World War I: The M.A.N.I.A. Causes

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Questions and Answers

What is Militarism (M) in the context of the causes of WWI?

Militarism involves building up a strong military and being prepared to use it, glorifying military power, and was fueled by industrialization.

What were Alliances (A) in the context of WWI, and name the two major pre-war alliances?

Alliances were often secret agreements between nations, creating a tangled web where countries committed to supporting each other in case of war. The two major alliances were the Triple Entente (UK, France, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).

How did Nationalism (N) contribute to the outbreak of WWI?

Nationalism fostered intense competition among European nations for power and prestige, led to territorial disputes, and fueled desires for self-rule among conquered nations.

What role did Imperialism (I) play as a cause of WWI?

Imperialism involved intense competition among European powers for colonies and spheres of influence around the world. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of the Assassination (A) of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand. This event occurred because Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia in 1908, which Serbia also desired. Signup and view all the answers

How did European countries react to the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, leading to the start of WWI?

Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding Austrian officials investigate within Serbia. Serbia agreed to most terms but rejected this one. As a result, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. Russia mobilized to support Serbia, leading Germany to declare war on Russia and then France, activating the alliance system. Signup and view all the answers

Name the two main opposing sides in WWI and list some of their key members.

The two sides were the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria; Italy until 1915) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Belgium, Japan; Italy after 1915, Romania, Greece, USA after 1917). Signup and view all the answers

What were the two major areas of fighting in WWI and their geographic locations?

The two major areas were the Western Front, primarily located in France, and the Eastern Front, located in Russia and Eastern Europe. Signup and view all the answers

Define the Schlieffen Plan and explain how it impacted the war.

The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's military strategy to avoid fighting a two-front war against both France and Russia simultaneously. The plan involved a rapid invasion of France through neutral Belgium to capture Paris quickly before turning to fight Russia. It was initiated in 1914 but ultimately failed. Signup and view all the answers

What was the objective and result of the First Battle of the Marne?

The objective was for the Allies (primarily France and Britain) to prevent the Germans from capturing Paris as part of the Schlieffen Plan. An important event was successfully halting the German advance. The result was a strategic Allied victory that led to a stalemate and the beginning of trench warfare. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the objective and result of the Battle of Tannenberg on the Eastern Front.

The objective was for Germany to defeat the invading Russian army. Germany achieved a crushing victory over Russia. Signup and view all the answers

What was the objective and result of the Gallipoli Campaign?

Starting in February 1915, the objective of the Gallipoli Campaign was for the Allies to seize the Dardanelles strait from the Ottoman Empire to open a supply route to Russia. The result was a costly failure for the Allies, ending in a stalemate and eventual withdrawal. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Japanese Offensive achieve in late 1914?

In late 1914, the Japanese Offensive resulted in the seizure of Germany's colonial territories in the Pacific. Signup and view all the answers

What were the "Twenty-One Demands" associated with the Japanese Offensive?

The "Twenty-One Demands" were a set of demands made by Japan to China, aiming to increase Japanese control over Chinese territory and economy. They were largely unsuccessful due to international pressure and increased Allied mistrust of Japan. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the objective and result of the Second Battle of the Marne.

Occurring in July 1918, the objective of the German offensive was to draw Allied troops away from Flanders. However, it resulted in a decisive Allied counter-offensive and victory, marking the beginning of the end for the Central Powers, leading to their eventual collapse. Signup and view all the answers

What was the objective and result of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive?

From September to November 1918, the objective of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was a major Allied attack against German lines on the Western Front. The result was a series of Allied victories that contributed significantly to the collapse of the German army, leading Kaiser Wilhelm II to step down and the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Signup and view all the answers

Name some new weapons or technologies introduced or widely used during WWI.

New weapons and technologies included poison gas, airplanes (for reconnaissance and later combat), submarines (U-boats), machine guns, improved long-range artillery, and tanks. Signup and view all the answers

What is Trench Warfare?

Trench warfare is a type of land warfare characterized by the use of extensive networks of trenches dug into the ground for protection. It became a defining feature of the Western Front during World War I. Signup and view all the answers

Describe life in the trenches during WWI.

