The Prelude and Impact of World War I

World War I

First global conflict altering international relations.

Imperialism

Policy of extending a country's power through colonization.

Nationalism

Patriotic feeling promoting national interests over global ones.

Central Powers

Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman Empire.

Allied Powers

Alliance of Britain, France, and Russia during WWI.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

His assassination triggered World War I in 1914.

Total War

Mobilization of all societal resources for war efforts.

British Mark I

First tank used in combat, introduced in 1916.

Aerial Combat

Use of airplanes for surveillance and bombing missions.

Machine Guns

Weapon causing unprecedented casualties on the battlefield.

Poison Gas

Chemical weapon leading to severe suffering in warfare.

Mobilization

Approximately 70 million men mobilized for World War I.

Casualties

10 million soldiers killed, significant demographic shifts.

Women's Roles

Expanded during war, filling jobs left by men.

Suffrage Movement

Push for women's voting rights accelerated by war efforts.

Armenian Genocide

1.3 million Armenians killed during Ottoman Empire's wartime actions.

Ottoman Empire

Joined Central Powers, leading to Middle Eastern conflicts.

Colonial Troops

Over 1 million soldiers from British and French colonies.

Demographic Shift

Half of mobilized men did not return home.

The 'Woman Question'

Contradictions between women's wartime contributions and societal status.

Diplomatic Failures

Highlighted fragility of peace prior to World War I.

Secret Alliances

Covert agreements escalating tensions among European nations.

Interconnectedness

Global powers relied on colonial resources and manpower.

Russian Revolution

Political upheaval leading to the fall of the Romanovs.

Wartime Scarcity

Resource shortages contributing to public discontent.

Romanov Dynasty

Last imperial dynasty of Russia, ended in 1917.

Public Discontent

Widespread dissatisfaction due to food shortages and conditions.

Provisional Government

Unelected officials governing post-abdication Russia.

Bolsheviks

Political party advocating for socialism in Russia.

Lenin

Leader of the Bolsheviks during the revolution.

Trotsky

Key Bolshevik leader and revolutionary strategist.

Bolshevik Revolution

1917 uprising establishing the first communist government.

Soviets

Workers' councils representing the proletariat in Russia.

Socialist Government

Political system promoting collective ownership and equality.

Migration Factors

Scarcity of resources driving people to seek opportunities.

Urbanization (1890-1914)

Rapid growth of cities due to industrialization.

Ethnic Enclaves

Communities formed by immigrants along class lines.

Urban Experience

Life in cities often contrasted with harsh realities.

Imperialism

Ideology supporting territorial expansion and control.

Colonization

Process of establishing control over new territories.

Economic Motivations

European powers exploited Africa for natural resources.

Cultural Hubs

Cities offering job opportunities and cultural experiences.

Paul Nash

Artist reflecting war's devastation in his works.

Legacy of War

Profound sense of loss and questioning of values.

Civilizing Mission

Justification for imperialism through missionary work.

Othering

Portraying colonized peoples as inferior.

White Man's Burden

Paternalistic belief in governing 'primitive' races.

Anglo-Boer War

Conflict between British imperialists and Afrikaners (1899-1902).

Boxer Uprising

Chinese peasant resistance against foreign influence.

Qing Dynasty

Chinese dynasty supporting Boxers amid imperialism.

Women's Rights Movements

Late 19th century advocacy for women's equality.

Olympe de Gouges

Early feminist advocating for women's rights.

Women's Suffrage

Right to vote for women, first in New Zealand (1893).

Contraception

Increased use reflecting women's reproductive control.

Impact of Imperialism on Women

Colonial powers justified poor treatment of women.

Exploitation of Women

Women faced violence in labor-intensive industries.

Berlin Conference

1884-1885 meeting to partition Africa among Europeans.

Congo and Niger Rivers

Internationalized waterways established during Berlin Conference.

Congo Basin

Designated neutral territory at Berlin Conference.

Belgian Sovereignty

Recognition leading to exploitation in the Congo.

Lat Dior

Senegalese leader opposing French railroad construction.

Menelik II

Ethiopian leader defeating Italy in 1896.

Resistance Movements

Efforts to maintain sovereignty against imperialism.

Herero and Nama Genocide

Revolt against German rule (1904-1908) leading to atrocities.

Nationalist Movements

Emerging responses to colonial tensions and oppression.

Social Justice

Central theme during discussions on women's rights.

Herero and Nama Uprising

Started January 12, 1904, against German rule.

Collective Punishment

Severe reprisals against Herero and Nama populations.

Namib Desert

Location where Herero and Nama were forced.

Genocide Recognition

UN recognized genocide in 1985, 110,000 deaths.

Imperial Governance

European powers divided Africa, ignoring cultural boundaries.

Yoruba People

Split between French Dahomey and British Nigeria.

Mandara

Divided between British Nigeria and German Cameroon.

Economic Exploitation

Local populations exploited under King Leopold II.

Red Rubber System

Imposed quotas on rubber and ivory extraction.

Force Publique

Private army enforcing brutal laws in Congo.

Social Darwinism

Justified imperialism through racial superiority ideas.

Orientalism

Western portrayal of Eastern societies as inferior.

Othering

Depicting colonized peoples as fundamentally different.

Nationalism Rise

19th-century nationalism intertwined with imperial ambitions.

Manifest Destiny

Justified American territorial expansion as divine right.

Mexican-American War

1846-1848 conflict resulting in U.S. territorial gains.

California Gold Rush

Transformed California into a cosmopolitan center.

German Unification

Led by Otto von Bismarck in 1860s-70s.

Italian Unification

Count Camillo di Cavour played key role.

Political Exclusion

Many groups remained excluded post-national consolidation.

Economic Power Concentration

Consolidation favored old aristocratic classes.

Revolutionary Ideas

Repurposed to reinforce existing power structures.