Old Exam #2--Do not use Flashcards
How many lives were lost in WWI?
8.5-9 million
Who were the two sides in WWI?
Central Powers vs. Allies
Which countries were in the Central Powers?
Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey
Which countries were part of the Allies?
Main countries at the beginning of the war were UK, Russia, France. As the war went on others were added including: Belgium, Italy, Greece, Albania, Serbia, Romania, Japan, Montenegro, Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, eventually the US
What was the Triple Entente?
It was a treaty signed by UK, France, and Russia. They promised to help protect each other if they became involved in a conflict. (worried about Germany)
What was the Triple Alliance?
A treaty signed by Germany, Austria, and Italy before the war. They promised to assist each other–but Italy changed sides after WWI started.
What were the 4 underlying causes of WWI?
- Nationalism 2 Imperialism 3. Disputed Territories 4. Massive Military Buildup
How is an underlying cause of WWI linked to the Industrial Revolution?
New technology allowed countries to produce new weapons in mass quantities which contributed to the massive military buildup
What territories did Russia want?
Russia had its eye on Constantinople and the Balkans–wanted access to the Mediterranean and then the ocean. Needed warm water ports.
What event was the immediate cause of WWI?
June 28, 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia. (He was heir to the throne in Austria-Hungary.)
Why did Dr. McNutt say Europe was a “tinderbox”?
All the factors leading to war were there, like the dry twigs needed to make a fire, just waiting for a spark that would set off the war.
Why did Serbia believe Russia would side with them in a conflict?
The Russians and Serbians shared a Slavic heritage–similar language and culture.
What region in the Austro-Hungarian empire was the center of controversy?
Bosnia (capital=Sarajevo)
Why did Serbia think Bosnia should be independent from the Austro-Hungarian empire?
Bosnian language and culture was Slavic and they should not be ruled by non-slavs.
What was the Black Hand?
A small militant group that participated in bombings, etc. in the Austro-Hungarian empire. They were seen as freedom fighters by the Slavs but terrorist by the empire.
What happened in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914?
Archduke Ferdinand (heir to Austro Hungarian throne) was assassinated while making a state visit.
Who assassinated Archduke Ferdinand and how did it happen?
Princip–member of Black Hand. Archduke’s carriage had been bombed so it changed its route, coming into contact with Princip by accident.
How did the Austro-Hungarian empire react to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand?
They demanded Serbia make reparations (payments). They were so high, it was certain Serbia could not pay.
Who promised to help Austria-Hungary after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand?
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany.
Why were other countries ready to help each side in the conflict over the assassination of Ferdinand?
The countries of Europe wanted war to settle old grievances and get territory they wanted so they were ready to get involved.
What happened in July 1914 after the assassination of Ferdinand?
Negotiations were held to discuss the problems after the assassination of Ferdinand but no one tried to actually mediate the disputes and prevent war from breaking out. Nothing was settled.
What happened July 28, 1914 after negotiations broke down?
Austria declared war on Serbia. (Because of the assassination.)
What happened July 29, 1914 after Austria declared war on Serbia?
Russia mobilized troops. (Because they promised to help Serbia.)
What happened August 1, 1914 after Russia came to the aid of Serbia?
Germany declared war on Russia. (Because they promised to help Austria.)
What happened August 3, 1914 after Germany declared war on Russia?
Germany declared war on France. (They hoped to settle old grievances.)
What neutral country caused England to enter the war and why?
Belgium–England warned Germany to not try to invade France through Belgian territory. Germany demanded Belgium let them pass through and did it anyway when Belgium refused.
Why did the European countries want colonies?
Partly due to the Industrial Revolution–wanted cheap labor and raw materials to produce goods plus markets for manufactured products Nationalism–competed with other European countries Also believed they would bring civilization and Christianity to the backward countries.
Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?
Germany did not anticipate resistance from Belgium, which slowed them down and gave France more time to mobilize their forces.
How was the role of civilians different in WWI?
It was one of the first wars where civilians were specifically targeted.
Early in the war, what caused people in the US to see Germany as the aggressor country?
German atrocities committed in Belgium
How was the German advance into France stopped?
1st Battle of the Marne September 1914
What happened at the Battle of Ypres?
