Semester 1 History 112-William Flann

Contact: William.Flann@nbed.nb.ca

Course Content:

The course will examine three broad themes;

i) Rights and Revolution

            -French Revolution

            -Industrial Revolution

ii) War and violence

            -Nationalism and Negotiation

            -Destruction and Disillusionment

iii) Triumph and Tragedy

            -Totalitarianism and Total War

            -Crimes Against Humanity

            -War by Proxy

We will investigate these themes and specific outcomes for the course through the following units:

The Enlightenment:

·         Scientific Revolution

·         Philosophes

·         Hobbes and Locke

·         Impact

The French Revolution:

·         The Sun King-Louis XIV

·         Louis XVI

·         Estates

·         Estates General

·         Tennis Court Oath-National Assembly

·         Bastille

·         Jacobins, Feuillants, Girondins, Sans-Culottes

·         Role of the salons and the Paris Mob

·         Robespierre and the Reign of Terror

·         The Directory

·         Age of Napoleon

German Unification:

·         Role of Nationalism

·         Bismarck and Realpolitik-“Blood and Iron”

·         3 wars

·         Results of unification

The Russian Revolution:

·         Nicholas II

·         Growing discontent

·         War with Japan

·         Bloody Sunday

·         Duma

·         Bolsheviks and Lenin

·         Revolution

·         Rasputin

·         Impact of WWI

·         Provisional Government

·         Civil War

·         Stalin and Trotsky

World War I:

·         Nationalism

·         Causes

·         The Spark

·         The Schlieffen Plan

·         Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

·         Miracle of the Marne

·         Trench warfare

·         Industrialized warfare

·         USA enters the war

·         Significance of Vimy

·         Fourteen Points

·         Treaty of Versailles-“We shall squeeze the orange until the pips squeak.”

·         Map of Europe pre and post WWI

Industrial Revolution:

·         Cottage to Factory system

·         Coal, iron and steam

·         Working conditions

·         Workers rights

·         Life in the cities

·         Karl Marx

The Great Depression:

·         Roaring 20’s

·         Failure of Agriculture

·         Selling on Margin

·         Europe recovers after WWII

·         Industries collapse

·         FDR and the New Deal

Rise of Totalitarianism:

·         Mussolini

·         Stalin

·         Hitler

World War II:

·         Hitler violates Treaty of Versailles

·         Appeasement-“Peace in Our Time”

·         Failure of League of Nations

·         Alliances

·         Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact

·         Japan’s entry

·         USA’s entry

·         Battle of Britain

·         The Blitz

·         Battle of the Atlantic

·         D-Day

·         Development of nuclear bomb

·         Yalta Conference

·         The Potsdam Conference

The world post World War II

·         Cold War

·         Warsaw Pact and NATO

·         Iron Curtain

·         Red Scare

·         Space Race

·         Korean War

·         Vietnam War

·         Nuclear Arms Race

·         Cuban Missile Crisis

·         JFK Assassination

·         Berlin Wall and Berlin airlift

·         USA lands on the moon

·         Collapse of Communism

·         Map of Europe following WWII

As we progress through the course we will examine periods and events in the following ways:

• Establish Historical Significance
• Use Evidence to Support Claims
• Identify Patterns and Incidents of Continuity and Change
• Analyze Cause and Effect
• Take Historical Perspective
• Understand Moral Dimensions of History

 TWO IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MARKS.

IF YOU ARE ABSENT THE DAY OF A TEST OR THE DUE DATE FOR AN ASSIGNMENT A MARK OF 0 WILL BE RECORDED UNTIL THE ITEM IS TAKEN CARE OF. I WILL NOT CHASE YOU TO GET THESE DONE. THE MARK WILL STAY A 0 AND THE ONUS IS ON YOU TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO COMPLETE IT

SECONDLY: SOMETIMES THERE IS A DISCREPENCY BETWEEN WHAT YOU BELIEVE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND WHAT I HAVE IN MY RECORDS. IN THESE SITUATIONS YOU MUST BE ABLE TO SHOW ME THE TEST OR ASSIGNMENT AND THE MARK YOU RECEIVED ON IT. SO, DO NOT THROW ANYTHING OUT BECAUSE MY RECORDS WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE.

