David Adams - Western Civ. Study Sheet 4

What was the Risorgimento?

The 19th-century movement aimed at unifying the various states of

the Italian peninsula into a single nation-state. It culminated in the establishment of the

Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Who was Victor Emmanuel II?

King of Sardinia-Piedmont who became the first King of a

unified Italy.

Who was Count Camillo di Cavour?

Victor Emmanuel II's Prime Minister, a skilled diplomat and

statesman who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the unification through strategic

alliances and modernization efforts.

Why was Piedmont-Sardinia a good candidate to lead Italian unification?

Piedmont-Sardinia had a constitutional monarchy, a relatively liberal government, and a

modernized economy and military, making him a suitable leader for unification efforts.

Who did Piedmont-Sardinia ally with to unify Italy?

Piedmont-Sardinia allied with France, particularly Napoleon III, to challenge Austrian dominance in northern Italy.

Who did they fight?

They fought against Austria in the Second Italian War of

Independence, leading to the acquisition of Lombardy.

Who was Giuseppe Garibaldi, and what role did he play in unification?

a nationalist and military leader who led the Expedition of the

Thousand in 1860.

What were

the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies?

Sicily and Naples, big rebellion because of the price of bread

Why wasn't Garibaldi allowed to take Rome?

He was prevented from taking Rome due to the presence of French troops protecting the Papal States, and to avoid conflict with France

Why was Prussia poised to play the leading role in German unification?

Prussia had a strong economy, a powerful military, and was led by a monarchy that supported unification under Prussian dominance, contrasting with the more fragmented and conservative Austrian Empire

Who was William I?

William I became King of Prussia in 1861 and aimed to strengthen the army

why did william i want to modernize the prussian army

William I's efforts to modernize the Prussian army caused a significant constitutional conflict with the liberal-leaning Prussian parliament (Landtag)

Who was Count Otto von

Bismarck?

Prime Minister, a nobleman, crazy until he met a woman and she straightened him up.

What is Realpolitik?

a pragmatic approach to politics focused on practical objectives

rather than ideological principles.

What wars did Prussia fight to unify Germany, and in what order (Denmark,

Austria, France)?

1. Second Schleswig War (1864):

2. Austro-Prussian War (1866)

3. Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

Second Schleswig War (1864):

Prussia and Austria defeated Denmark, gaining control over Schleswig and Holstein.

Austro-Prussian War (1866):

Prussia defeated Austria, leading to the exclusion of Austria from German affairs and the formation of the North German Confederation.

Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871):

Prussia defeated France, leading to the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.

What was Schleswig and Holstein?

Two German states fought over by Denmark and Austria/Prussia, Austria gets Holstein and Prussia gets Schleswig

What issue over the Spanish throne brought Prussia and France into war?

The candidacy of a Prussian prince for the Spanish throne alarmed France.

What was Ems?

summer residence of great emperor wilhelm i

What was the Ems Dispatch?

a diplomatic communication in July 1870. German Emperor Wilhelm I sent the dispatch to Otto von Bismarck. It described demands made by the French ambassador regarding the Spanish succession

What happened at the Battle of Sedan?

At the Battle of Sedan, Napoleon III was captured, leading to the collapse of the Second French Empire.

What was the siege of Paris like?

The siege of Paris (1870-1871) was marked by severe hardship and starvation.

Where did William I become Emperor William I

of Germany?

William I was proclaimed German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles in January 1871.

Who was Adolphe Thiers?

Adolphe Thiers was the head of the French government after the fall of Napoleon III.

What produced, and what happened during the period of the Paris Commune?

a radical socialist government that briefly ruled Paris in 1871

What is the significance of Montmartre?

Montmartre was a stronghold of the Commune; after its suppression.

What is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur)?

built as a symbol of penance and reconciliation

Where was Alsace and Lorraine?

Alsace and Lorraine are regions on the border between France and Germany.

What happened to Alsace and Lorraine?

They were annexed by Germany after the Franco-Prussian War.

Why was the annexing of Alsace and Lorraine significant?

Fueled French resentment and contributed to tensions leading up to WW1.

What is nationalism?

A political ideology centered on the interests and culture of a

nation, often leading to the desire for self-governance.

What is jingoism?

Extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike

foreign policy.

What is imperialism?

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means

Who was Leopold II?

King of Belgium

Who was Henry Morton Stanley?

He was an employed explorer of King Leopold II to establish control over the Congo Basin

What territory did Stanley claim for

Leopold, and how big was it?

Stanley secured treaties with local chiefs, leading to the

creation of the Congo Free State, a vast territory in Central Africa under Leopold's

personal rule

What products did Leopold's Congo produce?

The Congo produced rubber and ivory

What were conditions like in the colony?

Conditions were brutal, with widespread forced labor, violence, and atrocities committed against the local population

Who was de Brazza, and what territory did he claim for the French?

de Brazza was a French explorer

What territory did de Brazza claim for the French?

claimed the french congo (modern day republic of the congo)

What was the Berlin Conference?

The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) was attended by European powers to regulate colonization and trade in Africa

Who attended the Berlin Conference (and did not)?

European nations were present but Africa was not

What did they decide at the Berlin Conference?

The conference established rules for the annexation of African territory, leading to the "Scramble for Africa."

What happened between Italy and Ethiopia?

Italy attempted to colonize Ethiopia but was defeated at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, marking a significant victory for an African nation against a European power

What are some of the various explanations for the origins of World War I?

Nationalism, militarism, imperial rivalries, alliance systems, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

What powers formed the Dual Alliance?

Germany and Austria-Hungary

What powers formed the Triple Entente?

France, Russia, and the United Kingdom

Who was Kaiser Wilhelm II?

German Emperor whose aggressive policies and militarization contributed to the tensions leading to World War I

What was the Ottoman Empire?

A vast and influential empire that existed from the late 13th century to the early 20th century, ruling over large parts of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa.

Who did the Ottomans hand the administration of the Balkans over to?

They ceded control of Bosnia

and Herzegovina to Austria-Hungary over a long period of time

Who was angered by the handing over of the administration of the Balkans?

Serbia

What did Serbia want to do?

Aspired to unite Slavic people in the region to rise against the gov

What was the "Black Hand"?

Serbian nationalist group

Who was the Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne

Who was Gavrilo Princip?

a 19-year-old Bosnian Serb that shot and killed the archduke and his wife

How was the Archduke assassinated (and where, when - June 28, 1914, etc.)?

He was assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28th, 1914.

How did Serbia respond to the assassination?

Serbia denied involvement

How did Austria-Hungary respond to the assassination?

Issued an ultimatum and subsequently declared war on Serbia.

What was the Blank Check?

Germany's promise of unconditional support to Austria-Hungary after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

What was the ultimatum given by Austria-Hungary to Serbia?

Demanding Serbia suppress anti-Austrian propaganda, dissolve nationalist groups, and allow Austrian officials to take part in the investigation.

How long was the deadline?

Serbia was given 48 hours to respond.

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Germany's strategy to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium, then turning to fight Russia

Why was the Schlieffen Plan put into action?

Because Germany faced the prospect of a two-front war against France and Russia.

In what month did the Great War begin?

August 1914

Why did the British decide to join the war?

Britain joined the war after Germany violated Belgian neutrality

What did it mean that "the lamps [were] going out all over Europe"?

British Foreign Secretary

Edward Grey famously said, "The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit

again in our lifetime," reflecting the deep sadness and fear as Europe plunged into war.

Why is the First Battle of Ypres (October to November 1914) important?

Halted German advancement and marked the beginning of trench warfare on the Western Front. High casualties and realization the war would not be short.

What was trench warfare like?

Brutal and stagnant, soldiers living in mud, surrounded by rates and disease.

What was "No Man's Land"?

Deadly open area between enemy trenches filled with barbed wire and subject to machine-gun fire.

How did world war i change things?

The war ushered in total war, involving entire societies. It caused massive casualties, economic strain, and political upheaval, especially in Russia and Germany.

How was the Western Front different from the Eastern Front?

The Western Front was characterized by static trench warfare, while the Eastern Front saw more mobile battles

Was the Russian army effective?

The Russian army was large but poorly supplied and suffered heavy defeats.

What side did the Ottoman Empire join on?

The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers

What was Gallipoli?

Gallipoli (1915) was a failed Allied campaign to open a supply route to Russia; Ottoman forces successfully repelled British and ANZAC troops.

What happened at the Battle of Verdun?

it lasted for 10 months, neither side had any strategic advantages, French vs. Germany

What was attrition?

the strategy to murder as many French soldiers as possible to lower morale

What happened at the Battle of the Somme?

a massive Allied offensive marked by the first use of tanks

What was the significance of the Battle of Somme?

It resulted in over 1 million casualties, showing the horror and futility of trench warfare

What were U-Boats?

German submarines

What was unrestricted submarine warfare?

attacking any ship, including neutral ones, near Britain. This policy contributed to the U.S. entering the war

When and why did the US join the war?

joined in April 1917 after repeated German U-Boat attacks and the Zimmerman Telegram, where Germany urged Mexico to join the war against the U.S. in exchange for land.

What side was the U.S. on?

allies

What was the Zimmerman

Telegram?

A telegram sent by Germany to Mexico asking them to join the war on the Central Powers' side

What were the French Mutinies?

In 1917, French troops mutinied after a failed offensive. Many refused to fight unless defensive strategies were adopted. Leadership changes and improved conditions followed

What Russian Tsar abdicated?

tsar nicholas ii

When did the Russian Tsar abdicate?

march 1917 during the february revolution

Why did the Russian Tsar abdicate?

military defeats, food shortages, and public unrest

What was "peace, land, and bread"?

This was Lenin's slogan, promising to end Russia's involvement in the war, redistribute land, and address food shortages—key demands of the Russian people

Who was Lenin?

Lenin was a Marxist revolutionary

How did Lenin get to Russia?

returned to Russia with German help

What was the October Revolution?

In October 1917, Lenin led the Bolshevik Revolution, overthrowing the provisional government

What (and when) was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Signed in March 1918, this treaty ended Russia's war with Germany. Russia lost huge territories but gained peace to focus on internal conflict.

What was the German Spring Offensive?

Germany focusing all of their militia on the western front

Was the German Spring Offensive successful?

no

Why was the German Spring Offensive not successful?

Initial gains were reversed due to poor supply lines, Allied reinforcements, and German exhaustion

When was Armistice Day?

signed on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 AM—the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

What was the impact of the First World War?

The war caused over 17 million deaths, collapsed empires, redrew borders, triggered revolutions, and sowed the seeds of World War II

How did the victorious powers feel towards Germany?

The Allies, particularly France, blamed Germany for the war and demanded harsh reparations and territorial losses.