Chapter 12 Flashcards
What caused WWI?
WWI was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist. This event triggered a chain reaction among European powers due to a complex system of alliances. The deeper causes included militarism (the build-up of large, powerful armies and the belief in military solutions to conflicts), alliances (countries pledging to defend one another, creating a domino effect), imperialism (competition over colonies and global influence), and nationalism (intense loyalty to one’s nation or ethnic group, which fueled rivalries and desires for independence). These factors created a tense environment, making war almost inevitable once conflict began.
What is Total War?
Complete mobilization of a nation’s resources and people for war, blurring lines between military and civilian targets.
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
1919 peace treaty ending WWI, imposing harsh reparations on Germany, redrawing borders, and sowing resentment that contributed to WWII.
Why was WWI a global conflict?
WWI was truly global due to colonial troops, global economies, and battles fought across multiple continents.
Alliances and Major Powers:
The Allied Powers included Britain, France, Russia, and Serbia, later joined by Italy, Japan, the United States, and other nations.
The Central Powers were led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, with Bulgaria joining later.
Colonial Involvement: European empires drew soldiers from their colonies, making it a global fight. For example:
Britain recruited troops from India, Canada, Australia, and Africa.
France enlisted soldiers from its African colonies, like Algeria and Senegal.
The Ottoman Empire called on Muslim populations across its territories to fight.
Global Battlefronts: Fighting extended far beyond Europe:
In Africa, British, French, and Belgian forces clashed with German colonial troops in places like modern-day Tanzania and Namibia.
In the Middle East, Britain supported Arab revolts against the Ottoman Empire, while battles raged over strategic locations like the Suez Canal.
In Asia, Japan entered the war on the side of the Allies and attacked German-held territories in China and the Pacific islands.
In the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, naval battles disrupted trade routes, and German U-boats targeted Allied shipping, bringing the war to the seas.
Economic and Political Impact: Global economies became entangled in the war effort. Colonies provided raw materials, food, and labor, while distant nations like the U.S. supplied weapons and loans before eventually joining the fight in 1917.
Why was WWI unprecedented?
The scale of destruction, new technology like tanks and poison gas, and involvement of entire societies made WWI unique.
What was the Russian Revolution?
The 1917 revolution that overthrew the Russian monarchy, leading to Bolshevik control and the creation of the Soviet Union.
Who was Lenin?
Leader of the Bolsheviks who established a communist government in Russia after the 1917 revolution.
Who was Stalin?
Soviet leader after Lenin, known for authoritarian rule, collectivization of agriculture, and purges (gulag camps).
What was collectivization of agriculture?
Soviet policy of consolidating peasant farms into state-controlled enterprises, causing famine (5 million deaths) and resistance.
What was the Great Depression?
A global economic crisis starting in 1929, by stock market crash, worsening conditions that fueled extremist political movements.
What is Fascism?
Authoritarian ideology rejecting democracy, promoting nationalism, and emphasizing the power of the state and superiority of race.
Who was Mussolini?
Italian fascist leader who rose to power in 1922, creating the first fascist regime.
What was the Nazi Party?
German political party led by Hitler, advocating for Aryan supremacy (German race), nationalism, and anti-Semitism.
Who was Hitler?
Leader of Nazi Germany from 1933-1945, responsible for WWII and the Holocaust.
What was the Revolutionary Right in Japan?
Japanese ultra-nationalist movement that rejected democracy and embraced military expansion.
What triggered WWII in Asia?
Japan’s expansion in Asia, starting with the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and escalating into full-scale war in 1937.
What triggered WWII in Europe?
WWII in Europe began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, followed by the Soviet Union’s invasion from the east on September 17, 1939, as part of the secret protocol in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. These invasions led Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the official start of the war.
What events led up to the invasion of Poland?
Before invading Poland in 1939, Nazi Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss (1938) and took the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia after the Munich Agreement. These actions, driven by Hitler’s expansionist aims, were met with appeasement from Britain and France, encouraging further aggression.
What was the Holocaust?
Systematic genocide of six million Jews and five millions others by Nazi Germany.
Why was WWII unprecedented?
The scale of death, total war tactics, civilian targeting, and use of nuclear weapons made WWII unique.
How did WWII transform global politics?
WWII led to the rise of the U.S. and Soviet Union as superpowers, decolonization, and the creation of the United Nations.
What happened to Eastern Europe after WWII?
Soviet-imposed communist regimes after WWII created a political divide and the Cold War.
Who was Ho Chi Minh?
Vietnamese communist revolutionary who led the fight against French colonial rule and later the U.S. in Vietnam.
Who was Mao Zedong?
Leader of the Chinese Communist Party, establishing communist rule in China in 1949.
What was the Guomindang?
Chinese nationalist party that fought both Japanese invaders and Mao’s communists (they lost and China became communistic)
What were the similar causes of WWI and WWII?
Nationalism, militarism, imperial competition, and authoritarian regimes.
What was WWI legacy?
WWI ended empires and redrew borders but left unresolved tensions. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles fueled resentment, especially in Germany, while economic instability and unresolved nationalist conflicts set the stage for future turmoil.
What was WWII legacy?
WWII ended fascism but deepened ideological divisions, leading to the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It also sparked movements for decolonization and reshaped global politics, creating a new world order centered around two superpowers.
