Chapter Topics

Question 1

Tangle of Alliances before the war – why?

Answer 1

In the 20th century, crises in the Balkans between 1906-1913 caused trouble. Events left European states angry at each other and eager for revenge. By 1914, the major European states cam to believe that their allies were important and were willing to use war to preserve their power and the power of their allies.

Question 2

How did the Assassination of Francis Ferdinand start the war? Why/how did the countries declare war on each
other?

Answer 2

Serbian terrorist assassinated Ferdinand giving Austria-Hungary a reason to attack Serbia. Fearing Russia, Austria-Hungary allied with Germany. Germans used Schlieffen Plan and declared war with France, invading Belgium (neutral nation). Being allies with France, Britain declared war on Germany.

Question 3

What was trench warfare? Describe how it contributed to the stalemate on the western front.

Answer 3

Trench warfare, fighting from ditches protected by barbed wire, turned into a stalemate as neither the Germans nor the French could dislodge each other from the trenches they had dug for shelter.

Question 4

How did the war become a global conflict? Describe the involvement and goals of Japan and the Ottoman Empire, and Europe’s overseas colonies.

Answer 4

Because of the stalemate on the Western Front, both side sought for new allies to provide a winning advantage. The Ottoman Empire became part of the Central Powers. While Japan was a British ally and joined the Allied Powers to seize islands in the Pacific Germany had hold on.

Question 5

MAIN causes of WW1

Answer 5

Militarism: the aggressive preparation for war made the influence of military leaders greater
Alliances: the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente
Imperialism: competition for lands abroad
Nationalism: minorities dream of becoming a national state

Question 6

Women’s role in the war effort; Concept of total war (also know this for WWII)

Answer 6

A total war is a war that involved the complete mobilization of resources and people, affecting the lives of all citizens in the warring countries, even those remote from the battlefield. Because do many men left to fight at the front, women were asked to take over jobs that were not available to the before.

Question 7

Why did the US enter the war?

Answer 7

At first, the United States tried to remain neutral but due to the naval war between Germany and Great Britain the United States was forced to join. When German forces sank the British ship (Lusitania),the United States joined the Allied Powers.

Question 8

Treaty of Versailles: how was Germany “punished”? Why was the treaty a source of dissatisfaction for the
Central powers?

Answer 8

Germany was ordered to pay reparations, there was military and territorial provisions (100,000 men in army, cut back navy, and eliminated air force), land the Germans had taken from France was returned, and land along the Rhine River was demilitarized. Peace treaties made with Central Powers redrew the map of Europe.

Question 9

Compare and contrast fascism and communism

Answer 9

They are both totalitarian states of government and they put the group over the individual. Fascism puts the state above the individual by emphasizing central government led by a dictator, but communism is group ownership of property and wealth

Question 10

Mussolini’s and Hitler’s rise to power: why? how?

Answer 10

Mussolini wanted a Fascist state of government and he converted many people to the Fascist Party with his nationalist ideals. Hitler wanted to develop a totalitarian state and the Aryan racial state that would dominate Europe and even the world. Hitler promised a new Germany that appealed to nationalism and militarism.

Question 11

Decline of the Ottoman Empire

Answer 11

After losing most of it’s European territory the Empire was slowly declining. After WW1 the Ottoman Empire allied with Germany, annoying the British, so the British aided the Arab nationalist activists (helped them gain independence). But after the Armenian massacre the Ottoman finally fell apart

Question 12

Modernization of Turkey- who? How? Why?

Answer 12

Kermal (Atatürk) created an elected government and a new Republic of Turkey. He tried to transform Turkey into a modern state by putting in place a democratic system. Many Arabic elements were eliminated form the Turkish language and popular education was introduced. He tried to modernize the economy and farming. Wanted a secular state so he enforced western ideals.

Question 13

Modernization of Iran – how? Differences between Turkey and Iran

Answer 13

The discovery of oil attracted foreign interest. The foreign presence led to the rise of a native Persian nationalist movement. Pahlavi gained control and followed the example of Turkey to introduce reforms to strengthen and modernize the government, military, and economic system. Didn’t try to destroy power of Islamic belief but set up western-style education and forbade women to wear the veil in public.