We have one class set of the history text book World History therefore students will not be permitted to take it home. However we also have an online access to that text book. To gain access do the following:

Go to glencoe.com

That will take you to the entry page. On that page you will see a QuickPass bar asking for a code. Enter GWH9815c1. Note-the last number corresponds to the chapter we are using so it does not really matter what chapter number you enter if you just want the online text.

This will take you to a resource section for that particular chapter-you are not yet at the text book.

Once you get to that page you will see Textbook Resources on the left. Select StudentWorks Plus Online. Once you get to that page it will ask you for an access code. Enter the following: B3C11901C1. You will then have access to the online text.

Evaluation:

Tests and Assignments=60%

Final Exam=30%

Essay=10%

FORMAL ESSAY

            As mentioned a formal essay is a compulsory part of this course. Every teacher has their own preferences for how to complete a formal essay. For this course you will have the option of following either the MLA Format or APA Format. It doesn't matter which one you choose to use just make sure you are consistent.We will use The Owl at Purdue as our source of information for the formal essay-see link below.

            The essay will be marked on a basis of 100 marks but the overall value will be 10% of your final mark.

            We will be spending some time explaining and modeling the various components:

-Title page

-Thesis statement

-Outline

-Source citations

-Plagiarism

-Works Consulted page

            The outline will be passed in about one month prior to the final copy.

            The length of the essay should be 1500 words. Keep in mind the overall quality of the paper is more important than the word length; so don’t use trivial details to try to increase word total. Also, do not count words inside quotation marks as part of the 1500 word total.

            Classroom time will not be given to complete this project.

            If you choose to write the final copy remember the following:

-use unlined paper

-double space

-write on one side of paper only

-blue or black ink

Remember this is a formal essay not a project. The differences are significant so here are some things to keep in mind:

-Keep the font size consistent throughout the essay-use 12 point

-Do not “dress up” the essay with diagrams and pictures. These things are appropriate only if they help or enhance the reader’s understanding of a specific point. They should never be included to take up space or make your essay look nicer.

-Plagiarism is a huge issue that we will spend time on in class

Formal Essay Rubric

Following is a guideline for the marking scheme for the History 112 essay. It will provide guidance to help determine what is being evaluated and the expectations at each level. Remember that you are not guaranteed a mark within a specific range just because you have attempted to achieve that mark. The mark is determined by how successful you have been in demonstrating a mastery of the skills in that category.

Category 1: 90%-100%

This is a very advanced essay. You demonstrate an excellent command of all skills expected in a formal essay with a few very minor problems.

One of the most important aspects of this essay is to establish the historical significance of your topic.

You demonstrate a strong command of the conventions of written English.

Your essay is set up correctly.

Correct format of the works consulted page.

Uses a thesis statement correctly and effectively develops the argument.

Your essay uses primary sources.

Uses at least 5 sources of information two of which come from books.

Your sources do not include encyclopedia references.

You correctly cite references within the body of your essay.

Successfully incorporate Benchmarks

Category 2: 80%-89%

Your essay establishes the historical significance of your topic

Effective use of the conventions of written English and the errors do not detract significantly from the overall effectiveness of the essay

Correct set up of the essay.

Correct format of the works consulted page.

Attempts to use a thesis statement but less effective than category 1

You correctly cite references within the body of the essay

Uses at least 5 references excluding Wikipedia

Your references cannot all be encyclopedia sites

Somewhat successful at incorporating Benchmarks

Category 3: 70%-79%

At this level you begin to have some difficulties with the conventions of written English and these problems do detract from the overall effectiveness of your essay

