Unit 5: Crisis and Change

Lesson E: Economic Depression and Political Collapse

Activity 4: Impacts and Choices around the World

The interdependent global economy that had been built following World War I splintered as governments across the globe sought to protect their respective countries from the effects of the Great Depression.

International cooperation was largely abandoned as governments pursued moves of economic nationalism to increase revenues and lower unemployment rates. The most common courses of action included:

• abandoning the gold standard,
• devaluing currencies to make exports cheaper in foreign markets, and
• charging tariffs on goods imported from other countries to attempt to protect domestic industries.

Interventionism became almost standard as governments attempted to regulate the economy to protect their national interests.

Directions: Use the blank to world map to summarize the actions taken in response to the Great Depression on different continents. Select the play button when you are ready to begin.

Download the Student Resource: Blank World Map (pdf).