World War I and the Rise of Dictatorship

This set of flashcards covers the causes, key events, and consequences of World War I, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the formation of the League of Nations, and the rise of Fascism and Nazism.

WWI ($1914-1918$)

A global conflict characterized by atmosphere filled with fear, apprehension, and hatred; often called the First World War because it involved and affected countries across the world including Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Aggressive Nationalism

A cause of WWI meaning love for one's own country and hatred for other countries.

Imperialism

A state policy or practice by which a powerful nation establishes control over another country through direct territorial acquisition or gaining political and economic control.

Race for Armaments (Militarism)

The mad stockpiling of armaments by every major European power that began soon after the Franco-Prussian War ($1870$).

Triple Alliance

A hostile group formed before WWI comprising Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.

Triple Entente

An alliance of powers including Britain, France, and Russia, which the USA joined later.

Sarajevo Crisis

The immediate cause of WWI involving the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand on $29\text{th June, 1914}$.

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

The heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary who was assassinated at Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.

Black Hand

A secret society of Serbian extremist nationalists responsible for the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand.

Lucitania

A British ship sunk by German U-Boats in $1915$ resulting in the death of $128$ American passengers, leading to the USA's entry into the war.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty signed on $28\text{th June, 1919}$, at the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, Paris, France.

Reparation

The war compensation fixed at $33 \text{ billion}$ dollars that Germany was mandated to pay under the Treaty of Versailles.

Saar

The region whose coal mines were ceded to France for $15$ years as part of the Treaty of Versailles clauses.

Danzig

A territory that became a free port in Polish territory under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Rhine Valley

The area that was demilitarized following the Treaty of Versailles.

League of Nations

An international organisation formed in $1920$ for the preservation of peace, based on Wilson's $14$ points.

Fascism

An intensely nationalistic ideology in Italy led by Benito Mussolini (Il-duce) that emphasized unity, strength, and authority of government.

Nazism

A totalitarian ideology in Germany led by Adolf Hitler (Furer) characterized by aggressive nationalism and anti-semitism.

Blitzkareig

Adolf Hitler's method of attack in WWII characterized by lightning speed.

Gestapo

The secret police force used in Nazi Germany.

Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

The autobiography written by Adolf Hitler.

Totalitarian Rule

A system of government characterized by one party, one leader, and one man rule, which both Fascism and Nazism upheld.

Anti-semitism

The hostile attitude and ideology directed towards Jews as practiced under Nazism.

Alsace and Lorraine

Provinces that France wanted to get back from Germany, which were eventually restored to France after the war.

Eupen-et-Malmedy

Territory restored to Belgium as part of the territorial rearrangements after WWI.