Explain how appeasement contributed to the march of aggression leading to World War II.

Appeasement led to more aggression prior to
the start of World War II. This policy had the opposite effect of what it was intended to do.
Appeasement means to give into demands now in return for a future promise. The key part of
appeasement is that the country or the person gets what is being requested without having to
work to earn it. All that has to be done is to make a promise to do something after getting what
is being requested.

In 1938, when Hitler wanted the Sudetenland, he promised
the Allies this would be his last request for land if they would grant this request. The Allies
trusted Hitler, believing he would keep his word. However, Hitler didnt have to do anything to
earn what he wanted. All he had to say was he wouldnt ask for more land. There was no
stipulation of what would happen if he broke this promise.

Considering
Hitlers previous actions in Europe in the mid-1930s, the Allies shouldnt have been surprised
when Hitler broke his promise and took the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939. After all, Hitler had
been aggressive in the past, and very little was done about that. In his mind, he planned to
stay aggressive regardless of any promises he had made. Appeasement often fails because a person
doesnt have to work to earn what he/she wants to get. After Hitler broke his promise, the Allies
said any more aggression would lead to war. When Poland was invaded in September 1939, World War
II began.