World Wars

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B0lNkriUmMrrXI0falJIG4jQw249vgsbtjwks2EKJmE/edit?usp=sharing <-- HELPFUL STUDY QUESTIONS

Militarism

the glorification of military power; constant preparation for war

Alliances

a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.

Imperialism

when a stronger country takes over a weaker country

Nationalism

strong feelings of loyalty towards one’s country

Triple Entente

Russia, Britain, France

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Pan-Slavism

the desire for one single slavic country

Balkan Powder Keg

Rising tension in the Balkan peninsula

July Crisis

a series of events during July 1914 that lead to WWI

Blank Check Assurance

When Germany issued a promise to Austria-Hungary to support them unconditionally in war, no matter the cost

Allied Powers

Britain, France, USSR, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

Axis Powers

Germany, Italy, Japan

Two Front War

when opposing forces encounter on two geographically separate fronts; WWI

Western Front

War fought along the Belgian, German and French borders; smaller, trench warfare

Eastern Front

German & Austria-Hungarian forces vs the Russians; trench warfare not used

Schlieffen Plan

plan where Germany attempts to avoid a two front war by quickly invading Belgium to defeat the French, then moving to Russia (fails, Britain enters WWI)

Trench Warfare

a form of warfare where opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield. poor conditions and high death due to disease

Stalemate

a dead lock; neither sider can defeat the other

War of Attrition

A prolonged war during which each seeks to gradually wear out the other side by a series of small scale attacks

Bolsheviks

Communists that instituted a provisional government that called for “peace, land and bread” and to end Russia’s participation in WWI

Lusitania

A British passenger ship with 128 Americans aboard that the Germans sunk

Zimmerman note

issued by Germany to Mexico offering an alliance to Mexico to invade US, Message intercepted by Britain to USA

Armistice

stop of war or ceasefire

Lost Generation

a term for the generation that grew up during WWI and developed a pessimistic view of the world. Rejected traditional morals and often acted irrationally

Paris Peace Conference

important 6 month meeting with all the leaders of the world with the goal to end WWI; 32 countries in attendance but “Big 4”

Treaty of Versailles

a treaty decided at the Paris Peace Conference that made Germany take responsibility for the first world war

League of Nations

league to stop future instances after WWI by Wilson (obv failed)

14 Points

points made by USA for peace negotiations

Weimar Republic

a period of German government where they are economically and politically unstable after the war damages and ToV of WWI

Hyperinflation

prominent in Weimar republic; the prices of all goods and services rise uncontrollably

Great Depression

a severe global economic downturn; became evident after a sharp decline in stock prices in the United States.

Stock Market Crash

bank run: everybody runs to the banks at once to grab their money because they’re afraid it’ll crash. It does, and people can’t access money; leads to economic crash in USA

Communism

political and economic system that seeks to create a classless society in which the major means of production, such as mines and factories, are owned and controlled by the public.

Fascism

Mussolini; a political movement and gov system; authoritarian leadership, restriction of individual rights, ultranationalism, forcible suppression of opposition

Appeasement

When Chamberlain would give into Hitler’s command to avoid future war

Munich Agreement

appeasement compromised Hitler to annex Sudetenland and agree not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia or Poland

Sudetenland

the northern, southern, and western areas of former Czechoslovakia which were inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans; Hitler wanted it

German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Stalin and Hitler’s deal to split territory in Poland; Pact broken by Hitler

Maginot Line

an array of defenses that France built along its border with Germany

Blitzkrieg

“lightning war”; German military tactic which uses mobile forces and concentrated power to defeat enemies

Battle of Britain

air attack by German air force; Allies successfully stop German invasion

Battle of Stalingrad

Turning point in European theatre; German invasion (GY loses); Millions USSR and German troops die; shifts power from Axis to Allies

Lend-Lease Act

an act that would allow the U.S to stay “neutral” by lending war supplies to countries in need without directly fighting

Pearl Harbor

when Japanese forces bombed the United States; USA enters the war

Invasion of Normandy

allied airborne forces land on the beaches. Largest seaborne invasion in history. Begins liberation of France and allied victory in WWII

D-Day

The day that the battle of Normandy began; nickname

Island Hopping

when the USA would go from island to island in the Pacific to cut off Japanese supplies and inch forward to Japan

Battle of Midway

First significant Allied victory in the Pacific. Often considered the Pacific turning point.

Battle of Iwo Jima

One of the deadliest battles of WWII, secured an important position for the Allies before a future war

Battle of Okinawa

Last major battle before the Atomic Bombs

Kamikaze

when Japanese soldiers would commit suicide attacks

Manhattan Project

Harry Truman’s plan to create a secret atomic bomb to use on Japan

Hiroshima

the first city bombed; an important manufacturing and military center in Japan with 350,000+ people

Nagasaki

the second city bombed; bombed even worse because the first city wasn’t enough to make them surrender

Franz Ferdinand

Archduke of Austria-Hungary whose assassination is said to trigger World War I

Gavrilo Princip

Serbian guy who assassinated Franz Ferdinand

David Lloyd George

UK prime minister during WWI

Woodrow Wilson

American president during World War I; 14 points

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Emperor of Germany during WWI; “prompter” of the war

George Clemenceau

Prime Minister of France during WWI

Vittorio Orlando

Prime Minister of Italy during WWI

Benito Mussolini

Italian dictator during WWII who lead the Fascist party

Adolf Hitler

Austrian-born German dictator during WWII who lead the Nazi party; infamous for antisemitism

FDR

American president during part of WWII

Eisenhower

American General during WWII

Joseph Stalin

Georgian-born Soviet dictator during WWII

Hideki Tojo

Japanese prime minister and military leader during WWII; controlled daily operations

Emperor Hirohito

Japanese; believed to be descended from god by the people, made some political decisions, technically the highest power

Neville Chamberlain

Prime Minister of Great Britain; advocates for appeasement with Hitler at Munich Agreement

Winston Churchill

Prime Minister of Great Britain that led them into victory in WWII

Harry Truman

American President during WWII / War in the Pacific that is known for making the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan