The First World War

Flashcards covering key concepts from a lecture on the causes, characteristics, and consequences of World War I, including Western hegemony, the gathering storm of pre-war tensions, the nature of trench warfare, and the collapse of empires.

Prior to World War I, what was the state of the world in relation to Western powers?

The entire world was under the hegemony (leadership/dominance) of the West.

What statistics reveal the extent of Western hegemony prior to World War I?

The United States, Great Britain, and Russia controlled over half of the world's GDP. Six powers (including China, Germany, and France) controlled over three-fourths, but China's share was effectively controlled by the other five through unequal treaties.

What were some advantages in Western societies prior to WWI?

Abundance of food, death rates fallen to 19 per 1000, longer life expectancy, literacy rates rising close to 100.

Name some of the great accomplishments of the West during their period of prosperity.

The Alpine Tunnels, Suez Canal, Kiel Canal, and Panama Canal.

Describe Western countries' economic policies and trade dynamics before WWI.

They followed Liberalism – free trade and laissez faire. They imported more raw materials than exports but made up the difference with freight costs and foreign investments.

What financial standard was widely adopted, and who benefitted from it?

The Gold Standard was widely adopted, which benefited creditors, most of whom were Westerners.

What were some economic problems?

Boom and Bust Cycles and monopolies.

What were the signs of trouble in East Asia before World War I?

The Chinese were angry at the Qing Empire's incompetent rule and subordination to Western powers, leading to the Xinhai Revolution in 1911.

What were the key outcomes of the Xinhai Revolution?

The abdication of the child emperor Puyi and the rise of Yuan Shikai, though his rule quickly became a personal dictatorship.

What was the state of China after Yuan Shikai's death?

China was divided between numerous feuding warlords and political factions.

What conflict confirmed Japan's entry into the 'club' of great powers?

The Russo-Japanese War.

What was the status of the Ottoman Empire leading up to World War I?

It was known as the 'Sick Man of Europe,' politically dysfunctional and technologically undeveloped.

What was the result of the Balkan Wars?

The Ottomans lost their remaining European territories, and new nation states emerged, igniting conflict between Austria-Hungary and Russia.

What problem was brewing in Latin America?

The Mexican Revolution of 1910, erupting between traditionalists and revolutionaries.

Four long-term factor that led to World War I.

Imperialism, Nationalism, Militarization, and Alliance Systems.

List the members of the Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

List the members of the Triple Entente

France, Russia, and Great Britain

What events triggered the outbreak of World War I?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, and the subsequent involvement of Russia, Germany, and France due to alliance systems.

What strategy did Germany employ at the start of WWI, and what was the result?

Germany attempted to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium, but Great Britain intervened to protect Belgian neutrality.

Which countries made up the Allied and Central Powers during WWI?

Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States. Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.

What form of warfare was WWI noted for?

Trench Warfare; armies defended entrenched positions in horrible conditions

What is Total War?

Total War is when governments redirect nearly all their countries’ resources towards the war effort.

What prompted the collapse of Imperial Russia during WWI?

Agrarian crisis, defeats in war, economic collapse, and the return of Vladimir Lenin led to the Russian Revolution in 1917.

What were the main causes that led to the U.S. Entry into World War I?

Trading relationships with Great Britain, the Zimmermann Telegram, the sinking of the Lusitania, and German unrestricted submarine warfare.

What were the consequences of the United States entering WWI?

The entry of the United States into the war, with its undepleted manpower and prosperous economy, led quickly to the collapse of the Central Powers.

What happened to Austria-Hungary and Russia after WWI?

They no longer existed as functional, independent states.

What was the state of the Ottoman Empire?

Existed in name only, the Sultan a powerless prisoner in Constantinople, its lands divided amongst Allied occupying forces.

What were the overall results of WWI?

More than 15 million dead, collapse/restructuring of empires, and diplomats struggling to make meaningful resolutions from a largely pointless war.