chapter 4 study guide

What significant changes or transformations occurred in the aftermath of World War I?

- Germany faced severe economic changes such as food shortages, inflation, and a high rate of unemployment b/c TOV - a political change was seen after the war was the rise of right-wing political extremism and dictatorship. Led to the dictatorship of Hitler and the Nazi Party. - The cultural consequences was the birth of the Jazz Age; dancing along with film and video also became popular forms of entertainment. - women took on different roles and forced to be independent. Finally had a voice-- voting, education - Russian, German, Ottoman, and Austria-Hungary empires were destroyed. So new territories and states were formed

In what way was World War I a "total war?"

- all other necessities were put on hold so that the nation could focus on winning the war. - life or death but wellbeing of nation was priority - total war includes four things: mobilization, refusal to compromise, the blurring of roles between soldiers and civilians, and total control of society. - "going all in"

In what ways did the European alliances turn a local conflict into a major war in 1914?

- alliances were at fault in the escalation of the war. - outcome of the Franco-Prussian war-- one area of tension between two countries (maybe not enough for war and if so, it would be smaller) - b/c of alliances other nations joined and escalated things. - when things came to a head in the Balkans-- escalated quickly

What impact do you think the experience of battles on the Western Front had on surviving soldiers?

- brutal combat-- trench warfare was a slaughterhouse - PTSD, physical disabilities, etc.

"Flapper"

- carefree young women with short, "bobbed" hair, heavy makeup, and short skirts. - the flapper symbolized the new "liberated" woman of the 1920s. - many people saw the bold, boyish look and shocking behavior of flappers as a sign of changing morals. - though hardly typical of American women, the flapper image reinforced the idea that women now had more freedom.

What new types of weapons were introduced in World War I? How effective were they?

- caterpillar tractor, the tank, machine gun, and trench warfare. - caterpillar tracks offered a great solution to go over rough terrain. - tank helped go over rough terrain, fired at enemies, covered troops - machine gun brought more potent warfare. It allowed 400 bullets per minute to be fired but was unreliable - trench warfare was largely composed of protecting troops from enemy fire but sucked

In what ways was World War I an "industrial war?"

- development of new technology--demand for materials was extremely high = mass production - mass production helped create weapons faster, creating a fatal war. - used the military strategy called attrition warfare. Wear the other side down until they give up b/c of casualties/lack of material/goods. - race for each country to see who could produce the most weapons in the least amount of time--which side could outdo the other. - women played a major role in this industrial side, filling in the roles of the men who were factories but left because of the war.

What forms of political extremism emerged out of World War I and why?

- extreme viewpoints won out in the form of totalitarian states in Europe during the inter-war years, and communism took hold in the Soviet Union, while fascism controlled Germany, Italy, and Spain. - spanish Civil War and Francisco Franco became dictator. - in Germany, Adolf Hitler's fascist Nazi Party came to power during the 1930s - end of ww1, the old international system was torn down, Europe was reorganized, and a new world was born. - european nations were economically and socially crippled. Economic depression prevailed. - debtor nations found it impossible to pay their debts without borrowing even more money, at higher rates, thus worsening the economy to an even greater degree. - germany especially was destroyed economically - sharply divided between those who thought the extreme left could solve Europe's problems, and those who desired leadership from the extreme right. constant turmoil and no moderates

In what ways was World War I a "war of attrition?"

- known for trenches--machine guns and artillery forced the armies to dig trenches in order to protect themselves. - also caused a stalemate. Trenches caused the immobility of progressing in warfare. - took months for the two sides to come up with plans on how to get across this No-Mans-Land between the trenches. The plan was to use all their artillery and lethal in order to try to capture the enemy's trench.

Why was there widespread enthusiasm at the outbreak of war in 1914? Why did it dissipate quickly?

- people convinced that their nation's cause was just b/c of nationalism - everyone believed war would be over in a few weeks so ppl had a positive attitude about it - dissipated quickly when the German advance was halted only 20 miles from Paris and the war quickly turned into a stalemate as neither the Germans nor the French could dislodge the other from the trenched they dug for shelter. - Western Front had become bogged down in trench warfare that kept both sides immobilized in virtually the same position for four years.

What was Woodrow Wilson hoping to accomplish with his "14 Points?"

- proposed world peace after ww1 - touched on how the war has affected many different nations negatively. Heal what has been broken by the war - international relief-- he addresses ways to stabilize security, to abolish secret treaties, resolve territorial issues, freedom of seas, and arms reduction. - called out the ways the war arose and how to resolve

What were the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles? How would you characterize the treaty?

