World Studies

• Main causes of WWI


  • Militarism
  • Nationalism
  • Imperialism
  • Alliances
• Militarism


  • The glorification of the military, helped to feed the arms race
  • Massive military buildup in Euro countries
  • Britain & Germany = fierce naval rivalry
  • Painted war in romantic colors
• Alliances


  • Triple Alliance (Central Powers) - Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
  • Triple Entente (Allies) - Britain, France, Russia
• Imperialism


  The domination by one country of the political, economic, or social life of another
• Imperialism


  • Strong armies, boosted economies, strong nation-states
  • Rubber, coal, petroleum, new land and customers
  • Countries need bases for vessels, Europeans were superior (domination), spread religion
  • Forms of imperialism - direct rule, indirect rule, protectorate, sphere of influence
• Nationalism


  Loyalty is not to a king but to a nation
• Germany and Italy individually unified and Germany is proud of their industrial leadership and military
• Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand

  • Heir to Austria-Hungary throne
  • Black Hand (terrorists) viewed Austrians as oppressors to Serbia (killed him and his wife)
  • Alliance system was triggered, Austria declared war on Serbia 1914 after it disagreed to some ultimatums, Germany declares war on Russia & France, Germany invades Belgium and Britain declares war on Germany, and it spiraled
• Where nationalism is most likely to develop

  • History
  • Language
  • Territory
  • Nationality
  • Religion
  • Culture
• Imperial domination of weaker species was nature's way of improving human species
• Total War


  • Channeling of a nation's entire resources into a war effort (conscription was the draft)
  • Rationing of food and products, and set priced and forbade strikes
• Stalemate


  A term used to define where nobody is getting the upper hand or losing in a war
• Armistice


  A truce during warfare
• Schlieffen Plan


  • Goal: avoid fighting a war on 2 fronts
  • Move against France 1st bc Russia is slow, march through Belgium to sneak up on French
• Countries that made up Central & Allies powers

  • Triple Entente (Allies) - Britain, France, Russia
  • Triple Alliance (Central Powers) - Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
• British involvement in WWI


  • Britain declared war on Germany when Germany invaded Belgium, helped the French fight against Germany
• Fighting on eastern front vs. fighting on the western front

  • Stalemate on the Western Front - Germany invaded Belgium, they resisted but Germany beat them, Shlieffen Plan Failed because Russia mobilized quicker than expected and British and French troops pushed back the Germans, both sides began to dig deep trenches
  • Fighting on the Eastern Front - Battle lines shifted back and forth, sometimes over large areas, no trench warfare, higher casualties
• Russian Losses on the Eastern Front


  • August 1914, Russian armies pushed into Eastern Germany, then, suffered a major defeat and retreated back into Russia, was the least industrialized of the great powers, had serf system, poorly equipped to fight a modern war, some troops even lacked rifles
• Effect World War I had on the status of women

  • Played a critical role in total war, took over their jobs and kept national economies going, worked in war industries, manufacturing weapons and supplies, joined women's branches of the armed forces like nurses and secretaries, gained a new sense of pride and confidence, after the war, most women returned home, gained the right to vote (suffrage) in countries like Germany, Britain, and U.S.
• Causes of U.S. entrance in WWI

  • Sinking of Lusitania (May 17, 1915) - British passenger ship, American weapons being shipped over there secretly, 1,198 people died, 128 were U.S. citizens
  • Resumption of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - Before 1917, U.S. enjoyed trading with France & Britain, couldn't trade with Germany b/c Britain had a blockade around it, led to food shortages in Germany, weapons and resources being traded was being used against Germany, Germany set up a blockade around Britain, Germany sank 3 U.S. ships
  • Zimmermann Telegram - February 1917, Arthur Zimmermann (Germany's foreign secretary) sent a telegram to Mexican ambassador, intercepted by Britain, decoded and sent to the U.S., if Mexico allied with Germany, it would help Mexico reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona
• When/how did WWI end?

  Treaty of Versailles, at the Paris Peace Conference, Jan 18 1919, Germany sought armistice on 11/11/1918 after the Allies drove out of Belgium and France
• Paris Peace Conference attendees (Main countries)

  • Italy
  • France
  • Great Britain
  • US
• Provisions in the Treaty of Versailles

  • BLAME - War Guilt Clause, Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war
  • REPARATIONS - Germany had to pay what was equivalent to $33 billion for the damage done during the war
  • ARMY - No subs, no planes, 6 ships; 100,000 soldiers, Demilitarized the rhineland
  • TERRITORY - Germany lost territory in Europe, lost Alsace-Lorraine to France, Germany's colonies were given to Britain and France
• League of Nations


  Purpose: collective security, Britain, France, Italy joined, but the US and Germany did not join (Germany was forbidden)
• Germans are angry—will cause the next World War
• Britain predicted the next war
• Scared, traumatic, war scars, anxious - Mood of much of Europe at the end of World War I
• Fascism


  Extreme nationalism, no concept of the individual, strong leader, promotes war/violence
• Il Duce


  Mussolini's nickname, meaning the leader
• March on Rome


  Uprising by which Mussolini came to power in Italy in late October 1922, Massive march into the city of Rome led by fascist armed squads known as Blackshirts, Captured strategic local places throughout Italy, King Victor Emmanuel didn't stop the Fascists because he didn't want a civil war, King gave Mussolini title of Prime Minister
• "All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state."
• What contributed to the rapid rise of Fascism?

  • Unhappy with gov't (inflation, immigration restrictions in US, unemployment), fear of socialism (winning in voting), people wanted a strong leader (parliamentary democracy was not ok, tyranny is great tho)
• Methods Mussolini used to encourage people to have larger families


  • Large families got tax breaks, women who bore more than 14 children were given a medal by Mussolini, Outlawed abortions, abolished divorce
• Mein Kampf


  A book Hitler wrote in jail when trying to overthrow gov't, means My Struggle
• Enabling Act


  Response to Reichstag fire, Ended democracy in Germany and put hitler as dictator, gov't can pass laws w/o parliamentary consent
• Reichstag burning


  Reichstag: housed german parliament, planned by nazis but communism was blamed, Civil liberties suspended and forced obedience to nazi party
• Beer Hall Putsch


  Hitlers failed attempt to overthrow Weimar gov't, Kidnapped political leaders of Bavaria, by bursting into a beer hall where Von Kahr was giving speech, when Hitler leaves later to continue march on Berlin, Von Kahr lets them leave
• German reaction to Treaty of Versailles

  • Blame of the Weimar gov't - Democratic gov't, weak bc too many political parties
• Ways in which Hitler improved German economy

  • End payment of reparations, tear up the treaty of Versailles, Expansion of army, profits to industry, prosperity to failed businessmen
• Ways in which Hitler utilized propaganda

  • Microphones, loudspeakers, rallies, posters, youth groups, rallies, parades, films, speeches, CENSORSHIP