Britain stopped the advance of the Germans in the North –October 1914.
What happened at Tannenberg in August 1914?
Germany beat back the Russian advance on the Eastern front.
What kind of warfare was most of WWI?
Trench warfare along the Western front with attacks and counterattacks where very little territory was gained.
What kinds of new weaponry were used in WWI?
Tanks, airplanes, machine guns, poison gases, grenades….
Why was the Battle of Gallipoli fought?
Winston Churchill wanted to take control of the Dardanelles, a narrow passage connecting the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea, from the Ottoman Empire. This would allow supplies to flow to Russia.
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
Germany had come up with a plan to win a 2-front war. They would put more resources in the west at first and quickly win there. Then they would put all their resources on the eastern front.
Why did Germany start attacking ships with their U-boats?
The British had set up a blockade so that supplies could not reach Germany and Austria through their ports.
Why did a German u-boat sink the Lusitania in 1915?
Germany knew that the Lusitania was carry arms and ammunition to England even though it was supposed to be a civilian ship.
What is the mystery that has surrounded the sinking of the Lusitania?
The Lusitania sank very quickly after a second explosion hit the ship. Researchers have been trying to figure out what caused the second explosion.
What effect did the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 have on America?
Since there were American civilians on board, the country was angry. However, the US still did not enter the war.
Who was President of the US during WWI?
Woodrow Wilson
After the sinking of the Lusitania, how did Germany treat merchant ships?
For about a year they stopped attacking merchant vessels unless they tried to flee or resist. However, in 1917 they started attacking Allied ships again.
When did the US enter WWI?
April 1917
When did Russia withdraw from the war and why?
1917 due to the Russian Revolution
What happened on the Western Front in March 1918?
2nd Battle of the Marne–the Germans were trying to make a big push on the front before the Americans arrived in Europe. They were defeated.
What happened in November 1918?
Armistice ended the war
What document ended the war?
Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919
Why did the Treaty of Versailles sew the seeds of the next war?
France wanted Germany to be punished. The treaty charged Germany large reparation payments and tried to disarm the country. The treaty caused a lot of resentment in Germany.
What problems did Russians face on the homefront that led to unhappiness?
Food production was down due to millions of men serving in the military. Food and other essentials were not in the cities.
What were a few of the problems with the rule of Czar Nicholas?
- He was an ineffective leader and there was too much corruption at court. 2. People did not like the influence the priest Rasputin had on the royal family.
What happened to Rasputin in December 1916?
He was assassinated.
What happened in Russia in March of 1918?
March 8=general strike by workers March 15=Czar Nicholas abdicated.
Who was Alexander Kerensky?
He led the provisional government in Russia after czar Nicholas abdicated.
Who led the Marxist party in Russia?
Vladimir Lenin
How was the Marxist party organized under Lenin?
Lenin insisted that the party must become a secret group of professional revolutionaries who would obey without question the orders of its elected leaders.
Who were the Bolsheviks?
They were the majority wing of the Communist Party who followed Lenin. (The word Bolshevik means majority even though the Bolsheviks voted to select a few leaders who would make all the decisions for the party. )
How did Lenin come to be the leader of Communist Russia?
In the Summer of 1917 he returned to Russia from exile. His Bolshevik Party led the October Revolution.
In November 1917 (the October Revolution) he officially came to power in St. Petersburg.
What was Lenin’s key slogan?
Bread, Land, Peace
What was the Treaty of Brest Litovsk?
Lenin made peace with Germany in the Spring of 1918.
What happened to the czar and his family?
They were executed in July 1918.
What was the theme of Lenin’s rule?
Dictatorship of the Proletariat/worker (this means the workers will be in control)
What did Lenin mean by Democratic Centralism?
This was his way of running the Communist Party. Discussion on issues was allowed but once a decision was made, all disagreements would end and all would follow what the party had decided.
What were two main characteristics of Lenin’s rule?
- Attack on religion 2. Increased power for the state
What were some key developments during the beginning of Lenin’s rule?
- All other parties were suppressed-not allowed. 2. He had to move from revolution to governing 3. He had to move from de-stabilizing the old government to stabilizing the new one. 4. He organized the Politburo–a small group of ruling elites
What key event started in 1918 in Russia?