- signed by Germany and the Allied powers-- peace treaty to end ww1 - concerned Italy, France, Britain, and the United States - blamed Germany - some terms included: Germany's acceptance for starting the war and reparations of up to 6.6 billion, forced to give back conquered territories and had a new limit on army size. - Germany was not allowed to join the United Nations - characterized as harsh and unfair

Why did a stalemate occur on the Western Front? How did the situation differ on the Eastern Front?

- stalemate occurred on the Western Front once the Schlieffen Plan failed. - ordered the German army to march through Belgium and enter northern France. Wanted to overtake Paris and attack French army. - those commanding the soldiers didn't take enough troops to the English Channel and German offense was stopped before reaching Paris at the First Battle of the Marne. - neither force could sufficiently hurt the other because they were both lodged in the trenches - on the Eastern Front, Germans were confident that they would defeat the Western Front, so wanted to launch offensive forces against Russia. But Schlieffen Plan failed and changed plans to attack Russia - Germany still had victories against the Russians and able to remove Serbia from the war. - almost eliminated Russia from the war.

What were the conditions soldiers faced in the trenches of the Western Front?

- trenches were holes in the ground, so it was cramped, unhygienic, and there was mud and debris everywhere. - soldiers got sick and couldn't sleep. - many died - saw dismembered bodies and smell the terrible stench of decomposing bodies. Lots of rats.

Why did the U.S. emerge as the leading world power? What changes occurred in American society?

- war spending boomed the American economy - roaring 20s - women's rights-- the right to vote (19th A.) - outbreaks of violence against groups. German-Americans, labor activists, suffragists, immigrants, African Americans, and socialists were subjected to threats, harassment, imprisonment, and physical violence - Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 criminalized the expression of antiwar sentiment and criticism of the US government and armed forces

How did the entry of the U.S. into the war in 1917 affect the outcome of the war?

-gave the Allied Powers edge they needed to win - decided to enter the war after two major developments: the introduction of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman telegram. - series of naval blockades put up by Germany and Great Britain, Germany used submarines to destroy a passenger liner (the Lusitania) which killed around 100 Americans. - The Zimmerman telegram was Germany's attempt to have Mexico attack the United States to recover the Southwestern territories that were once theirs. - entrance gave the allied forces a morale boost and it lent them a hand in winning the war of attrition. Deployed mass units. - last battle of the Marne where they received 140,000 American troops and turned over the war to allies

Woodrow Wilson

28th president of the United States, known for World War I leadership, created Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Antitrust Act, progressive income tax, lower tariffs, women's suffrage (reluctantly), Treaty of Versailles, sought 14 points post-war plan, League of Nations (but failed to win U.S. ratification), won Nobel Peace Prize

League of Nations

A world organization established in 1920 to promote international cooperation and peace. It was first proposed in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson, although the United States never joined the League. Essentially powerless, it was officially dissolved in 1946.

Allied Powers

Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Archduke of Austria Hungary assassinated by a Serbian in 1914. His murder was one of the causes of WW I.

Schlieffen Plan

Attack plan by Germans, proposed by Schliffen, lightning quick attack against France. Proposed to go through Belgium then attack France, Belgium resisted, other countries took up their aid, long fight, used trench warfare.

Central Powers

Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Emperor of Germany during World War I

Trench Warfare

Fighting with trenches, mines, and barbed wire. Horrible living conditions, great slaughter, no gains, stalemate, used in WWI.

Spanish Flu

Pandemic that spread around the world in 1918, killing more than 50 million people. Most devastating epidemic.

Czar Nicholas II

Russian Czar during WWI; unpopular with Russian people; overthrown in March 1917; executed by Bolsheviks after November Revolution (1917)

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Treaty in which Russia lost substantial territory to the Germans. This ended Russian participation in the war (1918).

Roaring Twenties

Was a time when many people defied Prohibition, indulged in new styles of dancing and dressing, and rejected many traditional moral standards. •Emancipation of Women (e.g. right to vote) •Changing class structure (e.g. decline of aristocracy) •New Technologies and popular culture (e.g. film, radio) •The "Jazz Age"

Armistice

an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

New Imperialism

the late 19th century drive by European countries to create vast political empires abroad - colonialism

Prohibition

the period from 1920 to 1933 when the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages was prohibited in the United States by a constitutional amendment

Treaty of Versailles

the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded harsh reparations from the Germans