20th Century History Flashcards

M – Militarism

Countries built large armies and navies.

A – Alliances

Countries promised to defend each other.

Triple Entente

Britain, France, Russia

Triple Alliance:

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

I – Imperialism

Competition for colonies and resources.

N – Nationalism

Strong pride in one's nation. Ethnic groups wanted independence.

WW1 Cause

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.

The Allies

Britain, France, Russia, Canada (part of British Empire), United States (1917)

Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

Battle of the Somme (1916)

Over 1 million casualties. First major use of tanks. Canadians fought near the end of the battle.

Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917)

Major Canadian victory. All four Canadian divisions fought together. Seen as an important moment in Canadian nationhood. Led by Julian Byng and Arthur Currie

Trench Warfare

Soldiers lived in trenches. Mud, rats, disease, and constant danger.

No Man's Land

Land between trenches, the most dangerous place as it was constantly under fire and watched.

Poison gases

Chlorine gas, Mustard gas

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Germany blamed for the war. Germany paid reparations. Military severely limited. Lost territory.

The Roaring 1920s

A era of economic growth and prosperity before the great depression.

Rumrunners

Smuggled alcohol during American Prohibition.

Residential Schools

government and churches operated schools for Indigenous children. Goal was forced assimilation.

Stock Market Crash (1929)

Share prices collapsed People borrowed too much money and could not repay debts when economy weakened.

Causes of The great depression

Overproduction. Depended heavily on primary exports. Canada’s Dependence on a Few Primary Products. Canada’s Dependence on the United States. High Tariffs Cut Off International Trade. Too Much Credit Buying. Too Much Credit Buying of Stocks

New Deal

Program introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Government spending to create jobs and stimulate economy.

Conditions in 1930s

Massive unemployment. Poverty and homelessness. Soup kitchens and bread lines.

5-cent speech

speech by McKenzie King, saying that no non-liberal government will get any "5-cent". Caused him to lose election.

National Socialist Party (Nazis)

Major political party in Germany, created after WW1. It was one of the main 3 political parties competing and was run by Hitler.

“Master race”

A race of Ayrans/caucasians (who are not Jewish) as superior than others, especially of German descent. Hitler wanted Aryans to rule the world and wanted to “deal” with Jews because of this belief.

Anti-semitism

Hatred for Jewish people. Hitler ran his party on blaming Jews for Germany’s defeat in WW1 and for the economic hard times.

Dictator

Someone who outlaws other political parrties using force to keep control. Significant as the Nazi party was run by a dictator (Hitler) who controlled Germany with Nazi ideas.

Nuremberg Laws

Laws passed in 1935 in Germany. These laws took away civil rights of all Jews in Germany, and it became illegal for a Jew to marry a non-Jew.

Kristallnacht

An attack in 1938 on Jewish people. Significant as thousands of Jewish shops were looted and 20,000 Jews were arrested.

Fascism

The belief for a military dictatorship in the government. Significant as many European countries turned fascist, and censored worker and social unrest.

St. Louis

A ocean liner carrying Jewish refugees in June 1939. 907 Jewish refugees seeking a safe haven but denied by Canadian government

Munich Agreement

An agreement signed between Britain and France. This agreement allowed for Germany to have the Sudetenland (the Northwestern part of Czechoslovakia) because they believed that it would save the world from war.

Axis Powers

An alliance between Italy, Germany, and Japan. The main powers trying to take over Europe during WW2.

Dunkirk

A town located on the French coast. May 1940, three hundred thousand British and French soldiers were evacuated from the seaport of Dunkirk.

Blitzkrieg

The event in August 1940 where the Luftwaffe (German airforce) began attacking Southern England and London for numerous nights with bombs. Important as thousands of Britains died and were significantly outnumbered but resisted Germany attack.

Battle of Britain

Battle fought from July to October 1940 against Germany. Marked the beginning of the long struggle against Nazi aggression.

Hong Kong, 1941

Japan taking over European colonies in Asia, Hong Kong was a vital British colony. Canadian, British, Indian troops assigned to defend Hong Kong. In the end, surrendered on December 25 1941. 290 Canadians died, and 500 wounded.

Dieppe Raid

A raid at Dieppe in France, in 1942 created by the Allies to punch at German stronghold. Significant as 900 Canadians were killed and over 1000 were wounded.

Convoys

Supply ships traveling in a group. Significant as Canadians played an important role in escorting supply ships as convoys across the Atlantic.

Merchant Marine

Civilian sailors sailing the cargo ships in the convoys. Helped sail the cargo ships to Britain to provide supplies during the war.

Operation Husky

Assault made on Sicily from sea by Canadian, British, and American forces on July 10, 1943. Demoralized the Italians which soon made them turn on their fascist dicator Mussolini.

Battle of Ortona

Battle at Ortona, Italy during December of 1943 against German Paraclute Division who were determined to hold the town. Taken by Canadian hands and allowed for troops to further advance up the boot of Italy.

D-Day

Paratroopers dropped, 2000 bombers, and Allies troops hit France. This was Canada’s largest Millitary operation and gave Hitler two wars on the east and west.

Manhattan Project

Project led by Robert Oppenheimer to lead a group of Americans and Allied scientists to develop the first atomic bomb. Allowed the US to drop atomic bombs on Japanese cities, leading to Japan’s surrender.

VE Day

Stands for Victory in Europe Day. Marks the day on May 7th, 1945 where Nazi Germany ceased to exist and the long struggle in Europe was over.

Hitler’s “final solution”

Hitler’s “final solution” to the “jewish problem” in Europe. Tried to exterminate as many jews as they could, around 6000 Jews were gassed a day.

The Holoclaust

Nazi’s systematic destruction of millions of Jewish people.

Atomic Bomb

A bomb with Uranium as its main ingredient that causes great mass destruction.

Black Tuesday

The day the stock market crashed

Bennet Buggy

Horse powered cars because car repairs became too expensive

Arms Race

A race between countries to see who was the most advanced and strong.