Ch 33: The Great War

AP World History Chapter 33- Important Terms and Names

Armenian Genocide

Armenian Genocide

• Campaign of extermination against the Ottoman Empire’s 2 million Armenians (the last major muslim group under Ottoman control)

• When abuses by the Ottoman government persisted, Armenians confronted the government by demonstrations

• These demonstrations led to government reprisals, as they were convinced that the Armenians were seeking independance.

• A deadly assault on the Armenians that took place between 1915 and 1917

Ataturk

The leader of the Turkish Republic, formed after WWI, he initiated a rigorous program of political, economic, and cultural reforms to build a republican state. He was also known as Mustafa Kemal, he was previously a military leader.

Gained recognition for his strategic military skills. He later founded modern Turkey, advocating for secularism and reform.

Balfour Declaration

When the British Government publicly declared its support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”. Further complicated the Sykes-Picot Treaty Issue.

Black Hand

• A terrorist group linked to the assassination that sparked World War 1

• This organization was dedicated to the unification of all Slavs to form a ‘greater’ Serbia.

• With Austria-Hungary issuing a demand to punish those connected to the assassination of Ferdinand, and Serbia’s response being ‘unsatisfactory’, Austria-Hungary declared war on July 28th.

Bolshevik

With the war amplifying existing stresses in Russia, the Romanov Dynasty was forced to abdicate in favor of a provisional government in the spring of 1917. Eight months later, the government yielded power to these Revolutionaries, who took Russia out of the war early.

Central Powers

• AKA- The Triple Alliance

• Consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire

• A defensive pact that ensured reciprocal protection from any attack

Dreadnoughts

• Super battleships constructed by the British government in response to the German threat

• Began a new generation of warship because of its speed

• instead of discouraging the German fleets, they instead stipulated the building of many more of these ships.

February Revolution

In the spring on 1917, disintegrating armies, mutinies, and food shortages sparked a series on strikes in St, Petersburg (called Petrograd at the time). With the inability of the police to stop the demonstrations and the mutiny of troops persuaded the Tsar to abdicate the throne.

Fourteen Points

Woodrow Wilson’s document was his interpretation of how Germany should be punished for their loss of the war. He used this to negotiate at the Treaty of Versailles, however his points were ignored.

• Woodrow Wilson's peace plan to end WWI

• Aimed to prevent future wars and promote self-determination

• Led to creation of League of Nations

Francis Ferdinand

• Heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire

• A catalyst for the start of the war when he was assassinated

• Assassinated on June 28th, 1914 by Serbian Nationalists

• Austria-Hungarian allies transformed this small Austrian conflict into a European war, and as more allies joined in a global war

Gallipoli

A significant military campaign during World War I that took place in the Ottoman Empire. The Allied forces, aimed to secure a sea route to Russia through the Dardanelles. However, the campaign turned out to be a failure, with heavy casualties on both sides. The rugged terrain, harsh weather conditions, and well-prepared Ottoman defenses made the Allied advance extremely challenging. The battle lasted for eight months, from April 25, 1915, to January 9, 1916, resulting in a stalemate and eventual withdrawal of Allied forces. The Gallipoli campaign is remembered annually on Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day, April 25th.

Georges Clemenceau

Was the Prime Minister of France during WWI and was known as an important French Politician. He was part of the “Big Four” and mostly wanted to weaken Germany and win the war.

His leadership and unwavering determination earned him the moniker "The Tiger," symbolizing his fierce and relentless approach to guiding France towards victory. He was a key figure in mobilizing the French people and resources to withstand the challenges of the war and ultimately emerge triumphant.

Homefront

• Part of the term Total War

• Expresses how important nations being effective mobilizing its economy and its noncombatant citizens to support the war effort

• Government leaders extended military service, imposed severe discipline on the labor services, extended work hours, and restricted the movement of workers in order to supply the demand for raw materials and manufactured goods

Influenza Pandemic

Spread through trench warfare and killed more American soldiers and sailors during the war than did enemy weapons. It forced the speed at which the Treaty of Versailles was to be signed, it also led the public health officials embarrassed by their failure.

During World War I, the world faced a devastating global outbreak of this from 1918 to 1919, which is commonly referred to as the Spanish flu. This deadly pandemic had a profound impact on both civilians and military personnel, killing millions of people worldwide. The spread of the flu not only caused immense loss of life but also severely affected the war efforts of various countries involved in the conflict.

League of Nations

This was an organization set up by the countries that won the war, it was based on Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points and it was used to quell tensions and disagreements through treaties rather than warfare. It contained Great Britain, France, Japan, and Italy but left out the Soviet Union and the USA.

Organization established after WWI to promote peace and cooperation among countries, but failed to prevent WWII due to lack of enforcement power.

Lloyd George

Part of the Big Four, he was the prime minister for Great Britain during WWI. He wanted his own country to benefit from the Treaty of Versailles and his main aim was to get trade up and running again.

