Super Fun Final History

What was the purpose of the Concert of Europe?

To maintain a balance of power through collaboration and alternating alliances between European powers.

How did the Crimean War (1853-1856) contribute to the collapse of the Concert of Europe?

It intensified rivalries and weakened cooperation between European powers, undermining the balance of power.

Which two nations held deep animosity after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)?

Germany and France.

What was the main goal of Bismarck's system of alliances?

To isolate France and prevent Germany from facing a war on two fronts.

How did Realpolitik influence Bismarck’s diplomatic strategies?

Realpolitik focused on pragmatic, strategic decisions, allowing Bismarck to form alliances and avoid ideological conflicts to maintain peace.

What was the Entente Cordiale of 1904?

An agreement between Britain and France to resolve colonial disputes and foster closer cooperation.

What led to the collapse of Bismarck’s alliance system?

Germany’s failure to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia after Bismarck’s resignation in 1890.

What role did Social Darwinism play in pre-World War I militarism and nationalism?

Social Darwinism justified the belief that stronger nations had the right to dominate others, fueling nationalism and militarism.

How did industrial capitalism shape the political landscape before World War I?

It increased economic competition, trade, and imperialism, leading to tensions among European nations.

Why did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand trigger World War I?

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which activated a system of alliances, leading to a larger conflict.

What does Von Clausewitz’s famous statement, “War is the continuation of politics by other means,” mean?

War can be used as a political tool when diplomacy fails, rather than being irrational.

What does the term "Total War" refer to?

The complete mobilization of society, including its economy and politics, for the war effort.

What was Britain’s foreign policy of "splendid isolation"?

Britain avoided continental alliances, focusing on its empire and maintaining stability in Europe without direct involvement.

How did nationalism contribute to the breakdown of diplomatic relations before World War I?

Nationalism led to rigid alliances, a sense of superiority among nations, and competition, making diplomacy difficult.

What was the July Crisis of 1914, and how did it lead to World War I?

The July Crisis began after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, leading to the activation of alliances, escalating the conflict into a global war.

What was the Triple Entente?

alliance between Britain, France, and Russia.

What did the concept of the balance of power aim to achieve in pre-World War I Europe?

It aimed to prevent any one nation from becoming too powerful and dominating the continent.

What internal challenges made Austria-Hungary politically fragile before World War I?

Its ethnic diversity and nationalist tensions, particularly among Slavic populations, created instability.

How did militarism contribute to the outbreak of World War I?

Countries expanded their militaries, leading to arms races and increasing tensions, which made conflict more likely.

What was the Entente Cordiale (1904)?

A diplomatic agreement between Britain and France to improve relations and resolve colonial disputes.

What major event marked the beginning of World War I?

assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914.

What is the concept of "Total War"?

Complete mobilization of all resources, society, and politics for the war effort.

What major wars undermined the Concert of Europe?

The Crimean War and the unifications of Italy and Germany.

What was Bismarck’s strategy to consolidate Germany’s power?

A series of alliances and treaties, including the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary.

What ideology contributed to the rise of nationalism and militarism in Europe?

Social Darwinism.

What was Britain’s foreign policy stance before World War I?

‘Splendid isolation’ focused on maintaining a stable Europe while prioritizing its empire.

What was the significance of the Triple Entente?

It was an alliance between Britain, France, and Russia that countered the Triple Alliance.

What was the political consequence of the Russian Revolution in 1917?

The rise of a new political structure and the Bolsheviks’ eventual takeover.

How did the United States become involved in World War I?

Due to unrestricted submarine warfare and other provocations.

What was the result of the Treaty of Versailles?

Imposed blame on Germany (Alleinschuld), territorial losses, and severe reparations.

What internal unrest did France experience in the late 19th century?

The Dreyfus Affair, highlighting antisemitism and political divisions.

How did industrial capitalism affect international relations before WWI?

It led to economic competition, protectionism, and increased nationalism.

What were the military consequences of attrition warfare by 1917?

High casualties and military stalemates, contributing to political unrest in involved nations.

What was the outcome of the Peace of Brest-Litovsk?

Russia exited World War I, ceding significant territory to the Central Powers.

How did World War I change the geopolitical landscape of Europe?

It led to the collapse of empires (Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Tsarist Russia) and the rise of the USSR.

What were the long-term social consequences of WWI?

Increased women's emancipation, strengthening of labor unions, and rising nationalism in colonies.

How did World War I serve as a catalyst for change rather than being a direct cause?

It accelerated existing tensions and trends in politics, society, and international relations.

What were Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points intended to achieve?

They aimed to establish a new diplomacy based on self-determination, freedom of the seas, and the founding of an international organization for peace.

What was a major cause of the 1929 crisis in the U.S.?

