with invasions of Poland and other countries. Rommel was a field marshal, not the national leader. Wikipedia
In what year was the Lend-Lease Act passed, allowing the U.S. to supply military aid to Allies?
1942
1939
1941
1940
The Lend-Lease Act was signed into law in March 1941, enabling the U.S. to send weapons, ships, and other aid to Allied nations without immediate payment. It marked a key step away from neutrality before America's entry into direct combat. This support was crucial for Britain and the Soviet Union. Wikipedia
What was the codename for the U.S. project that developed the first atomic bombs?
Manhattan Project
Operation Torch
Project Trinity
Operation Overlord
The Manhattan Project was a top-secret research and development program during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. It involved sites across the U.S., including Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Hanford. The project culminated in the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Wikipedia
The Battle of Midway is considered a turning point in the Pacific Theater because?
The U.S. navy destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers
The Soviet Union joined the Pacific War
The Allies launched their first atomic bomb
Japan captured Midway Island
In June 1942, U.S. forces ambushed and sank four Japanese fleet carriers at Midway Atoll, severely weakening Japan's naval strength. This victory shifted the balance of power in the Pacific, allowing the Allies to take the initiative. It halted Japanese expansion and began a series of Allied offensives. Wikipedia
What was the main topic of discussion at the Yalta Conference in February 1945?
The creation of the League of Nations
Plans for the Korean War
The attack on Pearl Harbor
Post-war division of Germany and Europe
The Yalta Conference brought together Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin to plan the final defeat of Germany and the post-war order in Europe. They agreed on dividing Germany into occupation zones and the creation of the United Nations. The conference also discussed Soviet entry into the war against Japan. Wikipedia
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created under the New Deal to?
Provide public works jobs to unemployed Americans
Regulate Wall Street practices
Organize farmers' crop production
Insure bank deposits
The WPA, established in 1935, aimed to reduce unemployment by funding public works projects such as roads, buildings, and arts programs. It employed over 8 million people at its peak. The WPA boosted infrastructure and cultural life during the Depression. Wikipedia
The Neutrality Acts of the 1930s were primarily designed to?
Encourage weapons exports
Prevent U.S. involvement in foreign wars
Establish the United Nations
Promote immigration
The Neutrality Acts passed between 1935 and 1937 were intended to keep the United States out of international conflicts by banning arms sales, loans, and transport of goods to belligerent nations. These laws reflected isolationist sentiment after World War I. They were later modified as global tensions grew. Wikipedia
Who led the Soviet Union during World War II?
Nikita Khrushchev
Vladimir Lenin
Leon Trotsky
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party and leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. He led the USSR through its crucial wartime alliance with the Allies. Stalin's government bore the brunt of the Eastern Front fighting against Nazi Germany. Wikipedia
The Munich Agreement of 1938 permitted which of the following actions?
Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia
The Soviet Union to control Poland
Italy to invade Ethiopia
Japan to occupy Manchuria
The Munich Agreement, signed by Germany, Britain, France, and Italy in September 1938, allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in hopes of pacifying him. This policy of appeasement failed, as Germany continued its aggression. Czechoslovakia was neither invited nor represented at the conference. Wikipedia
Which U.S. government agency created in 1933 insured individual bank deposits?
Federal Reserve System
Office of Price Administration
Securities and Exchange Commission
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was established in 1933 to restore public confidence in the banking system by insuring deposits up to a set limit. It helped stop bank runs by guaranteeing customer funds. The FDIC remains central to U.S. banking stability. Wikipedia
The Wagner Act of 1935, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, aimed to?
Protect workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively
Regulate the production of munitions
Set minimum wages nationwide
Ban child labor
The Wagner Act guaranteed the right of employees to organize into labor unions and to engage in collective bargaining with employers. It established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce these rights. The Act significantly strengthened labor's position in the U.S. economy. Wikipedia
The Marshall Plan, enacted in 1948, was designed to do what?
Establish the United Nations
Provide economic aid to rebuild European economies after WWII
Fund the Manhattan Project
Create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
The Marshall Plan, officially the European Recovery Program, provided over $12 billion (about $130 billion in today's dollars) to help rebuild Western European economies after the devastation of World War II. It aimed to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing these countries. The plan is credited with revitalizing European industry. Wikipedia
What was the objective of Operation Barbarossa, launched in June 1941?
Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union
The D-Day landings in Normandy
Allied invasion of Italy
Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
Operation Barbarossa was Nazi Germany's code name for its invasion of the Soviet Union, which began on June 22, 1941. It opened the Eastern Front, the largest theater of WWII by casualties. The German advance initially succeeded but ultimately stalled at Moscow and Leningrad. Wikipedia
Who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States?
Herbert Hoover
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Harry S. Truman