Your essay establishes the historical significance of your topic

Your essay is more of an information report with no argument being developed

Overall set up of your essay is correct

Some problems with the set up of the works consulted page

Some difficulties with citing references in the body of your essay

Some difficulties with written expression

Essay may not have been submitted on time

Uses fewer than 5 sources

Minimal connection to Benchmarks

Category 4: 60%-69%

At this level you are meeting the minimum requirements

You do not effectively establish the historical significance of your topic

Your essay is strictly a report

The word count is more than 100 words short

Difficulty with written expression

You may have difficulty with sequencing of events

There are difficulties with the conventions of written English

There are no references cited in the body of the essay

Pages in the essay may not be the correct order

Font size does not remain consistent

You have used fewer than 5 sources

Your essay may be more than one day late

Little if any connection to Benchmarks

Category 5: Less than 60%

Your essay does not demonstrate the basic requirements of the formal essay

Most, or all, of the essay is copied directly from the sources used

You have used only 1 source probably an encyclopedia source

Your essay may not fall into the proper time period (50% deduction)

Several problems with the conventions of written English

Difficulties with written expression seriously interfere with the clarity of the essay

Your essay is submitted several days late

Word count significantly less than 1500 words

Several problems with the various elements of the essay such as title page, outline page, works cited page, pages not numbered correctly

Uses loose leaf paper instead of unlined paper

No connection to Benchmarks

History Essay Topics

            The following is a list of topics you may choose from to do your formal essay on. Keep in mind that you do not have to choose anything from this list. The purpose is to give you some sense of major events that happened during this period. Also keep in mind that you do not have to choose a topic from the material covered in the course. However you must choose something from the appropriate time period; 1650 to 1990.

It is critical to reference the Historical Benchmarks in your essay.

-The importance of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations

-The pros and cons of absolute monarchs

-Louis XIV’s contribution to the French Revolution

-The Palace of Versailles and its symbolizing the extravagance and corruption of the monarchy

-The impact of the Enlightenment on society

-The impact of the Scientific Revolution

-Discovering the Sun centered universe

-The importance of the discoveries of Galileo

-The importance of the discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton

-The development of Mathematics

-The development of medicine, Biology, Physics, or Chemistry

-The importance of the discovery of latitude and longitude

-The decline in the influence of the church

-The importance of the ideas of Montesquieu, Voltaire, or Rousseau

-The importance of The Encyclopedia and/or the Philosophes

-The Enlightened Monarchs

-The Reign of Catherine the Great or Frederick the Great

-The Great Fire of London

-The American Revolution

-The historical significance of the French Revolution

-The contribution of Maximilien Robespierre to the French Revolution

-The social structure of France in the 1600’s

-Was Napoleon one of the greatest military leaders in history?

-The emergence of England as the most powerful navy on Earth

-The spread of liberal ideas and the impact on western society

-The conservative resistance to the spread of liberal ideas

-The importance of the unification of Italy or Germany

-The contribution of Otto von Bismarck and/or Frederick William IV

-The importance of Kaiser Wilhelm II

-The impact of nationalism on European society

-The historical significance of the Industrial Revolution

-Karl Marx as an important historical figure

-The world’s first nurse; Florence Nightingale

-Who was Laura Secord?

-The impact of nationalism in the Baltic Region and its role in starting WWI

-The importance of colonialism in creating European rivals

-Colonialism impact on the occupied countries

-The growth of militarism in Europe

-The women’s suffrage movement

-The impact of Darwin’s Origin of the Species

-Russian society in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s

-The importance of the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris

-Who was Alfred Nobel (Nobel Peace Prize)

-The important contribution of Sigmund Freud

-Any topic connected to World War I or World War II→ to be discussed further in class

-The failure of the League of Nations

-The origins of the United Nations

-How appeasement led to WWII

-The Great Depression

-The Roaring 20’s

-The Russian Revolution

-Rasputin’s contribution to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty

-How the Treaty of Versailles led to WWII

-The failure of the Weimar Republic

-The impact of the Yalta Conference

-The Cold War

-The importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis

-Communist Revolutions in various countries such as Cuba, China, Yugoslavia

-The Korean War

-The Viet Nam War

-The assassination of JFK

-Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement in the US

-How Canada became a country

-The American Civil War-Was it about slavery?

-The program to develop the atomic bomb

-Was the United States justified in using the atomic bomb on Japan?