Overproduction in industry and agriculture, leading to a supply-demand imbalance.

What significant event occurred in October 1929?

The stock market crash marking the start of the Great Depression.

What was the unemployment rate in the U.S. during the height of the Great Depression?

Between 25-30% in 1933.

What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous quote during the Great Depression?

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

What did the New Deal aim to address?

It aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to combat the effects of the Great Depression.

What was the significance of the Social Security Act of 1935?

It provided a safety net for citizens, marking an increase in government intervention and the establishment of Big Labor.

Who was John Maynard Keynes, and what was his key argument?

A: An economist who argued that government should intervene in times of economic distress to stimulate demand and reduce unemployment.

Q: What is the "Stillborn Thesis" regarding the Weimar Republic?

A: The idea that the Weimar Republic was doomed from the start due to a lack of democratic culture in Germany.

Q: What did the "Murder Thesis" suggest about the Weimar Republic?

A: It posited that democracy was undermined by political elites who restored the old order.

Q: What was the "Stab-in-the-Back" legend?

A: The belief that Germany lost World War I due to betrayal by socialists and democrats rather than military defeat.

Q: What were the consequences of the Versailles Treaty for Germany?

A: It imposed reparations, territorial losses, and the concept of "Alleinschuld" (exclusive blame) on Germany.

Q: What was the Goldene Zwanziger (Roaring Twenties) in Germany characterized by?

A: Economic recovery, stability, and increased trust in the Weimar Republic, especially under leaders like Gustav Stresemann.

Q: What role did paramilitary groups play in Weimar Germany?

A: They contributed to a violent political culture and undermined democracy through street violence and intimidation.

Q: What led to the polarization of German politics by the early 1930s?

A: Growing support for extremist parties like the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and the KPD (Communist Party) amid economic crises.

Q: What event on February 27, 1933, allowed Hitler to consolidate power?

A: The Reichstag Fire, which led to the enactment of the Ermächtigungsgesetz (Enabling Act).

Q: What was Article 48, and why was it significant for the Weimar Republic?

A: It allowed the President to rule by decree in emergencies, which ultimately contributed to the erosion of democracy.

Q: How did the Weimar Republic’s birth contribute to its challenges?

A: It faced immediate crises, including uprisings and political violence, leading to instability and eventual failure.

Q: What were some causes of political corruption and fragility in Italian democracy post-WWI?

A: Political chaos, strikes, tensions between left and right, and disappointment with the Versailles Treaty.

Q: What event marked Mussolini's rise to power?

A: The March on Rome (October 27-29, 1922).

Q: What significant change did Mussolini implement in the electoral law in 1924?

A: Transition to a one-party state.

Q: What was the Lateran Treaty (1929)?

A: A pact between Mussolini and the Pope that recognized Vatican City as an independent state and provided legitimacy to Mussolini’s regime.

Q: How did Italian fascism view liberalism and individualism?

A: It rejected liberalism as it leads to individualism and believed a strong national community was essential for society's strength.

Q: What was the "Leader Principle" in Italian fascism?

A: The notion that the leader (duce) embodies the unity of the community and stands for the collective goals of society.

Q: What role did irredentism play in the rise of fascism in Italy?

A: It fueled feelings of victimhood after WWI, with the belief that Italy should expand to realize its "real" territory.

Q: How did nationalism manifest in German National Socialism?

A: Through a focus on a collective identity (Volksgemeinschaft) and a hierarchy of people based on race.

Q: What was the Night of the Long Knives (June 30, 1934)?

A: A purge by Hitler to eliminate threats within the Nazi Party, particularly the SA leadership.

Q: What does 'Gleichschaltung' refer to in the context of Nazi Germany?

A: The process of consolidating control over all aspects of society, ensuring they align with Nazi ideology.

Q: What was Hannah Arendt’s view on the role of ideology in totalitarianism?

A: Ideology serves as a 'scientific' framework that explains everything and is used to organize mass obedience.

Q: What key elements define totalitarianism?

A: Rule by a leader-dominated mass party, reordering of social relations, a utopian ideology, and the use of propaganda and terror.

Q: How did Stalin's regime exemplify totalitarianism?

A: Through extreme coercion, a brutal grip on society, forced collectivization, and widespread purges of perceived enemies.

Q: What does the term 'totalitarianism' imply about the relationship between the state and society?

A: It implies that all domains of society, including economic, social, and cultural, are completely merged with the state.

Q: What did Nazi foreign policy emphasize regarding the Treaty of Versailles?

A: It no longer recognized the Treaty of Versailles, viewing it as a symbol of Germany's humiliation and inability to determine its own future.

Q: What was "Heim ins Reich" in the context of Nazi policy?

A: It referred to the idea of bringing all ethnic Germans back into the German empire.

Q: What was the concept of "Lebensraum"?