Vice President Harry S. Truman became President upon FDR's death on April 12, 1945. Truman then authorized the use of the atomic bomb against Japan and oversaw the end of World War II. His presidency also saw the start of the Cold War. Wikipedia
What was the purpose of Executive Order 9066, signed in 1942?
Implement the New Deal Banking Act
Authorize the internment of Japanese Americans
Establish the Civilian Conservation Corps
Enforce Prohibition
Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt in February 1942, authorized the removal and internment of over 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast. The order was justified at the time by national security concerns but is now viewed as a grave injustice. Internment camps were located inland at remote sites. Wikipedia
The Revenue Act of 1935, part of the Second New Deal, is also known by what nickname?
Glass-Steagall Act
Volstead Act
Wealth Tax Act
Smoot-Hawley Act
The Revenue Act of 1935 imposed higher income tax rates on wealthy individuals and corporations, earning it the nickname Wealth Tax Act. It aimed to redistribute income more evenly and fund New Deal programs. Critics dubbed it the "Soak the Rich" tax. Wikipedia
The Battle of Stalingrad lasted from August 1942 to which month in 1943?
February
May
December
April
The Battle of Stalingrad raged from August 23, 1942, to February 2, 1943. It ended with the encirclement and surrender of the German 6th Army. This Soviet victory marked a major turning point on the Eastern Front. Wikipedia
How did the Neutrality Act of 1939 differ from earlier Neutrality Acts?
It created the Lend-Lease program
It allowed "cash and carry" sales of arms to belligerents
It banned all trade with foreign nations
It mandated U.S. military conscription
The 1939 Neutrality Act permitted belligerent nations to purchase arms from the U.S. if they paid cash and transported the goods themselves. This "cash and carry" provision aimed to aid allies without drawing America into conflict. It represented a shift from stricter earlier acts that banned arms exports entirely. Wikipedia
Which conference resulted in the division of Germany into four occupation zones?
Potsdam Conference
Tehran Conference
Casablanca Conference
Yalta Conference
The Potsdam Conference, held from July to August 1945, involved Truman, Churchill (and later Attlee), and Stalin. They agreed on the occupation and administration of defeated Germany in four zones controlled by the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. Potsdam also addressed post-war order and peace treaties. Wikipedia
The Selective Service Act of 1940 introduced which system?
First peacetime draft in U.S. history
Nationalized railway lines
New income tax brackets
Rationing of food supplies
The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 established the first peacetime conscription in U.S. history, requiring men aged 21 - 35 to register for the draft. It aimed to boost military readiness as global conflicts intensified. Over 10 million men served during WWII under this law. Wikipedia
The Agricultural Adjustment Act aimed to achieve which goal?
Promote industrial exports
Encourage urbanization
Reduce crop surplus to raise agricultural prices
Expand farmland into the Great Plains
The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 paid farmers to reduce crop area and livestock production to cut surpluses and increase market prices. It was a key component of the New Deal's efforts to stabilize farm incomes. The program proved controversial but did help raise commodity prices. Wikipedia
Which event is often credited with ending the Great Depression in the United States?
Passage of the Social Security Act
U.S. entry into World War II
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Stock market crash of 1937
The massive buildup of U.S. industrial and military production for World War II drastically reduced unemployment and revived the economy. War mobilization created jobs in factories, shipyards, and the armed forces. By 1942, GDP and employment had returned to pre-Depression levels. Wikipedia
The codebreaking operation at Bletchley Park primarily targeted which German encryption device?
Enigma machine
Lorenz cipher
SIGABA
Purple cipher
Bletchley Park codebreakers, including Alan Turing, focused on decrypting messages encoded by the German Enigma machine. Their efforts significantly aided Allied intelligence by revealing U-boat positions and strategic plans. The work shortened the war and saved countless lives. Wikipedia
What was the code name for the planned Allied invasion of Japan that was canceled after Japan's surrender?
Operation Downfall
Operation Market Garden
Operation Torch
Operation Overlord
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for a two-part invasion of Japan scheduled for late 1945 and early 1946. It was canceled when Japan surrendered following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The plan would have been the largest amphibious operation in history. Wikipedia
The Morgenthau Plan proposed which policy for postwar Germany?
Annexation of large German territories
Deindustrialization to eliminate its war-making capacity
Establishment of a German monarchy
Alliances with the Soviet Union
The Morgenthau Plan, drafted by Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr., called for Germany to become primarily an agricultural and pastoral country by breaking up its industrial base. It aimed to prevent future military aggression but was criticized for its severity. The plan was never fully implemented. Wikipedia
Which 1937 Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of minimum wage laws and marked the end of the Lochner era?
Wickard v. Filburn
West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
United States v. Butler
West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish upheld a Washington state minimum wage law in 1937, signaling a shift away from the Supreme Court's previous laissez-faire stance known as the Lochner era. The decision validated government regulation of private business for public welfare. It strengthened the New Deal's legal foundation. Wikipedia
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze the Great Depression's Causes and Effects -

