Unit 13 Vocab - AP Euro.
Vocabulary - Definition
Conscription: The compulsory enlistment of individuals into the military service, often referred to as the draft, which became a significant practice during major conflicts such as World War I.
Militarism: A political and military ideology that emphasizes the importance of a strong military and the readiness to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. This led to an arms race between nations prior to World War I.
Mobilization: The process of assembling and preparing military forces for active service. This includes the deployment of troops, equipment, and supplies, often causing tensions among nations.
Trench Warfare: A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other. This characterized much of World War I, leading to stalemates and significant casualties.
The British Blockade: A naval blockade initiated by Britain during World War I aimed at restricting supplies to the Central Powers, significantly affecting their economy and access to resources.
The Lusitania: A British ocean liner sunk by a German submarine in 1915, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans. This incident contributed to the U.S. entering World War I.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: A German naval strategy that involved the sinking of any ship without warning in designated war zones, which spurred international outrage and was a factor in U.S. involvement in the war.
Total War: A military conflict where nations mobilize all available resources, affecting civilians, the economy, and the everyday life of citizens, blurring the lines between combatants and non-combatants.
Nationalization: The process by which private assets are transferred to public ownership. This was prominent during the war as governments took control of industries to support war efforts.
War Communism: An economic and political system in Soviet Russia during the Russian Civil War (1918-1921) aimed at maintaining the Red Army’s supply by expropriating land and controlling production.
Genocide: The intentional action to destroy a people in whole or in part, which saw tragic instances during and after World War I as groups sought autonomy and recognition.
Self-Determination: The principle that nations have the right to choose their own sovereignty and international political status. This concept gained prominence after World War I, influencing treaties and new nation-states. Mainly Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.
The War Guilt Clause: Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, which assigned blame for the war to Germany and its allies, leading to harsh repercussions and reparations.
Reparations: Payments made by a defeated nation to compensate victors for war damages. This was heavily imposed on Germany after World War I, causing economic hardship.
Mandates: Territories administered by other nations under the League of Nations following World War I. This included lands previously held by the Ottoman Empire and Germany, affecting global politics.
People - Who were they, why are they important?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose assassination in June 1914 triggered a chain of events leading to World War I.
Gavrillo Princip: The Bosnian Serb nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, contributing to the ignition of the war.
Kaiser Wilhelm II: The last German Emperor (Kaiser) whose militaristic policies and support for Austria-Hungary escalated tensions leading to the war.
Tsar Nicholas II: The last Emperor of Russia, whose decisions during the war and subsequent abdication marked the end of the Russian Empire and led to the rise of communism.
Georges Clemenceau: The French Prime Minister who played a key role in the Paris Peace Conference, advocating for harsh penalties for Germany in the Treaty of Versailles.
Rasputin: A mystical faith healer connected to the Russian royal family, whose influence over Tsarina Alexandra and the royal family created controversy and distrust prior to the Russian Revolution.
Soviets: Councils of workers and soldiers that emerged during the Russian Revolution, which played a crucial role in the establishment of a communist government.
Bolsheviks: A faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, they led the October Revolution in 1917 and established a socialist state.
Vladimir Lenin: Leader of the Bolshevik Party and architect of the Soviet state, whose leadership significantly influenced the course of global communism.
Leon Trotsky: A key player in the Russian Revolution, he became the first leader of the Red Army and a prominent communist theorist but later fell out of favor with Stalin.
The Big Four: The leaders of the United States, France, Britain, and Italy who dominated the negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference following World War I.
Woodrow Wilson: As the U.S. President, he proposed the Fourteen Points for peace and advocated for the League of Nations, influencing the post-war order.
Places - Where and why is it important?
No Man’s Land: The area between rival trenches during World War I. It was a desolate and highly contested space, symbolizing the brutal conditions and stalemate of trench warfare.
Works - What is the significance of the work? What was the intent of the author?
The Schlieffen Plan: A German military strategy designed to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium to avoid a two-front war with France and Russia.
All Quiet on the Western Front: A novel by Erich Maria Remarque depicting the harrowing experiences of World War I soldiers, highlighting the horrors of trench warfare and the disillusionment of a generation.
The Fourteen Points: A statement of principles for peace proposed by Woodrow Wilson aimed at preventing future wars and establishing a framework for international diplomacy.
Conflicts/Events - Cause, effect, those involved.
The First Battle of the Marne: A pivotal battle in September 1914 where Allied forces halted the advance of the German army into France, marking the beginning of trench warfare.
Verdun: One of the longest battles of World War I (1916), resulting in massive casualties and serving as a symbol of French national determination.
Gallipoli: A campaign in 1915 aimed at securing a sea route to Russia, but it ended in a disastrous defeat for Allied forces.
The Battle of Jutland: The largest naval battle of World War I, fought in 1916 between Britain and Germany, having significant implications for naval power.
Treaties/Alliances - What were they results of? What were the conditions of the settlement or alliance?
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: A peace treaty signed in March 1918 between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers, which ended Russia's involvement in World War I, ceding significant territories and resources.
The League of Nations: An international organization founded after World War I aimed at maintaining peace and preventing future conflicts, though it ultimately failed to prevent World War II.
The Treaty of Versailles: The 1919 peace treaty that formally ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany and redrawing national boundaries in Europe.