empires, alliances, supranational orgs

causes of expansion of empires

Population growth: too many ppl in europe so ppl migrated
Economic reasons: raw materials, cheap labor, markets
Technology: steamships, railways, meds, guns
Strategic reasons: naval bases, coaling stations, trade routes
Nationalism & rivalries: pride, power competition between nations
Explorers & missionaries: opened new lands, weakened local control (cecil rhodes)

individuals who supported imperialism

-Edward Wakefield: “allows british ppl from all classes to build new balanced societies overseas”
-Sir Thomas S. Raffles (East India Company): “Britain should expand trade & colonization in southeast asia”
-Rudyard Kipling: “It’s British’s moral duty (White Man’s Burden) to civilize non-european ppl”
-Cecil Rhodes: “British r the ‘first race’ + spreading British rule is good 4 the entire world — it is their destiny & mission

individuals who didnt support imperialism

-John A. Hobson: “Only benefits small industries but bad for the overall nation”
-Vladimir Lenin: “Imperialism is a result of capitalism and would lead to world war”

germany b4 ww1

-before 1871, not a full country only collection of states

-following franco-prussian war, chancellor otto von bismark, united the states

-from 1870-1914, germanys industrial strength grew and was able to rival britains economy

-bismark was in power until 1890, making sure germany was in no wars and france was isolated

-when Wilhelm II took power he dismissed bismarks ideas and took on more aggressive policies

-wanted to build strong empire and army

-used militarism and overseas empires to distract from socialist movements by workers

austria-hungary before ww1

-ruled by franz joseph & nephew franz ferdinad

-made up various nationalities who wanted independence

-franz avoided overseas colonies, focusing on holding his empire tgt

-serbia, supported by russia, encouraged rebellion among serbs inside the empire

italy before ww1

-not strong industrial or military power

-hoped to expand empires by joining alliance

britain b4 ww1

-worlds greatest power by 1914 (richest)(after indus revol)

-huge global empire (owned 1/3 of world)

-believed “splendid isolation” — staying out of europes politics and focusing on its own empire instead

-King Georage had lil power; government ran country

-threatened by germanys rising power, navy, and colonial ambitions

-broke its “isolation” and joined france (1904) and russia (1907)

france b4 ww1

-2x size of britain but economically weaker

-lost Alsace and Lorraine to germany after franco-prussian war and suffered humiliation

-joined russia from fear

-republic country so it had an elected gov

-poincaré was the president in 1914

russia b4 ww1

-big country but underdeveloped economy

-high population and resources but too late to develop

-too cold to farm and ports were frozen, limiting naval transport

-multiethnic empires so hard to govern

-rivaled austria as both wanted control of balkans

-supported serbia as both slavic nations and had historical ties

why do nations join supranational alliances

Political influence

Economic benefits

Shared identity & values

Stability and peace

Security and defense

how does alliance system impact peace

reduced int trust and increases suspicion and fears and hostile environments

LON info

-set up in 1920

-first int supranational org

-americas idea

who made up the council “most powerful”

Japan, Italy, Britain, France

advantages of LON

-humanitarian work to improve health and living conditions

-paid 4 ILO

-settled some disputes

-promoted peace and diplomacy

-created new int system

disadvantages of LON

-had no army

-seemed to “european” and “imperialist”

-took too long to make decisions

-relied on economic sanctions to get states to comply

-usa never joined

-failed 2 stop aggression

3 successes of LON

-Drugs (1936): after 10+ years of work, 26 nations signed convention to combat drugs trade — a law that is still in pace today

-Disease (1920s): worked to prevent malaria and leprosy

-Prisoners of war(1920): took home half a million prisoners of war from ww1

how did league respond to japan’s aggression

-invaded manchuria 1931

-claimed china blew up a railway in Mukden where japanese doldiers stationed

-used this as an excuse to gain manchurias space and resource

-china, as member, appealed to LON

-LON took almost a year to blame japan

-japan ignored and left league in 1933

-LON unsuccessful

-japan launched war w china in 1937

LON’s response to italy’s aggression

-mussolini saw agression went unharmed by LON so they attacked abyssinia in 1935

-abyssinia had limited resources and weapons and italy used poisonous gas and aircrafts

-abyssinia, as member, appealed to LON

-LON imposed sanctions on italy — but these didnt restrict oil, steel, copper supply (key war materials)