Question 14

Palestine and the Balfour Declaration – how did Zionism and Jewish migration affect the region?

Answer 14

In Palestine, the nationalism of Jews and Arabs came into conflict because both groups viewed the area as a potential national state. The zionist movement had advocated that Palestine should be established as a jewish state. Due to this and anti-Semitism in Europe more Jews migrated to Palestine. To win Jewish support for the allies, the British set up the Balfour Declaration which drew even more Jews to Palestine. This caused violence between the Jewish and Muslim inhabitants.

Question 15

Africa: concept of pan-Africanism

Answer 15

Marcus Gravey, stressed the need for unity of all black Africans regardless of national boundaries, in order to gain civil rights in other nations.

Question 16

India: Gandhi’s efforts, INC’s efforts, religious differences

Answer 16

Gandhi used the methods of civil disobedience to push for Indian independence. To protest against British laws, Gandhi told people to not pay taxes and send their kids to English-supported schools. He led a protest called the Salt March. The INC (Indian National Congress) sought reforms in Britain’s government of India. Under it’s new ruler Motilal Nehru, the INC wanted to push for independence from Britain.

Question 17

Militarist Japan – expansions, rise of militarism

Answer 17

Due to the lack of new resources, Japan was forced to find raw materials abroad. During the early 1900s Japan moved toward a more democratic government causing parliament and political parties to grow stronger. One group of middle-level army officers invaded Manchuria without government approval, gaining support from the Japanese people. The government was soon dominated by the military and society was put on wartime status. Economic resources were placed under strict government control. All political parties were merged into the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, which called for Japanese expansion abroad.

Question 18

China: nationalists v. communists

Answer 18

The nationalist and communist formed an alliance to oppose the warlords and drive the imperialist powers out of China. The new head of the nationalist party, Chiang Kai-shek, struck against the Communists in Shanghai, killing thousands and the Nationalist-Communist alliance ceased to exist. Although Chiang saw Japan as a threat, he believed the communists were more dangerous. After years of hiding the Communist party, lead by Mao, broke through the nationalist lines and began the famous march known as the Long March.

Question 19

The New China: traditions + innovation

Answer 19

In Chiang Kai-shek’s attempt to build a modern industrial state, he tried to bring together modern Western innovations with traditional Confucian values of hard work and obedience. With his US-educated wife, Soong Mei-ling, they set up the “New Life Movement.” Unfortunately there were many problems that created difficulty for Chiang.

Question 20

New Life Movement

Answer 20

Its goal was to promote traditional Confucian social ethics, such as integrity, propriety, and righteousness. Four ancient views would serve as guides for living: Li(courtesy), I(duty), Lien(honesty), and Chih(honor). At the same time, it rejected what was viewed as the excessive individualism and material greed of Western capitalist values.

Question 21

German aggression without war; Western policy of appeasement – reasons why they gave in to Hitler

Answer 21

Hitler believed Germany was capable of building a great civilization if they had a bigger population. So violating the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler assembled troops and sent them to the demilitarized Rhineland. To maintain stability and peace, an appeasement was put in place. The Western states reacted to the Nazi threat when Hitler’s aggression made it clear that his promises were worthless.

Question 22

Munich conference

Answer 22

Hitler’s new objective of the destruction of Czechoslovakia led to the conference in Munich. British, French, German, and Italian representatives did not object to Hitler’s plans but instead reached an agreement that met most of Hitler’s demands. German troops were allowed to occupy the Sudetenland leaving the Czechs abandoned my their allies and hopeless.

Question 23

Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression pact

Answer 23

Hitler believed that the West would not fight over Poland, but he feared the West and the Soviet Union might make an alliance resulting in a two-front war for Germany. To avoid this, Hitler made his own agreement with Stalin. The two nations signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact which promised that they would not attack each other. Hitler had to offer Stalin control over Eastern Poland and the Baltic states, but it didn’t matter because Hitler was going to attack them anyway.