World History Study Guide: WWI, WWII, and Cold War

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following was a reason for the US to enter World War I?

To defend its colonies in Europe

To respond to Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare (correct)

To support the Russian Revolution

To avenge the sinking of the Lusitania

What was the main goal of the Treaty of Versailles?

To establish a new world order with the League of Nations

To ensure the neutrality of Switzerland

To redistribute colonies among the Allied powers

To punish Germany and impose harsh penalties (correct)

What was the significance of the Western Front during World War I?

It was a stalemate where trench warfare was prevalent (correct)

It was a minor front with little significance

It was the site of a major Allied victory

It was a decisive battleground where the war was won

What was the main cause of the Russian Revolution?

Economic hardship and food shortages Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of Lenin's 5-year plans?

To rapidly industrialize and modernize the Russian economy Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of Stalin's 5-year plans?

To promote heavy industry and rapid industrialization Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the League of Nations?

To promote international cooperation and prevent future wars Signup and view all the answers

What was the main characteristic of totalitarianism?

A system of government that is highly centralized and authoritarian Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for the acceptance of Hitler and Mussolini as leaders?

Their ability to mobilize nationalist sentiment Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the New Deal, implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt?

To stabilize the US economy during the Great Depression Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Munich Conference in 1938?

To appease Hitler's demands and avoid war Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Nuremberg Trials?

To try German leaders for war crimes Signup and view all the answers

What was the main cause of the Cold War?

The ideological differences between the US and USSR Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?

To provide military aid to Europe Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of the guerrilla warfare used in the Vietnam War?

The war became a prolonged and costly conflict Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the Soviet Union's command economy?

A stagnant economy with a lack of innovation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

World War I

Leaders during WWI:
- Russia: Nicholas II
- US: Woodrow Wilson
- Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm II
The US entered the war in 1917 due to:
- Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare
- The sinking of the Lusitania
- The Zimmermann Telegram
The significance of the US entering the war: it shifted the balance of power in favor of the Allies and led to Germany's defeat
Causes of WWI:
- Imperialism
- Nationalism
- Militarism
Immediate cause of WWI: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Russia supported Serbia due to Slavic ties and a desire to expand its influence in the Balkans
Germany supported Austria-Hungary due to a desire to expand its influence and protect its ally
Alliances before WWI:
- Triple Entente: France, Russia, Britain
- Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Russian Revolution and Inter-War Period

Russia left the war in 1917 due to the October Revolution and the rise of the Bolsheviks
The Treaty of Versailles aimed to punish Germany and impose harsh penalties
The goal of France and Britain in the Treaty of Versailles was to weaken Germany and prevent future aggression
The 14 Points were a set of principles outlined by Woodrow Wilson to promote peace and prevent future wars
The German government after WWI was the Weimar Republic, which was initially unpopular among the German people
The League of Nations was established to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars
The purpose of the League of Nations was to provide a forum for nations to resolve disputes peacefully

World War II

Japan and Italy fought with the Allies due to their own interests and a desire to expand their empires
The holocaust was a genocide of six million Jews and millions of others deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime
Kristallnacht was a wave of violent attacks against Jews in Germany in 1938
Germany's last stand was the Battle of Berlin in 1945
The Nuremberg trials were a series of trials of top Nazi officials for war crimes
The Munich Conference was a failed attempt to appease Nazi Germany and avoid war

Cold War

The Cold War was a period of diplomatic, economic, and ideological tension between the US and the USSR
The Yalta Conference was a meeting of the Allied leaders to discuss post-war reorganization
Causes of the Cold War:
- Ideological differences between capitalism and communism
- Mutual suspicion and mistrust
- Competition for global influence
The Truman Doctrine was a policy of providing economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism
The Great Leap Forward was a failed economic and social plan in China that led to widespread famine
The establishment of the Jewish State of Israel in 1948 led to conflict with Arab nations
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to economic stagnation, corruption, and nationalist movements
NATO is a military alliance formed to counter the Soviet Union's Warsaw Pact
The US got involved in the Vietnam War to prevent the spread of communism
Guerrilla warfare in Vietnam led to a prolonged and costly conflict