Civil War broke out.
Who were the two sides in the Russian Civil War?
Communist Reds vs Anti-Communist Whites (former officers, Cossacks from Southern Russia, and right wing Nationalists)
Who gave aid to the Whites in the Russian Civil War.
The Allies
When was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics founded?
1922
What does the word Soviet mean?
an elected local, district or national council
The Soviets (councils) were all under the control of what body?
The Politburo–the core elite of the Communist Party
How long did Lenin rule the USSR?
He died in 1924.
Who said “One man with a gun can control 100 without one.”?
Lenin
After Lenin died, who competed to take control.
It was Stalin vs. Trotsky.
Why was Stalin more successful than Trotsky in taking control of the Communist Party?
While Trotsky was a crowd pleaser, Stalin was a better organizer. He understood the bureaucracy of the Communist Party and how to control the members.
What happened to Trotsky?
He was removed from the Politburo.
What was Leninism?
It was a new “religion” Stalin created. He renamed St. Petersburg Leningrad. He kept Lenin’s tomb as a monument. He had pictures and statues put up everywhere.
What does it mean that Stalin was deified?
He was presented as an all-powerful, all knowing leader. His image was seen everywhere.
How did Stalin seek to rebuild Russia’s economy?
He had a series of 5 year plans.
What happened when Stalin tried to collectivize the farms in the USSR?
Stalin wanted the well off peasants to give up their ownership of their farms and turn them all into larger state run farms. To do this, Stalin sent armies to surround the farms. Villages were machine-gunned.
What were Stalin’s purges?
In the 1930’s Stalin tried to eliminate anyone who disagreed with him or who might threaten his power. He killed the Army leadership and a total of 35, 000 men. Many other citizens were killed or sent to labor camps.
Did Stalin bring any improvements to society?
Health care improved but remained behind the times
Education was given over entirely to the state
Church was persecuted
Culture was state–many artists fled
What was President Wilson’s reaction to the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915?
Wilson continued to maintain U.S. neutrality but warned Germany that any future sinkings would be viewed by America as “deliberately unfriendly.”
What event finally convinced the US to join WWI?
The Zimmerman Telegram
What was the Zimmerman Telegram?
It was a secret diplomatic communication between Germany and Mexico, promising to return territory Mexico lost to the US if Mexico would be an ally of Germany.
Why did the German people feel betrayed at the end of the war?
The German generals controlled the information German citizens received. They led everyone to believe the war was going well until the very end.
How did the end of WWI lead to the rise of Hitler.
The German people felt betrayed by the loss of the war. They felt betrayed and looked for someone to blame. This will lead to the rise of anti-Semitism.
Why was Rasputin such a controversial figure in Russia?
He was the face of corruption in the royal court. He was supposedly a priest and he was a con man who was influential in the royal household because he seemed to be able to cure the prince’s hemophilia (blood disease). People did not think he should have so much power.
How was Lenin’s view of revolution different from Marx?
Marx believed revolution was going to happen inevitably as history unfolds. Lenin believed it would take guns for a revolution to happen.
What was Lenin’s “government within a government”?
Lenin came out of exile with a well organized party set up. He had loyal followers, policies, and an economic plan all ready to go.
What did Lenin mean when he says “the soldiers voted with their feet”.
The soldiers deserted the battlefields to participate in the Revolution.
Why did Lenin give away valuable land to Germany with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Lenin believed Germany would join Russia in the revolution and then borders wouldn’t matter.
Who became the leader of Italy in 1922?
Mussolini
What was Mussolini’s “nickname”?
Il Duce (the chief)
What did Mussolini do before becoming a dictator?
He was a newspaperman.
What was Mussolini’s political party called?
Fascists
What was Centralized Capitalism?
Mussolini allowed business to be independent but state would intervene if necessary
How did Mussolini treat the Catholic Church?
He made them the only religion in Italy through the Lateran Treaty and allowed Vatican City to be independent?
Under Mussolini, children were taught to…..
believe, obey, fight!
Did Mussolini allow a lot of freedom?
He suppressed other political parties and practiced censorship.
