Unit 8 Flashcards
What new technologies made WWI different from any other previous war?
Machine guns, barbed wire, submarines, airplanes, poison gas and tanks
What new type of warfare made WWI so unique?
Trench warfare
How was nationalism apart of the sparking of WWI?
Because many Slavs were under the control of the Austria-Hungarian Empire, they ended up revolting, causing Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, which made Russia (who promised to defend Serbia if war every broke out) declare war on Austria-Hungary, and many other countries joined in
Triple Alliance nations
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Triple Entente nations
Great Britain, France, and Russia
Causes of the Russian Revolution
Economic hardships, incomplete industrialization, food shortages, and government corruption
Bolshevik Revolution
Led by Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik (or official communist party) seized power and destroyed czarist rule, replacing it with a “socialist republic”
What did Lenin do the improve economic performance in Russia?
He compromised communist principles and employed some free-market principles under the New Economic Policy
Who technically “won” WWI?
The Triple Entente
Who did everyone blame for WWI at the Treaty of Versailles?
Germany
The League of Nations
Established by US President Woodrow Wilson; created to prevent future wars by ensuring everyone who participated in the League would go to war on a country who first went to war on one of the League countries (Country A go to war on Country B, who’s in League of Nations; all League countries go to war on Country A)
Why was the League of Nations unsuccessful?
There was no participation from many great powers, including the US, whose president created the League of Nations!
Explain the situation of all the nations at the Treaty of Versailles dumping all the costs of the war reparations on Germany
Germany, who could not pay the reparations for their own country, let alone all the others, dived into a deep hyperinflation and their economic system was basically ruined from all the financial stress
What was the Great Depression caused by?
Weaknesses in international trade and monetary theories and practices, debt from WWI, and the American stock market crash in 1929
How did the stock market crash of 1929 in America affect countries in Europe?
Because America was in trouble financially, they cut off capital flows to Europe, affecting trade levels
Fascism
Extreme authoritarian and nationalist beliefs that result in the belief of a superior race (sort of like Social Darwinism, but with nationalist roots)
How did fascism take root post-WWI in Germany?
With heavy propaganda, German authorities made the already angry citizens of Germany direct their anger towards the rest of Europe, particularly Jews, blaming them for the terrible economic state
Five Year Plan
Stalin’s economic policy that called for rapid economic and industrial modernization, which came at a high price, including population exhaustion, purges of political rivals, devastating famine in Ukraine, and the creation of an oppressive political system
Interwar
A time period between wars (in this case, the period between WWI and WWII)
Axis powers
Japan, Italy, Germany
Allied powers
America, Britain, Russia
What allowed fascist Germany to rearm and expand their territory?
Although it was against the policies stated in the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was able to do this because France and Britain were so desperate to not have another war that they let Germany get away with everything until it was too late and they were completely prepared for another war
What did fascist Germany do that broke the rules of the Treaty of Versailles?
The re-militarization of Rhineland (the west edge of Germany)
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
The 10-year non-aggression pact between Russia and Germany, which was unsurprisingly broken by Germany in 1941, only two years after the pact was signed. The Nazis attacked the Soviet Union without warning in Operation Barbarossa
Blitzkrieg
AKA “Lightning war”, this war tactic uses combined arms to surprise attack an opponent in a rapid, overwhelming force
What made the Axis powers successful?
German’s Blitzkrieg warfare and Japan’s attacks in Asia and the Pacific
What made the Allied powers successful?
Industrial, scientific, and technological power, strong leadership under US President Winston Churchill, and all-out military commitment of the USSR
What made WWII unique?
It was the first major war using nuclear weapons
How did anti-Semitism play out in Europe during the Holocaust period?
Nazi Germany (with the cooperation of other Axis powers) was fueled by racism, homophobia, and anti-Semitism as they sought to establish a “new racial order” in Europe. Over 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust via death camps like Auschwitz and other forms of mass murder
Who did Nazis target?
Jews, disabled people, homosexuals, and others
How were the World Wars considered a turning point for women?
They became increasingly involved in military and political mobilization, and continued the movement for women’s suffrage