-in secret, britain and france negotiated w italy

-italy secured abyssinia in 1936 and removed sanctions

-then left league

how did the aggressor states encourage hitler

hitler saw no consequences from LON, so encouraged him to build army and invade

Why did LON fail

Self interest of leading members (Britain and france only cared abt themselves)

Economic sanctions were weak and ineffective

Lack of an army to enforce decisions

Failure to act and decide quick

Defeated powers resented LON for upholding TOV

USA and other key powers not members

TOV made LON unpopular and seem biased

Yes-man attitude (appeasement by britain and France)

“league tried to do its DUTY, but it was too SELF-centred”

who had veto power in UN

uk, usa, ussr, china

role of UN and date

25 june, 1945

learnt from mistakes of LON

2 new superpowers , us and ussr made up security council

supported independence

after ww2 countries started demanding independence what was UN response

created International Trustee System:

-countries w colonies had to:

-protect ppl in those lands and prepare them for independence

they checked evry year to oversee

what did the UN release in 1960

Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and people

it said:

-imperialsm = denial of human rights

-colonies must be freed

-peace cannot exist w empires being ruled

as a result, more independent nations joined, and coulf from their own blocs

superpower

nation that is able to assert its power & influence around the world — it is a dominant global force

why were usa and ussr considered superpowers after ww2

they dominated int relations and created bipolar divisions around world

Military reasons: USA had biggest air force, nuclear weapons, and USSR had largest land army, no strong neighbours

economic reasons: usa’s industry went up 60% after war, wanted free trade, no more great depression. and USSR economy badly damaged but could control eastern Europe

ideological reasons: USA believed communist ussr wanted to destroy us capitalism and USSR vice versa

when did ussr and usa in alliance

the collabed to fight fascist in europe and militarism in japan

then alliance broke down and developed into cold war but stopped short of an all out war

why was 1949 a turning point in the cold war

ussr got nuclear weapons and china became commununder Mao Zedong — both shocked the west

what was “the loss of china”

in 1949 china became communist which US saw as a major setback for cold war

how did chinas role the cold war in 1960s

China became a third superpower, acting independently of both the USA and USSR

why was USA crucial in europes recovery

It could outproduce all other countries and prevent another Great Depression by promoting trade

What was different about superpower influence compared to 19th-century empires?

They didn't directly rule countries but used economic, political, and military pressure to control them.

Why was Korea divided after WWII?

After Japan’s defeat in 1945, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel:
– North occupied by the USSR (communist)
– South by the USA (capitalist)

What happened in 1948 in Korea?

Two separate governments formed:
– North Korea: Kim Il Sung (Communist)
– South Korea: Syngman Rhee (Capitalist)

Why did korean war break out in 1950?

North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, to unite Korea under communism. Stalin approved it; the US saw it as a test of containment.

How did the Korean War affect the Cold War?

– First military conflict of the Cold War
– USSR and China got closer
– NATO strengthened
– Showed US commitment to containment
– Arms race escalated

What was the UN/US response to the invasion?

The US led a UN force (mainly American troops) to defend South Korea. The USSR couldn’t veto it because they were boycotting the UN at the time.

What is the "Iron Curtain" referring to?

by winston churchill in missouri usa with president truman present , he talked abt the political, military, and ideological barrier dividing Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe from the Western democracies.

What was Churchill’s main warning in the speech?

That the USSR was expanding its influence in Eastern Europe and that the West must unite to resist Soviet aggression.

How did Stalin respond to the speech?

Stalin compared Churchill to Hitler and accused the West of warmongering. He increased control over Eastern Europe.

When and why was NATO formed?

Formed on 4 April 1949 after the Berlin Blockade to deter Soviet expansion and secure U.S. military presence in Europe.

What was NATO’s main purpose?

Collective defense—an attack on one member was treated as an attack on all.

When and why was the Warsaw Pact created?

14 May 1955 in response to West Germany joining NATO,

How was the Warsaw Pact structured militarily?

Centralized under Soviet command; dominated by USSR

How did Warsaw pact differ from NATO?

Warsaw Pact relied heavily on conscripts and was controlled directly from Moscow.

How did Warsaw Pact end?

Dissolved in July 1991
the collapse of communist regimes and the Soviet Union.