UNIT 7: Global Warfare c. 1900 - Present

Unit 7

• Global Warfare

• c. 1900 - Present

• examining the global conflicts that shaped the 20th century, including World War I, World War II, and the Cold War

Collapse of the Ottoman Empire

• internal problems like corruption and economic instability, the rise of European powers, and the impact of World War I

• Turkish War of Independence:

  • abolished the Ottoman sultanate and established the Republic of Turkey in 1923

• fight on the side of Germany in World War I ultimately led to its defeat and the dismantling of the empire by treaty

Collapse of the Russian Empire

• struggled to industrialize compared to Western Europe

• significant losses in World War I exposed the inefficiency of the Russian military

  • weakened the credibility and reliance of Tsar Nicholas II

• majority of the population lived in poverty, harsh conditions and starvation

• spread of socialist and communist ideas, particularly among the working class, contributed to the growing unrest and demand for change

Collapse of the Qing Dynasty

• growing resentment from the Han Chinese against Manchu rule

• Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) and Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) further weakened the dynasty

• China was destroyed in the Opium Wars and the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)

• Sun Yat-Sen and the nationalist movement

Bolshevik Revolution (1917): Causes

• In Russia

• widespread dissatisfaction with the existing political and social order in Russia

• dissatisfaction with Tsar Nicholas II

• heavy casualties in World War I

• rise of communism

• experienced widespread food shortages

Bolshevik Revolution (1917): Outcomes

• resulted in the overthrow of the Russian Tsarist autocracy and the establishment of the first communist state

• Bolsheviks removed Russia from World War I through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

• land was redistributed to peasants + industries were nationalized under state control

• Russian Civil War: sparked a civil war between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and anti-communist forces (Whites), leading to years of conflict and instability

• Bolsheviks come into power: led by Vladimir Lenin

Mexican Revolution (1910-1920)

• overthrew the long-standing dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz

• establishment of a new constitution

• was fueled by resentment towards the elite and foreign investors who profited from Mexico's resources while the majority of the population lived in poverty

Porfirio Díaz

long-time dictatorship of Mexico which led to the Mexican Revolution

• president of Mexico for 30⁺ years

Militarism in WW1

the belief that a country should maintain a strong military and be ready to use it

• painted war in a romantic light with the morale of people wanting to go into war

Alliances in WW1

Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy)

Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia)

• any conflict between two countries could escalate into a larger war between the other countries

  • Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia mobilized in response, leading Germany to declare war on Russia and France, dragging Britain and others into the conflict

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

the immediate cause of WWI

• Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, and when Serbia did not fully comply, Austria declared war

Total War

military strategy where a nation mobilizes all its resources, including its civilian population and economy, to achieve complete victory

Propaganda in WW1

• governments used propaganda extensively to mobilize populations for war

• to decrease the power of the enemy, and justify the war effort

• aiming to maintain public spirits and secure support for the war

• Propaganda was used to counter negative news and setbacks on the battlefield, emphasizing victories and downplaying losses

New Military technology in WW1

• Machine Guns: the firing hundreds of rounds per minute, machine guns made traditional infantry charges highly deadly

• Trench Warfare: The Western Front was defined by extensive trench networks, where soldiers endured harsh conditions, disease, and extended periods of stalemate

• Artillery: Heavy artillery bombardments devastated enemy positions before attacks but often led to massive destruction with little territorial gain

• Tanks: were used to break through enemy lines

• Aircraft: Airplanes were used for combat and bombing missions

• Submarines: unrestricted submarine warfare while being able to travel under water and out of sight

Great Depression (1929-1939): Causes

• In the USA

• 1929 - Stock Market Crash

• bank failures, uneven wealth distribution

• increased levels of debt from World War I

Great Depression (1929-1939): Effects

• widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic failure

• nations dependent on American loans and trade declined

• contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party

FDR’s New Deal

a series of programs and policies aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform to address the Great Depression

• created jobs to boost the economy

WW2 on the Great Depression

the outbreak of WWII and the following demand for wartime production that led to full employment and economic growth

• war effort created millions of jobs in factories producing weapons, vehicles, and other military supplies

Totalitarian Government

political system in which the government has complete control over the people

• Nazi Regime: Adolf Hitler

Stalin’s Five-Year Plans

• designed to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union and strengthen its economy under state control

• make the USSR self-sufficient

• reduce the reliance on foreign imports and strengthen the Soviet military

forced modernization led to widespread human rights violations and environmental devastation

Fascist Corporatist Economy (Italy and Germany)

• Italy under Mussolini

• Germany under Hitler

• adopted state-controlled economic policies where industries were heavily regulated to align with government goals

• these policies focused on economic self-sufficiency and militarization, ultimately contributing to World War II

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• imposed harsh penalties on Germany, blaming it for World War I

• Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war

• had to pay heavy reparations to the Allied powers

• lost significant territory

• League of Nations was established to maintain peace

Causes of WW2

• Treaty of Versailles

• Munich Agreement

• Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany, and Militarism in Japan

• League of Nations was weakened by the absence of major powers: inability to effectively enforce its mandates

• The Great Depression

Fascism (Adolf Hitler)

prioritizes the nation and state above individual rights and freedoms, often advocating for aggressive expansion and dominance

Anti-Semitism (Adolf Hitler)

negative perception and attitude towards Jews, often leading to a violation of rights

Outcomes of WW2

• initiation of the COLD WAR

• US and the Soviet Union emerged as dominant global powers

• The United Nations emerged

• Marshall Plan

• NATO & Warsaw Pact

Munich Conference

meeting between representatives of Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy where they agreed to allow Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia

• APPEASEMENT: negotiations to gain land while avoiding war

Blitzkrieg

lightening war characterized by rapid, overwhelming attacks using tanks, motorized infantry, and air power to break through enemy lines

Genocide

the intentional and systematic attempt to destroy a particular ethnic, religious, or national group

Causes of the Holocaust

• Adolf Hitler

  • Anti-Semitism - negative perception of Jews

  • fascism - extreme expansionist policies

• Treaty of Versailles

  • led to political instability which allowed Adolf Hitler to rise and exploit the government

• Nuremberg Laws - stripped Jews of citizenship and rights, setting the stage for violent persecution