World War I and Russian Revolution Flashcards

Flashcards about World War I and the Russian Revolution.

What are the 4 main causes of World War I?

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

What countries were in the Triple Alliance in 1882 and what was it called during WWI?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. During WWI, it was called the Central Powers.

What is the main idea behind Rudyard Kipling's 'White Man's Burden'?

The idea that European countries believed it was their duty to civilize locals based on perceived superiority.

What are the two types of nationalism and what are some examples?

Type 1 nationalism was in the Balkan countries where ethnic groups sought independence. Examples include Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Type 2 nationalism was in the 'Great Powers' due to conquests and modern tech.

What happened in the 1st Balkan War in 1912?

Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece attacked the Ottoman Empire and took land.

What happened in the 2nd Balkan War in 1913?

Serbia and Bulgaria fought each other over land taken from the Ottoman Empire.

What event triggered the 3rd Balkan War and why did Austria-Hungary intervene?

Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary intervened due to fear of Serbia gaining territory.

Who was Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and what happened to him in Sarajevo?

Archduke Francis Ferdinand, nephew of Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph, visited Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, assassinated him and his wife.

Which countries became the Central Powers?

Originally Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, the Ottoman Empire/Turks, and Bulgaria

Which countries became the Allied Powers?

Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Italy, United States of America, and Serbia

Why did Japan join the Allies?

To take colonies Germany had conquered in Asia.

What events occurred between June 28 and July 28, 1914, leading to WWI?

Austria-Hungary sent Serbia an ultimatum. Russia mobilized troops in case of conflict.

What significant event occurred on July 28, 1914, that started the 3rd Balkan War?

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, pushed by Germany because Serbia supported nationalist attempts against Austria-Hungary in Bosnia.

What occurred on August 1, 1914, initiating the transformation of the 3rd Balkan War into WWI?

Germany declared war on Russia, using Russian mobilization as an excuse. France promised to support Russia.

What happened on August 1, 1914, and why did France enter the war?

Germany declared war on France. Also, France wanted revenge for the 1871 Franco-Prussian War and Alsace Lorraine back.

What was Germany's strategy, known as the Schlieffen Plan?

Germany invaded Belgium to get to Paris.

What prompted Britain to declare war on Germany on August 3, 1914?

Britain declared war on Germany when Germany invaded Belgium.

What was the Schlieffen Plan designed to do?

Germany planned to go through Belgium, defeat France quickly, then focus on Russia to avoid a two front war.

Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?

The Belgians resisted more than expected, and Russia mobilized more quickly than expected.

What were the conditions on the Western Front?

Stalemate on the German/French border resulted in warring armies burrowed into trenches, from Swiss frontier to English Channel.

What is 'No man's land'?

Area between camps, trench, and bunker networks of opposing forces.

How did German submarines impact the war, and how did the Allies respond?

German submarines/U-boats did tremendous damage to Allies, and Allies used convoys of merchant ships protected by warships.

How did governments use propaganda during WWI?

Controlling public opinion by censoring the press, popular literature, historical writings, motion pictures, and the arts to promote a cause or damage the opposing cause

What was the Zimmermann Note?

German message promising Mexicans land in the US if they supported Germany in the war.

Why did US President Woodrow Wilson ask Congress to declare war on Germany in April 1917?

To make the world safer for democracy and a war to end war.

What were the main points outlined in Wilson's 14 Points?

Freedom of the seas, free trade, large scale reductions of arms, end to secret treaties, independence & self determination for Eastern Europe, and creation of general association of nations.

What was the Paris Peace Conference/Peace of Paris?

The 27 countries that had been involved in WW1 to determine criteria for peace.

What was the purpose of the Treaty of Versailles?

To settle peace terms with Germany.

What were the main points of the Treaty of Versailles that horrified German representatives?

German representatives were forced to take full blame for causing the war, had to pay huge reparations of over $30 billion, faced limitations on the size of the German military, Alsace-Lorraine was returned to French, Germany lost hundreds of square miles of territory from western and eastern Germany and its overseas colonies.

Which European states gained independence or the right to 'self-determination' after WWI?

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and Yugoslavia

What was the mandate system?

The administration of territories by western powers to be modernized until it was able to stand alone.

