Social 20: Chapter 7/8 Study Guide

Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy

the set of policies which influence decisions a country makes internationally.

• course of action that a sovereign nation takes in its conduct with other nation-states or international organizations

• (goals that outline how a country interacts with another.)

National Interest

cultural, economic, political, religious, or military goal of a nation

Nationalist

believes nation should spend its money on its citizens first, and citizens of other nations after

Internationalist

nation should care for both its own citizens and greater group of world citizens

Causes of WWI

Forces of:

• Nationalism

• Imperialism

• Militarism

• Formation of Alliances

Nationalism (a feeling)

The collective, shared sense of belonging of people who identify themselves as a nation

Imperialism

extending a country’s power and influence through military force or diplomacy.

• resulted in clashes between nations for control over undeveloped countries that had raw materials or were situated in strategic locations.

Militarism

the belief that a country should have a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote its interests.

• led nations to increase military spending and build up armaments.

• took on a more important role in gov’t, especially in Germany.

Formation of Alliances

Europe was divided into two armed camps:

• Triple Alliance

• Triple Entente

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“If other nations attack us, we will have other nation-states as backup”

“We must go to war because ___ is going to war” 

“If we form an alliance, there will be more of us, therefore would make for a tougher battle. They cannot take on ALL of us”.

Triple Alliance (Central Powers)

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Italy

Triple Entente (Allied Powers)

• Britain

• France

• Russia

WW1 Timeline

• Bosnian Serb (Gavrilo Princip) assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne (Archduke Franz Ferdinand)

• Austria Hungary → declared war on Serbia

• Russia → defended Serbia (wanted influence in Balkan Region)

• Germany → defended Austria-Hungary

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• Germany → declares war on Russia

• Germany knows it might have to fight a two-front war.

  • Prepared with the Schlieffen Plan:

  • Phase 1: take out France quickly to take them out of the war.

  • Phase 2: turn against Russia

• Britain → declares war on Germany

  • Germany moved troops through Belgium, a neutral area. Violating Treaty of Neutrality.

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• Britain → defends Belgium neutrality

  • Aids France on declaring war on Germany and its allies (Triple Alliance)

• British Empire was now at war.

  • Triple Entente + Serb VS. Triple Alliance + Turkey.

• Italy switches sides and joins the Triple Entente.

  • Declares war on Austria Hungary and severing ties with Germany.

  • Switches side because was offered land. (Treaty of London)

• America joined Triple Entente.

Results of WWI

• Trench Warfare

• Millions Dead

• War of Attrition

  • military strategy → to repeatedly wear out the other side.

Paris Peace Conference (1919)

Treaty of Versailles was negotiated.

Treaty of Versailles

Woodrow Wilson outlined a blueprint for peace in Europe

• Known as the Fourteen Points → a foreign policy that was applied for all Allies.

The Big Four

• Clemenceau (France)

• Woodrow Wilson (USA)

• Lloyd George (Britain)

• Orlando (Italy)

What did the Big Four want with the Treaty?

Clemenceau (France):

• wanted to cripple Germany so that they would never wage war again.

Woodrow Wilson (USA)

• did not feel harsh punishment was the way.

• wanted to create a humane treaty with Germany.

Lloyd George (Britain)

• promised British that Germany would pay for the damages of the war.

• wanted Britain to maintain access to colonies without Germany threating access.

Orland (Italy)

• wanted land if they switched up.

Rhineland

a region on both sides of the Rhine River in western Germany-Industrial key location.

• was to be demilitarized

Reparation Payments

War Reparation Commission determined:

• Germany had to pay $33 billion in reparations.

  • for death and damages incurred by the victorious nations.

Expansionism (example of foreign policy)

a policy advocating for territorial or economic expansion.

• often pursued aggressively.

• initiated the WW2.

Reasons for Expansionism and how?

During Interwar period and Great Depression, leaders of Germany, Italy, Japan → needed more land to accomplish their goals!

• racial, economic factors and empire building were used to justify the foreign policy.

Japan’s Expansionism

• Was behind in all aspects due to isolationist policies.

• Swiftly changed from feudal, agricultural society → modern, industrialized.

