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

This quiz covers the leaders during World War I, the reasons for the US entry into the war, and the causes of the war. Test your knowledge of this pivotal moment in history!