-The Sino-Japanese War

-Prison camps in Canada during WWII

-The importance of espionage in WWII

-Submarine warfare in WWII

-The concept of Bushido and Japanese culture

-Was the bombing of Pearl Harbor really a success for the Japanese?

-Slavery in Canada

-The importance of D-day

Sample of form that will be used to mark your essay.

_________

    100

General Comments: 

Revolution and Enlightenment

The Scientific Revolution:

The importance of the Scientific Revolution is twofold:

1) It brought about a better understanding of the natural world based on the Scientific Method. These new ideas contradicted the beliefs of the ancients such as Aristotle and Ptolemy. Many of the old ideas about the natural world were supported by the church and the governments. As a result this created conflict between the people who supported these new ideas and the church and governments. If you believed in these new ideas that contradicted the beliefs and teachings of the church then you were challenging the authority of the church which could lead to serious consequences such as death.

It also brought about the discovery of new “technology” such as the printing press, microscope, telescope, chronometer, navigating tools, advancements in medicine as well as all other sciences.

2) Once people realized that the church and their governments were not the authorities on the natural world they then started questioning how governments and society worked. They were no longer willing to blindly follow what the church told them or follow their leaders. They began to demand more rights and participation in government.

One of the major “battlegrounds” for this break from tradition centered on the structure of the universe.

For centuries the widely accepted model of the universe was the Ptolemaic system based mainly on the ideas of Ptolemy and supported by the Catholic Church. This model is called the geocentric model because it places Earth at the centre of the universe. The Catholic Church supported  this model because it was reasoned that as God’s greatest creation it was only logical that Earth was the centre.

Nicholas Copernicus was a Polish mathematician who proposed that the geocentric model was not correct and instead the universe was heliocentric or sun centered and the planets revolved around it instead of the Earth. The heliocentric model was not widely accepted at first because Copernicus was not able to provide conclusive proof of his theory. One of the problems Copernicus had with his model was that his calculations were based on circular orbits. Johannes Kepler was able to provide further proof for the heliocentric model by discovering the orbits of the planets and the moon were elliptical rather than circular.

The Italian scientist Galileo Galilei made improvements to the telescope and was able to discover that heavenly bodies were composed of the same material substances as Earth. Because the Catholic Church supported the geocentric model they ordered Galileo to abandon his support of the heliocentric model. He was put on trial and ordered to recant his findings. He agreed to do this but in reality did not follow up on this promise. He was put on trial again and this time he was placed under house arrest for the last years of his life.

It is important to remember that the Church was very powerful at this time and that power was related to its knowledge and education. Scientists who challenged the geocentric view they were challenging the authority of the Church; a very serious crime. It also caused people to question the authority of the Church because if they were wrong about the structure of the universe then perhaps they were wrong about their other teachings.

By the 1630’s and 1640’s most astronomers accepted the heliocentric model but the problem that remained was the explanation of the movement of these objects. The critical last piece of information was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton. This was the universal law of gravitation. This law explained why the planets moved in an elliptical orbit and he was able to prove it with mathematics. This force called gravity could explain all motion in the universe.   

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

Thomas Hobbes:

·         Influenced by revolutionary turmoil in England

·         Wrote Leviathan outlining his thoughts on government

·         Supported the idea of an absolute monarch

·         Pessimistic outlook on the nature of man

·         Believed man would pursue his own selfish interests and would use any means to achieve them-dog eat dog world

·         Believed peoples’ behavior had to be controlled by a strong force (absolute ruler) because they were incapable of behaving responsibly

·         Unless controlled and organized human life was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

·         To keep them from destroying themselves they entered into a contract with an absolute ruler (the leviathan) whereby they willing gave up certain freedoms in exchange for an orderly, peaceful society provided by an absolute ruler

John Locke:

·         Was more optimistic than Hobbes

·         Argued against an absolute ruler

·         Believed that man was rational and capable of governing themselves

·         Believed man had certain “natural rights” –Life, Liberty, and Property

·         Similar to Hobbes, Locke believed in the necessity of government to protect peoples’ rights however they differed significantly on the structure

·         He also believed in a contract between government and the people-a contract between equals