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• Believed it was their right to colonize in the Pacific → saw it as a “obligation” to liberate other Asian Nations from EU and NA domination.

  • Wanted to emulate the foreign policies of US and EU nations.

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• Japan also needed more resources from other Asian countries to support its large population.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Japan expansionism/domination of East Asia

Manchuria (China)

• Japan’s population increased greatly → country was no longer self-sufficient in food production.

  • completely depended on international trade in Manchuria (China)

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• Japan built railroads and invested large sums of money in Manchuria Economy.

  • was bombed later on, many believed it was staged by Japan itself.

Italy’s Expansionism

• Fascist Leader Mussolini came into power → wanted to create a new “Roman Empire”.

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• Took over a financially strained society that felt wronged by Treaty of Versailles.

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• Wanted to bring back wealth and prosperity to the nation which also guided Italian foreign policy.

Abyssinia (Ethiopia)

• Mussolini planned to unify the two Italian colonies in Africa by trying to conquer Abyssinia, which contained farm, coal, iron, copper and gold.

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• Two Italian armies invade Abyssinia

  • international community, struggling with the effects of the Depression → did little to stop the aggression.

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• Lack of resolve and aid from outside nations → served as a green light to Hitler, confirming his belief in the weakness of his enemies.

Germany’s Expansionism

• Financially devastated due to the measures of the Treaty of Versailles

• Loss of Territory

• Extreme decrease in military might

All points of Treaty of Versailles damaged German people financially, politically, and socially. → this environment that Hitler capitalized on in order to gain power.

Anschluss (“connection, joining”)

An event that formed a union between Germany and Austria.

• Breaking one of the conditions in the Treaty of Versailles (Union with Austria is forbidden)

• Broke these conditions in an attempt to rebuild their nation’s capacity for war.

Appeasement

the policy of settling international conflicts by satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and compromise.

• avoiding armed conflict → can be expensive and harmful

Ultranationalism

an extreme form of nationalism which promotes hostility and the interests and identity of one nation over and at the expense of others.

Propaganda

Information and ideas that are spread to achieve a specific goal.

• often used to persuade people to think and behave in a certain way.

Techniques of Propaganda

• Bandwagon

• Card Stacking

• Glittering Generalities

• Name Calling

• Plain Folks

• Testimonial

• Transfer

Military Service Act

• attempted to recruit 100,000 more men into WW1

  • would be arrested if they didn’t enlist.

  • forced register or else treason

Self Determination

the process by which a group of people form their own state and choose their own government

War Measures Act 1914

Temporary removal of rights and freedoms in times of conflict

Rise of Hitler and Nazi Party

Hitler blamed Germany’s economic , political and social problems on:

• Jews

• Physically and Mentally Disabled

• Homosexuals

• Communists'

• Feminist Groups

• Democratic Socialists

Enabling Acts 1993

• Helped Adolf Hitler get closer to his goal of achieving full control over the German Parliament

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• It granted Hitler the right to enact laws without consulting the German Parliament

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• Formed the legal and constitutional basis for the Third Reich because it allowed Hitler’s plans to deviate from the existing constitution

Hitler → The Dictator

Created his own form of Fascism - NAZISM

• his ideology believed that there was one superior race → ARYANS

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Used:

• Propaganda 

• Youth movements 

• Elimination of his opposition force and terror 

• Scapegoats (Jewish , Communists , Liberals)

Hitler’s Pursuit of National Interest

• Took advantage over the economic distress that overcame Europe following the Great Depression.

  • Manchuria, Abyssinia

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• 1936 - Hitler had an army of almost 1 million strong, ordered Rhineland to be remilitarized

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• “Forbidden Union” with Austria is complete

Nazi Propaganda

• Posters, movies, books to pursue the belief of the Aryan race and Hitler's domination

Mussolini

An Italian dictator that coined the term of “Fascism”.

• individually weak, but collectively strong

Fascism

characterized by the exercise of control over virtually all aspects of the nation and its people by its rulers.

• referring to the roman symbol for “power through unity”

Fascism Vs. Communism

Fascism (Mussolini and Hitler):

• full control of social classes

• prosperity of the nation matters more than individual rights and happiness

Communism:

• full control for equality

Conscription

compulsory enlistment in military