Causes and Interrelationships of the Two World Wars

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major world conflicts from the 19th and 20th centuries, including WWI, WWII, and preceding regional wars.

Total wars

A term describing the two major wars of the first half of the 20th century (WWI and WWII), which were the first in history to spread across the globe and utilized extremely deadly weapons like tanks, resulting in severe damage and heavy casualties.

First World War

A major conflict from 1914 to 1918 between the Central Powers and Allied Powers, involving over 30 countries, mainly fought in Europe, and causing about 8 million deaths.

Second World War

A global conflict from 1939 to 1945 between the Axis Powers and Allied Powers, involving over 60 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and resulting in about 75 million deaths.

Central Powers

The rival alliance that fought against the Allied Powers in the First World War (1914–1918).

Axis Powers

The rival alliance that fought against the Allied Powers in the Second World War (1939–1945).

Napoleonic Wars

A series of conflicts from 1803 to 1815 that affected almost all of Europe and changed the balance of power in Europe.

Crimean War

A war from 1853 to 1856 in which Britain, France, and other powers fought against and defeated Russia.

Franco-Prussian War

An 1870 to 1871 war in which Prussia defeated France, established the German Empire, and forced France to pay reparations and cede territory.

Alsace-Lorraine

The territory that France was forced to cede to Prussia following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871).

Russo-Japanese War

A 1904 to 1905 war in which Japan and Russia vied for rights in Northeast China and Korea; Russia was defeated, and the nations negotiated under the mediation of the US.

Two Balkan Wars

A series of conflicts that occurred between 1912 and 1913 in the period leading up to the First World War.

War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression

A major conflict that lasted from 1931 to 1945, contextualized alongside the events of World War II.