A: It was the idea of "living space" for Germany's expansion, based on claims of overpopulation and the need to expand into the Soviet Union.

Q: What did the end of Erfüllungspolitik signify?

A: It marked the rejection of the policies that aimed to fulfill the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Q: What was the significance of the remilitarization of the Rhineland in March 1936?

A: It was a strategic move to place soldiers directly behind the French border, challenging the Treaty of Versailles without immediate repercussions.

Q: How did the Munich Conference of 1938 relate to Hitler's expansionist aims?

A: Hitler used intimidation to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, asserting "peace in our time," but later occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia.

Q: What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

A: It was a non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, signed in August 1939, allowing Germany to avoid a two-front war.

Q: What marked the official end of appeasement policies in Britain?

A: The invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, which led to Britain declaring war on Germany.

Q: How did WWII differ from WWI in terms of ideology?

A: WWII was fought as an ideological crusade against a "bigger evil," with intense air strikes and a more significant involvement of politicians in military strategy.

Q: What were the four phases of the persecution of European Jews?

A: 1) Discrimination; 2) Social exclusion; 3) Pogroms (e.g., Kristallnacht); 4) Annihilation.

Q: What role did WWII play in the rise of nationalism in colonies?

A: The war created a power vacuum and led to strengthened nationalist movements, as many colonies sought independence after the war.

Q: Who was a significant figure in the anti-colonial movement in India?

A: Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated for peaceful resistance and civil disobedience.

Q: What was the outcome of the Indonesian declaration of independence?

A: The Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed on August 17, 1945, but faced Dutch military intervention until independence was recognized on December 27, 1949.

Q: What significant events occurred in the Middle East post-WWII?

A: The proclamation of Israel in 1948, followed by Nasser's rise in Egypt and pan-Arabism, alongside various coups and nationalizations in Arab states.

Q: What was the significance of the Atlantic Charter (1941)?

A: It laid the foundation for post-war cooperation and the establishment of a new world order based on self-determination and economic collaboration.

Q: What was the primary conflict of the Cold War?

A: The Cold War was a global conflict primarily between the USSR and the US, characterized by a conflict of interests, power, and value systems (communism vs. liberal democracy/capitalism).

Q: What is the definition of "proxy wars" in the context of the Cold War?

A: Proxy wars refer to indirect military conflicts where the superpowers supported opposing sides but avoided direct confrontation.

Q: What was the Orthodox vision regarding the Cold War?

A: The Orthodox vision blamed the Soviets for the Cold War, arguing that as a communist power, they sought to expand their influence, prompting the US to adopt containment policies.

Q: What is the Revisionist perspective on the Cold War?

A: Revisionism claims that the US was the expanding power, seeking new markets to protect its capitalist economy, while the USSR was primarily focused on its own security.

Q: What does the term "post-revisionism" refer to?

A: Post-revisionism connects ideology with state interests, suggesting that both the US and USSR acted based on their ideologies and national interests, complicating the understanding of the Cold War.

Q: What was George Kennan's contribution to the Cold War strategy?

A: George Kennan advocated for the containment policy, arguing that the Soviet Union was expansionist due to internal problems and needed to be contained rather than confronted militarily.

Q: What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

A: The Marshall Plan aimed to rebuild European economies after WWII, promoting recovery to prevent the spread of communism and providing a market for American goods.

Q: What was the Berlin Blockade and how did it end?

A: The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) was an attempt by Stalin to limit access to West Berlin. It ended with the successful American airlift, which provided supplies to West Berlin.

Q: What was NATO, and what principle did it operate on?

A: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was a military alliance established in 1949 based on the principle of collective defense, where an attack on one member was considered an attack on all.

Q: What event marked the beginning of the Korean War?

A: The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea along the 38th parallel, leading to a UN intervention to defend the South.

Q: What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) brought the US and USSR to the brink of nuclear war and led to the establishment of a direct communication hotline between Washington and Moscow.

Q: What characterized the period of détente?

A: Détente (1962-1975) was marked by efforts to ease tensions between the superpowers, arms control agreements (like SALT I and II), and the pursuit of military parity.

Q: What were Gorbachev's major reforms?

A: Gorbachev introduced perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (openness), aiming to reform the Soviet system and promote transparency.

Q: What led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989?

A: A combination of reforms in Eastern Europe, public dissent against communist regimes, and Gorbachev's policies contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Q1: What is the concept of "Pillarization" in Dutch politics during the interbellum?

A1: A segregation in Dutch society characterized by vertical divisions among Protestant, Catholic, socialist, and liberal pillars, leading to distinct political and social lives within each group.

Q2: What does the term "being part of a pillar" refer to?

A2: It refers to the submissive attitude of the masses within a pillar, where they comply with the authority of elites.