World War I & II History Notes PDF

1. Arctic Sovereignty territorial claims and disputes over the Arctic region Countries like Canada, the U.S., Russia, Denmark, and Norway claim parts of the Arctic, mainly for its resource potential: oil, gas, precious minerals, lucrative trade routes like NW passage Sove...

1. Arctic Sovereignty territorial claims and disputes over the Arctic region Countries like Canada, the U.S., Russia, Denmark, and Norway claim parts of the Arctic, mainly for its resource potential: oil, gas, precious minerals, lucrative trade routes like NW passage Sovereignty disputes intensified due to climate change, which is making these regions more accessible. 2. Ultranationalism Concept: An extreme form of nationalism that emphasizes the superiority of a particular nation, often to the exclusion or at the expense of others. It can lead to authoritarianism and aggressive foreign policies. Examples include the rise of Nazi ideology in Germany under Adolf Hitler 3. National Interests of Each Major European Country Before WWI Concept: Prior to WWI, European nations had various national interests: ○ Germany: Wanted to expand its power in Europe and protect itself from encirclement. ○ Britain: Focused on maintaining its global empire and naval supremacy. ○ France: Focused on recovering lost territories (Alsace-Lorraine) and preventing German dominance. ○ Austria-Hungary: Concerned about ethnic unrest within its empire and expansion in the Balkans. ○ Russia: Interested in gaining influence in the Balkans and protecting Slavic populations. 4. Causes of WWI Concept: The main causes of World War I were: ○ Militarism: The build-up of military forces. ○ Alliances: Complex alliances (Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente). ○ Imperialism: Competition for colonies. ○ Nationalism: Ethnic groups seeking independence and national pride. ○ Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Sparked the war. 5. Treaty of Versailles – Terms and Consequences Concept: The Treaty of Versailles (1919) officially ended WWI. Its terms included: ○ Germany's territorial losses and disarmament. ○ Reparations: Germany had to pay huge financial reparations.  ○ War guilt clause: Germany accepted blame for the war. ○ Consequences: The treaty caused resentment in Germany, leading to the rise of Adolf Hitler and WWII. 6. Axis Powers' Foreign Policy of Expansionism – Examples Concept: The Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) pursued expansionist foreign policies before and during WWII: ○ Germany: Invaded Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and other countries. ○ Italy: Invaded Ethiopia. ○ Japan: Invaded China, leading to the Nanjing Massacre. 7. League of Nations - Failures Concept: The League of Nations was created after WWI to promote peace, but it failed due to: ○ Lack of enforcement power (no military). ○ U.S. non-membership. ○ Failed to bring disarmament ○ Inability to stop aggression by Axis Powers in the 1930s (e.g., Japan in Manchuria). 8. American Foreign Policy of Isolationism During the Interwar Period Concept: After WWI, the U.S. adopted isolationism, avoiding involvement in European conflicts, notably not joining the League of Nations and staying out of European affairs until WWII. 9. Appeasement – Munich Agreement Concept: Appeasement was a policy where Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Europe (like the Sudetenland) in hopes of avoiding war. The Munich Agreement (1938) allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, but it failed to prevent WWII. 10. Canadian Involvement in WWI and the Increase in National Pride – Battle of Vimy Ridge Concept: Canada's significant involvement in WWI, especially the Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917), where Canadian forces achieved victory, helped foster a sense of national identity and pride. ○ Canada seen as a elite fighting force, some argue its when canada became a country 11. Japanese Internment in Canada During WWII Concept: After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the Canadian government interned thousands of Japanese Canadians in camps, fearing they might be loyal to Japan. 12. Conscription Crisis in Canada Concept: The Conscription Crisis (1917) occurred during WWI when the Canadian government mandated military service to address manpower shortages. This caused division, particularly between English- and French-speaking Canadians. 13. Antisemitism in Nazi Germany – Policies, Propaganda, the Holocaust Concept: Antisemitism was central to Nazi ideology. Policies included: ○ Nuremberg Laws: Discriminatory laws against Jews. ○ Propaganda: Spread negative stereotypes about Jews. ○ The Holocaust: The systematic genocide of six million Jews during WWII. 14. Ultranationalism in Nazi Germany Concept: Under Hitler, Germany promoted ultranationalism, which emphasized racial superiority, particularly the idea of Aryan racial purity, leading to aggressive expansionism and the persecution of minorities. 15. The Dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Japan Concept: The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima (1945) and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender and ending WWII. The bombings sparked ethical debates about their necessity and the human cost. 16. Interwar Period Alliances and Pacts – Specific Examples Concept: Key interwar alliances and pacts included: ○ Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939): Non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. ○ Rome-Berlin Axis: Alliance between Italy and Germany. ○ Anti-Comintern Pact: Agreement between Germany, Japan, and Italy against communist influence. 17. Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: Serbia “Ethnic Cleansing”: Refers to the forced removal or killing of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and other minorities during the 1990s Yugoslav wars.  The Holodomor (Ukrainian Famine): A man-made famine in the Soviet Union (1932-1933) that resulted in the deaths of millions of Ukrainians. Japanese Invasion of Nanjing: The 1937 invasion of China by Japan, which included mass killings and atrocities. Armenian Genocide: The Ottoman Empire’s mass killing of Armenians during WWI (1915-1917). 18. Resolution of the Crimes Against Humanity After WWII – Nuremberg Trials Concept: The Nuremberg Trials (1945-1949) were conducted to prosecute Nazi war criminals. Many high-ranking Nazi officials were convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 19. Contemporary Examples of Self-Determination India: Gained independence from Britain in 1947, which is a key example of self-determination. Pakistan/Kashmir Dispute: Ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, with both countries asserting self-determination claims for the region. Kosovo: Declared independence from Serbia in 2008, reflecting the desire for self-determination of the ethnic Albanian population. Quebec and Canada: Quebec has held referendums on whether to separate from Canada, reflecting a desire for self-determination. Tibet and China: Tibetans seek greater autonomy or independence from China, a case of ethnic and political self-determination. 20. Decolonization and Successor States Decolonization: process by which colonies gained independence from European powers after WWII Successor states are the new states that emerged from the collapse of empires or countries (e.g., India from Britain, Pakistan, former Yugoslavia)