World War I and Comparative Analysis

Flashcards covering the causes, alliance systems, timeline, key battles, developments, and outcomes of World War I, alongside historical comparison methodology.

How is "power" defined in the lecture, and what are its two primary forms of influence?

Power is defined as the ability to influence another person's behavior, actions, or decisions. Its two main forms are persuasion (using arguments, reasoning, or appeals to get someone to act voluntarily) and coercion (using force, threats, or pressure to make someone act against their will).

What is the definition of "conflict" and under what three main circumstances does it typically arise?

Conflict is a situation in which two or more parties have opposing interests, goals, or values, resulting in tension, disagreement, or confrontation. It commonly arises when power is disputed, sovereignty is challenged, or legitimacy is challenged.

What was the "Armed peace" period ($1870-1914$)?

A period of peace interrupted by occasional conflicts, during which the great powers entered an arms race to surpass their opponents' military resources.

What were the primary pre-war conditions and causes of World War I related to nationalism, militarism, and the Industrial Revolution?

1) Nationalism and imperialist expansion (colonial and trade rivalries, the German Empire in $1871$, Italian unification in $1870$, and Balkan independence movements from the Ottoman Empire); 2) Militarism (drastic growth of armies after $1900$); and 3) Industrial Revolution (development of new and better weaponry, including tanks, machine guns, and chemical weapons).

What major geopolitical tensions existed in Europe prior to the outbreak of World War I?

Germany annexed the province of Alsace-Lorraine from France in $1871$, Germany and Britain competed for control of the new global market, and Austria-Hungary competed with Russia for control of the Balkan Peninsula.

Which nations composed the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, and how did their memberships shift?

The Triple Alliance ($1882$) originally consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy; the Ottoman Empire joined in $1914$, Bulgaria joined in $1915$, and Italy switched sides in $1915$. The Triple Entente ($1907$) consisted of France, England (United Kingdom), and Russia; the United States joined in $1917$, and Russia withdrew in $1917$.

Which pivotal event of June 28, 1914, is depicted in this illustration?

The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.

What was the chronological sequence of war declarations and mobilizations between July 28 and August 4, $1914$?

July 28: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia; July 30: Russia mobilized troops to support Serbia; August 1: Germany declared war on Russia; August 3: Germany declared war on France; August 4: Germany invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg, prompting England to declare war on Germany.

What familial relationship connected King George V of the United Kingdom, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany?

They were first cousins and all grandsons of Queen Victoria.

What were the four distinct stages of World War I according to the lecture?

1) War of mobilization ($1914$); 2) Trench warfare ($1915-1917$); 3) Crisis of $1917$; and 4) The armistice ($1918$).

What was the German invasion strategy through Belgium and Luxembourg named in the lecture notes, and what characterized the Western Front?

It was identified as "The Sheffield Plan." The Western Front became a defensive war of attrition centered along more than $2000\,\text{km}$ of trenches, where advancing a few meters carried massive human and material costs.

What key diplomatic and military developments occurred in $1915$?

April 20: Germany used toxic gas in battle for the first time; April 26: The Treaty of London brought Italy into the Entente; May 23: Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary; September 6: Bulgaria allied with Germany; October 14: Bulgaria declared war on Serbia.

What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement of May 16, $1916$?

A secret agreement between France and Great Britain to partition and divide control and influence over the Middle East.

What were the characteristics and outcomes of the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme in $1916$?

The Battle of Verdun (February–December $1916$) lasted nearly $10$ months between France and Germany, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths with France holding its ground. The Battle of the Somme (July–November $1916$) between Britain, France, and Germany lasted $4$ months, ended inconclusively, and caused more than $1$ million casualties.

What historical document from January 1917 is shown in this image?

The Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany proposed an alliance asking Mexico to join the war.

What key events precipitated the United States entering World War I on April 6, $1917$?

The sinking of the passenger ship Lusitania by Germany in May $1915$ and the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram in January $1917$.

What were the results of the Russian Revolution of $1917$ regarding Russia's participation in World War I?

Uprisings led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the fall of the provisional government, the establishment of a Bolshevik government led by Vladimir Lenin, and the eventual withdrawal of the newly formed USSR from the war.

What were the major terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ($1918$)?

Signed between Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland were ceded to Germany; Belarus was given to Germany and Austria-Hungary; Russia recognized the independence of Ukraine and Finland; and Russia agreed to pay six million marcs in war compensations.

When was the armistice signed by Germany, and which treaty formally concluded peace with the victorious allies?

Germany signed an armistice in November $1918$. In June $1919$, representatives of $27$ victorious allied nations gathered in France to sign the Treaty of Versailles. World War I caused the death of almost $10$ million people.

What criteria define a successful comparative response according to the historical methodology notes?

It must compare similarities (not identical elements) by identifying common elements supported by evidence from both sources, be clear using academic language, be complete with explicit evidence and historical context, and be concise ($1$ to $2$ paragraphs, each between $5$ and $10$ lines long).