Identify two reasons that explain why Britain and France thought that the policy of appeasement was the best solution as a reaction to Hitler's demands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement

The reasons were different for each country.

To identify two reasons why Britain and France thought that appeasement was the best solution as a reaction to Hitler's demands, we should first understand what the policy of appeasement entailed. Appeasement was a foreign policy strategy adopted by Britain and France in the 1930s, specifically towards Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, which involved giving in to Hitler's demands in the hope of avoiding war. Now, let's explore two reasons why appeasement was considered the best solution at the time:

1. Fear of another devastating war: Following the horrific experiences of World War I, Britain and France were traumatized by the immense destruction and loss of life. They were determined to avoid a repeat of such a catastrophic conflict. By appeasing Hitler, they believed they could avoid or delay the outbreak of war. The policy of appeasement aimed to buy time and reduce tensions, hoping that through negotiations, Hitler's aggression and territorial ambitions could be contained or satisfied without resorting to war.

2. Internal weaknesses and unpreparedness: During the 1930s, both Britain and France were dealing with internal challenges that made them reluctant to engage in an immediate military confrontation with Hitler. Britain was experiencing political and economic instability, with a desire to focus on domestic issues such as unemployment and social unrest. France, on the other hand, had political divisions and a lack of strategic military preparations. Both nations were ill-prepared for a potentially long and costly war against a powerful Germany. By following a policy of appeasement, they could buy time to rearm and strengthen their own defenses, hoping to achieve a more favorable position in case of an eventual conflict.

It is worth noting that while appeasement was seen by some as a pragmatic approach to prevent war, it ultimately proved ineffective. Hitler's ambitions were not satisfied, and the policy of appeasement only emboldened him, leading eventually to the outbreak of World War II.