World War I Leaders and Causes

Leaders during WWI

• Russia: Nicholas II
• US: Woodrow Wilson
• Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm II

US Entry into WWI

• Reasons: Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking of the Lusitania, Zimmermann Telegram
• Significance: shifted the balance of power, led to Germany's defeat

Causes of World War I

• Imperialism, nationalism, militarism, and alliances
• Immediate cause: assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914

Alliances before WWI

• Triple Entente: Russia, France, Britain
• Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Alliances after WWI began

• Allies: France, Britain, US, Russia (until 1917)
• Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Russian Revolution

• Two sides: Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) and Mensheviks
• Bolsheviks won the civil war
• Lenin's slogan: "Peace, Land, and Bread"
• Plan: nationalize industries, redistribute land, and establish a socialist government
• Official name of Russia after the civil war: Soviet Union

Treaty of Versailles

• Goal: punish Germany, prevent future wars, and establish the League of Nations
• Key terms: Germany took responsibility for the war, reparations, and territorial losses

Women's Role in WWI

• Took on new roles in the workforce, gained independence and voting rights

Total War

• A war that involves the entire nation, including civilians, economy, and resources

No-Man's Land

• A strip of land between two opposing trenches, often characterized by heavy bombardment and destruction

Life on the Western Front

• Soldiers faced harsh conditions, trench warfare, and high casualties

Germany's Plan

• Schlieffen Plan: to avoid fighting on two fronts, Germany would quickly defeat France and then focus on Russia
• Failed due to Russian mobilization, French resistance, and British intervention

League of Nations

• Established to promote international cooperation, prevent war, and settle disputes peacefully

14 Points

• Woodrow Wilson's plan for peace, including self-determination, League of Nations, and territorial adjustments

German Government after WWI

• Weimar Republic, led by Friedrich Ebert, faced opposition and economic struggles

Russian Revolution (additional points)

• Trotsky played a key role in the revolution
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Russia signed with Germany, ending its participation in WWI

Propaganda

• Used to promote nationalism, hatred, and support for the war effort

New Europe after WWI

• Creation of new countries, including Poland, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia

Stalin's Rise to Power

• Took power after Lenin's death, established a totalitarian regime
• 5-year plans: rapid industrialization and economic development
• The Great Purge: Stalin's campaign to eliminate political opponents, resulting in millions of deaths and imprisonments

Fascism, Communism, and Totalitarianism

• Fascism: authoritarian, nationalist, and anti-communist ideology
• Communism: socialist, anti-capitalist, and internationalist ideology
• Totalitarianism: a system that exercises total control over citizens and suppresses opposition

Acceptance of Hitler and Mussolini

• People accepted them due to economic crisis, political instability, and promises of national revitalization

Flapper Culture

• A cultural movement characterized by women's liberation, social change, and hedonism

Economic System after WWI

• Post-war economic crisis, hyperinflation, and rise of the US as a global economic power

World War II

• Started in 1939, lasted until 1945
• Leaders: Germany - Adolf Hitler, Italy - Benito Mussolini, Japan - Hideki Tojo

Hitler's Rise to Power

• Took power in 1933, established a fascist regime

The Holocaust

• Systematic persecution and extermination of Jews and other minority groups