Life in the trenches involved long periods of boredom mixed with brief, intense moments of terror. Soldiers endured harsh conditions including mud, rats, lice, disease (like trench foot), the constant threat of shelling and sniper fire, and poor sanitation. Medical care was often rudimentary and carried out within the trenches. Signup and view all the answers

What was "no man's land" in the context of trench warfare?

"No man's land" was the desolate area between the opposing armies' front-line trenches, typically filled with barbed wire entanglements, land mines, and craters from artillery shelling. Signup and view all the answers

What was "trench foot"?

Trench foot was a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions in the trenches. The reference notes rats and associated diseases were also prevalent issues. Signup and view all the answers

Why were Armenians targeted for genocide by the Ottoman Empire during WWI?

Armenians, a Christian minority within the Muslim Ottoman Empire, were targeted. The Ottoman government orchestrated forced deportations and mass murder, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians. Turkey has not officially acknowledged this as genocide or apologized. Signup and view all the answers

What were the main reasons the US entered WWI in 1917?

The two primary reasons were: 1) Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, notably the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 (which killed 128 Americans) and Germany's resumption of this policy after pledging to stop. 2) The Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany encouraged Mexico to invade the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the key aspects of the Russian Revolution and its impact on Russia's participation in WWI.

Contributing factors included Russia's lack of industrialization, defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1905), Bloody Sunday (1905), and massive losses in WWI (over 4 million dead by 1915). Key events included the February Revolution (abdication of Czar Nicholas II) and the October Revolution (Communist/Bolshevik takeover led by Vladimir Lenin). Prior leaders were Czars (Nicholas II, influenced by Alexandra and Rasputin); post-revolution leader was Lenin. The Duma (parliament) was created but dissolved by the Czar. The revolution led to Russia's withdrawal from WWI after the Bolsheviks seized power. Signup and view all the answers

What were President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and what were their main ideas?

Wilson's Fourteen Points were a set of principles proposed for achieving a just and lasting peace after WWI. Key ideas included self-determination for nations, free trade, an end to secret treaties and alliances, fair adjustment of colonial borders, and the creation of a League of Nations to maintain peace. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Armistice, and when was Armistice Day in WWI?

An armistice is an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce. Armistice Day, marking the end of fighting in WWI, was on November 11, 1918 (11/11/1918). Signup and view all the answers

Identify the members of the "Big Four" at the Paris Peace Conference and the countries they represented.

The "Big Four" were: Woodrow Wilson (USA), Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (United Kingdom), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy). (Note: The original text mentions Wilson represented Poland, Czechia etc - this is incorrect, he represented the USA). Signup and view all the answers

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty signed in 1919 that officially ended World War I. It imposed harsh terms on Germany, including territorial losses, severe military restrictions, acceptance of blame for the war, and substantial reparations payments. It also established the League of Nations. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the main terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles using the acronym BRAT.

BRAT stands for: Blame (Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war via the War Guilt Clause), Reparations (Germany was forced to pay vast sums for war damages, more than it could afford), Armed Forces (Germany's army and navy were severely limited, e.g., 100,000 soldiers, 6 warships, no air force), and Territories (Germany lost significant territory, including Alsace-Lorraine to France, its colonies, and the Rhineland was demilitarized). Signup and view all the answers

What was the League of Nations?

The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization established after World War I as part of the Treaty of Versailles. Its primary goal was to prevent future wars through diplomacy, collective security, and disarmament. Signup and view all the answers

What was the U.S. response to the Treaty of Versailles (BRAT)?

The United States, particularly the Senate, opposed many terms of the Treaty of Versailles, especially the League of Nations, fearing it would entangle the U.S. in foreign conflicts. The U.S. never ratified the Treaty of Versailles and did not join the League of Nations. It later signed a separate peace treaty with Germany, the Treaty of Berlin, in 1921. Signup and view all the answers

Compare how the final Treaty of Versailles reflected the ideas of Wilson's Fourteen Points.