Why was there discontent in Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and Russia after WWI?

Germany was angry because it was being blamed for the war and faced many restrictions and reparations. Italy was angry because it did not get all the lands that it had been promised by the Allies. Japan protested the refusal of western nations to recognize its conquests and claims in China. China was forced to accept Japanese control over some areas in Asia previously held by Germany. Russia was excluded from peace talks and resented the reestablishment of a Polish nation, as well as three new Baltic nations.

What was Bloody Sunday and to what did it lead?

Priest led peaceful march through St. Petersburg, Russia to Tsar's winter palace with a petition for justice & freedom. Tsar Nicholas Il fled palace and soldiers fired on marchers. It led to the 1905 Revolution throughout Russia.

Wtith whom did Russia have a conflict in 1905 and over what?

The 1905 Revolution occurred during a conflict between Russia & Japan over territory: Korea and Manchuria

What were the immediate effects of the 1905 Revolution on Russia, Japan, and the Russian Duma?

Russia was forced to abandon Far East expansion; Japan became 1st Asian power in modern times to defeat a European power; Czar Nicholas Il passed reforms which failed to solve political, social, economic problems.

What was Russia like in 1914?

Large & diverse empire, slow to industrialize, Autocratic government, and most of the population was poor peasants.

What were the 'revolutionaries' throughout Russia up to at the time?

They worked in secrecy coming up with many illegal and radical plots to overthrow the tsarist regime.

Why did czar Nicholas II go to fight in World War I?

Went to battlefield as patriotic gesture and to be a role model.

Who was left in charge of domestic affairs when Nicholas II went to fight in World War I?

Tsarina Alexandra, wife of Nicholas II. Russians distrusted her as she was German born.

Who was Gregory Rasputin?

Gregory Rasputin: illiterate peasant, self described healer, holy man

How did Gregory Rasputin use his power?

Gave top jobs to those who flattered him and dismissed others.

How did nobles feel about Rasputin, and what did they do about it?

Resented and feared his power and assassinated him in 1916.

What 3 things did Lenin & the Bolsheviks promise the Russian people in 1917?

Peace, Land, and Bread.

What is the significance of each of these 3 things that Lenin and the Bolsheviks promised?

Like no more wars, like people getting places to own bc they are poor, like there is no food

Why did Nicholas II abdicate?

Many disasters on the WWI battlefield, like food & fuel shortages that led to demonstrations (protests).

What replaced the Russian monarchy when the tsar stepped down in 1917?

A Temporary Government replaced the Russian monarchy, an alliance between liberals and socialists who wanted political reform of the government. They continued in WWI against Germany.

What was the fatal decision of the temporary government, and why?

They continued in WWI against Germany while Russians were fed up with war, troops were deserting, peasants wanted land, shortages of food & other basics carried on.

Who was Alexander Kerensky?

He led the temporary Russian government, he kept Russia in WW1, failed to deal with land reform, and most Russians were tired of war.

What 3 things did the Bolsheviks do once they wound up controlling most of the country and named themselves communists?

Ended private ownership of land, distributed land to peasants, put workers in control of factories and mines.

When did Russia exit World War I and how?

Lenin exited WWI via Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918; Russia gave up huge chunk of land & population.

Who were the Mensheviks, or 'Whites' in the Russian Civil War, and who supported them?

Russian Civil War 'Whites' were former Duma politicians, Liberals, and some people who were influenced by Enlightenment ideas who wanted a Republic

What was the reaction of the Allied invasion of Russia that attempted to bring Russia back into World War I?

Fed Russian distrust of the 'West'

Once the Bolsheviks/Reds took over, what was the 'Cheka'?

The Cheka was a secret police force.

What did the Russian 1922 constitution include?

Included some democratic principles such as elected legislature, all citizens over 18 had the right to vote, all political power, resources and means of production would belong to workers & peasants, made up of European and Asian peoples, had civil rights.

When did Lenin die?

Lenin died in 1924.

Who became the Russian leader when Lenin died, and how would you describe his rule of Russia?

Stalin became a ruthless totalitarian dictator who imprisoned and had many critics assassinated. He wanted to concentrate on building socialism in Russia, and not building worldwide revolution.