Political Rivals and Alliances Leading Up to WWI

These flashcards cover key events, concepts, and figures related to the political landscape leading up to and following World War I.

Triple Alliance

A military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

Triple Entente

A military alliance formed in response to the Triple Alliance, including France, Russia, and Britain.

Militarism

The belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively.

Nationalism

A strong sense of pride and devotion to one’s nation, which often leads to the desire for independence or supremacy.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization or military force.

Balkans

A region in southeastern Europe characterized by ethnic tensions and nationalism, often referred to as the 'powder keg of Europe' before WWI.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The event on June 28, 1914, that triggered the outbreak of World War I.

Total War

A conflict where nations utilize all available resources, including the entire population, and the economy is geared towards the war effort.

The Armenian Genocide

The systematic extermination of the Armenian population by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.

The Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that officially ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points

A statement of principles for peace used for peace negotiations to end WWI, aimed at promoting self-determination and preventing future conflicts.

National Self-Determination

The principle that nations have the right to choose their sovereignty and international political status without external influence.

The League of Nations

An international organization founded after WWI to promote peace and cooperation between countries.

The Spanish Flu

A deadly influenza pandemic that affected millions worldwide from 1918 to 1919, killing an estimated 50–100 million people.

Effendi

A term for the educated middle class in Egypt during British rule that played a crucial role in nationalist movements.

Zionism

A Jewish nationalist movement advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

The Balfour Declaration

A statement from the British government expressing support for a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine.

Pan-Africanism

A political and cultural movement aiming to unify African peoples and promote solidarity among those of African descent worldwide.

Syndicalism

A radical labor movement ideology advocating that industries should be owned by workers organized in trade unions.

Fascism

A political ideology characterized by authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, and the suppression of opposition, commonly associated with Mussolini and Hitler.