Studied by 0 people
Modern European Thought, Western Imperialism, WWI
Why was the nineteenth century such a difficult period for Christian churches? What challenges did they face as Europe made advances in other areas?
The nineteenth century was a difficult period for Christian churches in Europe because of secularism and the Scientific Revolution. As secularism rose, people began to favor reason and scientific inquiry over religious beliefs. Scientific advancements, specifically Darwin’s theory of evolution challenged literal interpretations of the bible, while created tensions between people and their beliefs they used to have with the church.
Compare and contrast the features that distinguished the “new” from the “old” imperialism. How much of a departure was the “new” imperialism from previous attempts at imperial dominance?
Old imperialism focused primarily on exploration and trade, with European powers like Spain and Portugal establishing colonies for economic gain and sometimes religious conversion. In contrast, new imperialism saw a dramatic expansion of territorial acquisitions, especially during the “Scramble for Africa.” Driven by nationalism and industrial capitalism, new imperialism prioritized direct governance and promotion of European laws and culture in colonies.
What role did the formation of alliances play in the cause of World War I? How do you think World War I would have differed if the alliance system were not in play? Explain.
The formation of alliances had an important role in the escalation of tensions that led to WWI. These alliances created an issue after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian assassin. This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia and its alliance with Germany led Russia to join the war in defense of Serbia. Russia joining caused France and the United Kingdom to join as well, due to their obligations within the alliances. I think if the alliances were never in place, the war wouldn’t have been as long or deadly than what it was.
Analyze and discuss the events that led to the outbreak of World War I
The outbreak of WWI was led by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria Hungary, by a Serbian nationalist. I think this is the main cause of the outbreak of the war because all of the alliances connected with Austria Hungary and Serbia had to join the war. Which created a much bigger mess than needed.
Using specific examples, contrast the ideologies of liberalism, conservatism, and nationalism during the nineteenth century. (Prussia/Germany would be a good example to examine)
Liberalism advocated for individual freedoms, representative government, and economic liberalization, which sought to establish a unified nation state with a constitution of civil rights. Conservatism emphasized the preservation of traditional institutions, social hierarchies, and the monarchy, advocating for a strong state that could maintain order and stability without radical change. Nationalism looked to unite German speaking peoples under a single nation, with Bismarck’s Realpolitik utilizing nationalistic sentiments to achieve unification through wars.
Describe the Scramble for Africa. How was it decided upon? List two countries that were involved and where in Africa they colonized.
The Scramble for Africa was a period of rapid colonization of the African continent by European powers. The Berlin Conference, convened by Bismarck and involving major European powers, established the rules for the partitioning of Africa, emphasizing that a country could claim land as long as it effectively occupied and administered it. Two countries that were involved were France and Great Britain; Britain established control over Egypt, while France expanded its empire by colonizing large areas of West Africa.
Give a characteristic of impressionism, post impressionism, and cubism. Name one artist of each.
A characteristic of impressionism is its focus on capturing light and its changing qualities, often through loose brushwork and open compositions. An artist of this movement is Claude Monet. In Post-impressionism, a key characteristic is the emphasis on more abstract forms and vivid colors, moving beyond the naturalistic representation of Impressionism. Vincent van Gogh is an artist associated with this movement. Cubism is defined by its use of geometric shapes and fragmented forms of subjects from multiple viewpoints simultaneously. Picasso is one of the most famous artists of the Cubist movement.
How did technology play a role in World War I? Be sure to list specific examples.
Technology significantly transformed warfare during WWI, leading to insane levels of destruction and changing military strategies. The introduction of tanks, which were first used by the British in 1916, offered a solution to the stalemate of trench warfare by crossing difficult terrain and pushing through enemy lines. Additionally, the use of poisonous gas, such as chlorine and mustard gas caused widespread suffering and fear among soldiers. There technological advancements in communication, through devices like the radio and telephones, improved coordination and strategy on the battlefield.
Name and describe two major battles of World War I. Be sure to list location, outcome, and one specific person.
The Battle of Somme, fought from July 1 to November 18th, was one of the largest battles on the Western Front. It’s goal was to relieve pressure on the French forces at Verdun and to inflict significant casualties on the German Army. The Battle ended with no decisive victory, a staggering cost of over one million casualties on both sides, and a small territorial gain for the allies. The Battle of Verdun, fought from February 21 to December 18th, became one of the longest and most grueling battles of the war. The German objective was to bleed France white, aiming to capture the fortress of Verdun and crush French morale. The Battle had an estimated 700,000 casualties, and ultimately ended in a French defensive success, as the Germans failed to achieve their objectives.
Was the Treaty of Versailles effective? Name and explain one winner and one loser of the treaty.
I don’t think the Treaty of Versailles was 100% effective. A clear winner of the treaty was France, they benefited from reparations from Germany and also gained better French security. A clear loser of this treaty was Germany, they went into a lot of debt from the huge chunk of money they had to pay in reparations of the war, this caused Germany to start to crumble and many faced poverty.