    Examine the economic, social, and political factors that triggered the Great Depression and assess its global impact on societies.

  2. Recall Key World War II Events -

    Identify major battles, diplomatic milestones, and turning points that shaped the course and outcome of World War II.

  3. Differentiate New Deal and Recovery Policies -

    Compare and contrast the New Deal initiatives in the United States with other international economic recovery efforts of the 1930s.

  4. Assess WWII Leadership Strategies -

    Evaluate strategic decisions made by political and military leaders during World War II and their long-term consequences.

  5. Connect 20th Century Lessons to Today -

    Apply insights from the Great Depression and World War II to understand current economic challenges and geopolitical dynamics.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Economic catalysts of the Great Depression -

    If you're preparing for a Great Depression and World War II quiz, start with the 1929 stock market crash, bank runs, and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. The Dow Jones lost nearly 90% of its value by 1932, illustrating how speculative bubbles can devastate economies. Use the mnemonic "CBS" (Crash, Bank failures, Smoot-Hawley) to lock in these triggers.

  2. New Deal landmark programs -

    The New Deal introduced major relief, recovery, and reform efforts like the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), WPA (Works Progress Administration), and the 1935 Social Security Act. Together, they provided jobs, infrastructure improvements, and a safety net for millions of Americans. Try the "3Rs" mnemonic - Relief, Recovery, Reform - to recall the New Deal's three pillars.

  3. Rise of totalitarian powers -

    Between 1922 and 1941, Italy's Mussolini, Germany's Hitler, and the USSR's Stalin consolidated power through propaganda, secret police, and five-year plans. The "MIS" mnemonic (Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin) helps you remember the main dictators who shaped the road to WWII. This period underscores how political instability can lead to global conflict.

  4. Key military turning points in WWII -

    The Battle of Midway (June 1942), Stalingrad (February 1943), and D-Day (June 1944) shifted momentum in the Pacific and European theaters. Remember the sequence "Midway-'42, Stalingrad-'43, D-Day-'44" to anchor these decisive clashes. Each victory halted Axis advances and boosted Allied morale significantly.

  5. Post-war international institutions -

    Between 1944 and 1948, the Bretton Woods conference created the IMF and World Bank, the United Nations was founded, and the Marshall Plan funded European recovery. Use the "BUN" mnemonic (Bretton Woods, UN, Marshall Plan) to recall these milestones. These institutions established the rules for post-war diplomacy and economic collaboration.

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