The Treaty of Versailles incorporated some aspects of the Fourteen Points, most notably the creation of the League of Nations and the principle of self-determination applied to some new nations in Europe. However, it largely deviated from Wilson's idealistic vision by imposing harsh punitive measures on Germany (blame, reparations, military limits, territorial loss), reflecting the desires of Britain and France for security and revenge rather than a 'peace without victory'. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the changes in the Middle East after WWI, referencing the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Mandate System, Balfour Declaration, and Zionism.

The Ottoman Empire was broken up. The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret 1916 deal between Britain and France to divide Ottoman lands. After the war, the Mandate System was established by the League of Nations, assigning administration of former Ottoman territories to Britain (Iraq, Jordan, Palestine) and France (Syria, Lebanon). The Balfour Declaration (1917) expressed British support for Zionism (the movement supporting a Jewish national home) by favoring the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Colonies during WWI?

European powers utilized their colonies extensively during WWI, initially recruiting soldiers for combat roles and later increasingly using colonial populations for labor support. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how WWI affected the home front, including concepts like "Victory Gardens," propaganda, the roles of women and minorities, and influenza.

WWI significantly impacted civilian life ('home front'). Governments used extensive propaganda to maintain morale and support for the war effort. Civilians were encouraged to conserve resources and contribute, for instance by planting "Victory Gardens" to supplement food supplies. With men away fighting, women and minorities entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, taking on jobs previously closed to them. Additionally, the devastating influenza pandemic (often called the "Spanish Flu") swept the globe near the end of the war, killing millions worldwide. Signup and view all the answers

Why is WWI often known as "The Great War"?

WWI was known as "The Great War" due to its unprecedented global scale, the immense number of casualties, the involvement of major world powers, and the profound impact it had on society, politics, and technology. It was initially hoped to be "The war to end all wars." Signup and view all the answers

What were some key societal impacts of WWI, particularly regarding women and minorities?

A major impact was the increased role of women in the workforce, particularly in factories, which contributed to many countries granting women suffrage (the right to vote) after the war. Minorities also demanded and sometimes gained greater rights due to their participation and contributions to the war effort. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term "The Lost Generation" refer to?

"The Lost Generation" refers to the generation of writers, poets, and artists who reached adulthood during or immediately following World War I. They often felt disillusioned, cynical, and disconnected from the values of the older generation and traditional society due to the horrors and perceived meaninglessness of the war. Signup and view all the answers

How did WWI impact people in European colonies?

WWI impacted people in European colonies by fueling demands for greater autonomy and independence, as colonial troops fought and died for imperial powers. The war strained imperial systems, exposed colonial populations to new ideas, and contributed to the rise of nationalist movements, ultimately weakening European colonial control. Signup and view all the answers

Identify famous scientists involved in WWI and comment on how the war influenced scientific belief or application.

Notable scientists involved include Fritz Haber (German chemist known for the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, crucial for fertilizers and explosives, and also for pioneering chemical warfare/poison gas) and Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley (English physicist whose work helped establish the concept of atomic number, killed in action). The war spurred scientific advancements, particularly in chemistry (explosives, poison gas), physics (radio communication, sound ranging), and medicine, but also highlighted the destructive potential of science. Signup and view all the answers

Identify new styles of art, music, film, and literature that emerged during or after WWI, and explain how the war influenced the arts.

WWI profoundly influenced the arts, often reflecting disillusionment, trauma, and social upheaval. New styles included movements like Dadaism and Surrealism in art, which rejected traditional norms. Literature saw the rise of modernist writers (like those of the "Lost Generation") exploring themes of alienation and the psychological impact of war. Music saw shifts, including the growing popularity of jazz. Film also evolved as a medium. Famous figures emerged across these fields, their work often marked by the war experience. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Militarism (M)

Building up the military and a willingness to use it. Glorifies military power, fueled by industrialization.

Alliances (A)

A complex network of secret agreements that obligated nations to defend each other, leading to a larger conflict. Notable alliances: Triple Entente and Triple Alliance.

Nationalism (N)

Intense pride in one's nation, leading to competition and territorial disputes among European countries. Conquered nations sought self-rule.

Imperialism (I)

Competition among European powers to acquire colonies and establish spheres of influence around the world.