His diplomatic skills and negotiation tactics were evident in his role in the peace talks that followed the war, particularly during the Treaty of Versailles negotiations. He was committed to securing a lasting peace and advocating for British interests on the international stage.

Mundate System

• A post-World War I territorial arrangement established by the League of Nations.

• It aimed to administer former German and Ottoman territories that were deemed not yet ready for self-governance.

• The League of Nations oversaw the administration of these territories, with various Allied powers being assigned as mandatory powers to provide guidance and support.

• This system faced criticism for perpetuating colonialism under a different guise and not fully delivering on the promise of preparing these territories for independence.

Mustard Gas

• A liquid agent that when exposed to air, turned into a harmful yellow gas.

• The effects didn’t usually show until 12 hours later, blistering the skin and damaging the eyes, as well as later attacking the bronchial tubes

• Both sides suffered heavy casualties because of this gas, totaling about 1.2 million soldiers.

No-Man’s Land

• The deadly territory between opposing trenches

• The constant fire of machine guns made the crossing of infantry to the other trenches as to gain territory into a suicide mission

• Usually included barbed wire and other defensive tactics as to make it more difficult to pass

October Revolution

Revolution in Russia (1917) which led to Bolshevik takeover, pulling Russia out of WWI. Resulted in peace treaty with Germany (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) in 1918.

Paris Peace Conference

The Paris Peace Conference was an international meeting at Versailles just outside Paris. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the terms of the peace after World War (where the official ending of WWI was declared).

A meeting held in 1919 to negotiate peace terms after WWI, resulting in the Treaty of Versailles and the establishment of the League of Nations.

Romanov Dynasty

Disappeared after 300 years of uninterrupted rule after Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the throne.

Schlieffen plan

• A strategy developed in 1905 by General Count Alfred von Schlieffen

• It called for a swift knockout of France, followed by defensive action against Russia

• Raised logistical concerns, like moving 180,000 soldiers and supplies to France and Belgium

Self-Determination

• Part of Nationalism

• The idea that people with the same ethnic origins, language, or political ideals had this ‘right’ to form sovereign states

• These aspirations threatened to tear apart the Ottoman, Habsburg, and Russian Dynasties, as they were ‘foreign rule’

Sykes-Picot Treaty

• When the British, French, and Russia governments forged a secret agreement in 1916

• It defined their future spheres of influence and control in SW Asia after the war

• Divided the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire into areas of British and French control when it came to light in 1917

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, between the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire), that ended Russia's participation in World War I. This forced and promoted the US to join the allies to suppress all chances of Germany dominating Eastern Europe.

Treaty of Versailles

was signed by Germany and the Allied Nations on June 28, 1919, formally ending World War One. The terms of the treaty required that Germany pay financial reparations, disarm, lose territory, and give up all of its overseas colonies

lead to economic hardship and it fueled resentment, leading to WW2

Triple Entente

• AKA- the Allies

• Consisted of Great Britain, France, and Russia

• Disturbed by the new alliance, they created their own alliance

• Pacts made between these countries usually aimed to resolve colonial disputes

21 Demands

• After seizing bases in the Shandong peninsula, on january 18th in 1915, the Japanese presented the Chinese government with multiple demands.

• If these terms were accepted, it would have reduced China to a protectorate of Japan

  Included:

• The Chinese confirming the Japanese seizure of Shandong, Place Japanese overseers in important government positions, give Japan control over Chinese police, and make firearm purchases only with Tokyo government approval

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare on shipping, including American vessels, turned the tide of American public opinion against Germany. Although it was not the only reason, unrestricted submarine warfare was one of the causes of America's entry into World War I.

Verdun

• A battle was fought in this French fortress in 1916, when Germans tried to break the deadlock

• The French rallying cry was “They shall not pass”

• Germans didn’t, but not without casualties

• French had a total of 315,000 dead, and Germans had 280,000 dead

• To relieve the pressure on this fortress, British forces counteracted at Somme, and another 420,000 casualties were added to the list, with Germans having similar numbers, neither gaining advantage

Vladimir Llyich Lenin

• A revolutionary Marxist who lived in exile in Switzerland (1870-1924)

• Viewed the working class as incapable of gaining the ‘proper’ revolutionary consciousness that would lead to effective political action

• The leader of the Bolshevik Party and the first head of the Soviet state, playing a key role in the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Western Front

• Along the river Marne (Near Paris)

• The battle remained virtually stationary for 3 years, both sides digging trenches and enforcing modern trench warfare

• Started the battle/war in August 1914 and ended the spring of 1918

Woodrow Wilson

Was the president of the USA at the time of WWI. Wilson's goal was to keep America completely out of World War I, which began in 1914—and have the country serve as a peacemaker to other nations.

Zimmermann Telegram

A diplomatic proposal for Mexico from a German ambassador to join the Central Powers in the event of the United States entering WW1 on the side of the Triple Entente. In return for a military alliance, Mexico would get Texas, New Mexico, and Arkansas. Mexico officially rejected it when the United States joined the war.

Stirred up American public opinion against Germany, making this one of the main reasons US joined the war.