GS quiz 12/19

That’s a lot of terms, but I can help define and explain them! Here's a breakdown:

MAIN Causes of WWI

An acronym for Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism. These were the underlying causes of WWI:

• Militarism: The buildup of military forces and weapons, leading to an arms race.

• Alliances: Agreements between countries to support each other, dividing Europe into opposing blocs.

• Imperialism: Competition for overseas colonies heightened tensions between European powers.

• Nationalism: Intense pride and loyalty to one’s nation, often creating rivalry or conflict.

Balkan States

The Balkan region, often called the "Powder Keg of Europe," was a hotspot of ethnic tensions and nationalist movements. Key states included Serbia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria, where rivalries and aspirations for independence from empires (Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian) contributed to the war.

Nationalism

Nationalism was a driving force behind conflicts as countries sought to assert their power and independence. In the Balkans, nationalist movements, particularly among Slavs, created tensions with Austria-Hungary.

Franz Ferdinand

Archduke of Austria-Hungary, whose assassination on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo by a Bosnian Serb nationalist was the immediate spark for WWI.

Gavrilo Princip

A member of the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group. Princip assassinated Franz Ferdinand, which triggered the July Crisis and, eventually, WWI.

Militarism

A belief in building strong armed forces to prepare for war. Countries like Germany and Britain significantly increased their militaries, heightening tensions.

Self-determination

The idea that nations or ethnic groups have the right to govern themselves. After WWI, this principle was emphasized, particularly by Woodrow Wilson, but inconsistently applied.

“Modern Technology” of WWI

WWI introduced advanced weaponry and techniques, including:

• Machine guns: Revolutionized defensive warfare.

• Tanks: First used to cross trenches.

• Chemical weapons: Poison gas, such as mustard gas, caused horrific injuries.

• Airplanes: Used for reconnaissance and bombing.

• Submarines: German U-boats disrupted Allied shipping.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended WWI in 1919. It imposed harsh terms on Germany, including territorial losses, disarmament, and reparations, and established the League of Nations.

Buffer Zone

A region or area meant to separate hostile powers. After WWI, parts of Eastern Europe served as a buffer between Germany and Soviet Russia.

“War Guilt Clause”

Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, which placed sole responsibility for the war on Germany, forcing it to accept blame and pay reparations.

Reparations

Payments imposed on Germany to compensate Allied powers for the destruction caused during the war. These payments crippled Germany's economy in the 1920s.

David Lloyd George

Prime Minister of Britain during WWI and a key negotiator at the Treaty of Versailles. He sought a balance between punishing Germany and preventing future conflict.

Georges Clemenceau

Prime Minister of France during WWI. Known as "The Tiger," he pushed for harsh terms against Germany in the Treaty of Versailles to secure French security.

Woodrow Wilson

President of the United States during WWI. He proposed the Fourteen Points, emphasizing self-determination, free trade, and the League of Nations.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, signed on November 11, 1918, ending the fighting in WWI.

Fascism

A political ideology emphasizing authoritarianism, nationalism, and often racism. It gained prominence after WWI, notably in Italy under Mussolini and in Germany under Hitler.

Rhineland

A demilitarized zone in Western Germany established by the Treaty of Versailles to act as a buffer with France. Germany remilitarized it in 1936, violating the treaty.

Sudetenland

A region in Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population. Hitler demanded and annexed it in 1938, justified by his policy of uniting German peoples.

Anschluss

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938. It was a key step in Hitler’s expansionist agenda and violated the Treaty of Versailles.

Diplomacy

The practice of negotiating between nations to resolve conflicts and avoid war. Diplomacy failed to prevent both WWI and WWII in key instances.

Collective Security

An idea promoted by the League of Nations, in which member states would act together to prevent aggression. It was intended to deter conflicts but proved ineffective.

Munich Agreement

A 1938 agreement where Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in exchange for a promise of no further territorial expansion. It’s seen as a prime example of appeasement.

Appeasement

A policy of making concessions to aggressive powers to avoid conflict. Britain and France used appeasement with Hitler in the 1930s, which ultimately failed to prevent WWII.

League of Nations

An international organization created after WWI to promote peace and cooperation. It failed to prevent WWII due to lack of enforcement power and U.S. non-membership.

United Nations

Founded after WWII to replace the League of Nations, the UN aimed to prevent future conflicts, promote human rights, and foster international cooperation.

Let me know if you'd like more details on any of these or further explanation!