·         If government failed in its contract-failed to preserve natural rights-the people could remove the government and form a new one

The Industrial Revolution

1.      Where did the IndustrialRevolution  begin?

2.      Identify and explain 5 reasonswhy it started there?

3.      In what industry did the IRbegin?

4.      How did water power change theway and where people worked?

5.      Why was the steam enginecrucial to the IR?

6.      What resources did Britain havethat were also crucial to the IR?

7.      Why was the development of coke(no not that kind) important to the IR?

8.      How did the development offactories revolutionize the way people worked?

9.      Refer to the primary source onp.616 and the Turning Point graphic on p. 617 to explain how the IR affectedchildren.

10.  Why were railroads particularlyimportant to the IR?

11.  “The Industrial Revolutiondrastically changed society” (World History p. 619). Explain the changes insociety caused by the IR.

12.  Identify and explain the twonew classes of people that came into existence during this time.

13.  Refer to the Primary Sourcedocuments to explain what working conditions were like for women (Source 1) andwhat the living conditions were like in large cities (Source 2).

The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain.

Reasons:

1. Improvements in agriculture increased the food supply. Now people could be fed at lower prices with less labor. Ordinary British people could use some of their income to buy manufactured goods.

2. With increased food supply more people survived and the population grew. The enclosure movement laws forced landowners to fence off common lands. This forced peasants who worked the farms to move into cities to form the labor force needed in the factories.

The enclosure movement resulted in another growth in agriculture with better methods and increased crop production

3. Britain had a ready supply of capital (money) to invest in machines and factories. Entrepreneurs found new ways to make profits.

4. Britain had plentiful natural resources. Rivers provided water power for new factories and transportation. Britain also had abundant supplies of coal and iron ore.

5. Britain had a vast colonial empire which provided a supply of markets for the goods produced.

Changes in Cotton Production:

The textile industry was the next industry to undergo major change.

Previously cotton thread was produced by individuals who spun the thread in their rural cottages and sent it to weavers who also produced cloth in their cottages. This system was  called the cottage industry. It was slow and inefficient.

Over time a series of technological advances greatly improved the production of cloth. As a result it became more efficient to bring workers to the new machines. Workers now moved to be closer to these new factories.

The Industrial Revolution took the next giant step with the improvement to the steam engine. Steam power could now be used to produce the cloth and cotton mills sprung up all over Britain. Because steam engines could be powered by coal, mills and factories no longer had to be located next to rivers. It also meant they no longer had to rely on rain and didn’t have to worry about water shortages during the summer.

The Coal and Iron Industries:

The steam engine was critical to Britain’s Industrial Revolution. Because of this the need for coal increased and the coal mining industry expanded.

Coal also caused a growth in the iron industry. A form of coal, called coke, could burn away impurities in the iron ore resulting in a better quality of iron. This high quality iron could be used to build new and better machines.

The New Factories:

The cottage industry changed to the factory system. The work life of people was dramatically changed. People now had to go to work, they had to work in shifts, they had to work by the clock, they could be fined for being late, they worked for a wage, they had to work under close supervision. The jobs were repetitive, boring and often dangerous. Discipline in the factories was often harsh.

Railroads

With a better quality of iron a new form of transportation came into existence-railroads. The development in railroads created new jobs for farm laborers and peasants. Less expensive transportation led to lower priced goods thereby creating larger markets. More sales meant more factories and more machinery. Business owners could reinvest their profits in new equipment adding further growth. This type of regular, ongoing economic growth became a basic feature of the new industrial economy that still happens today.

Social Impact in Europe:

The Industrial Revolution drastically changed society. As cities grew two new social classes emerged; the industrial middle class and the industrial working class.

One of the major reasons cities began to grow was the decline in death rates. Wars and epidemics became less frequent and the increase in food production meant people were better fed and more resistant to disease.

Famine and poverty were two factors in global migration and urbanization-think Gangs of New York. The enclosure laws and industrialization also caused urbanization.

Unfortunately the growth of cities at this time led to pitiful living conditions for many. Cities simply did not have the infrastructure to accommodate this drastic change-systems needed to support the population. Over time urban reformers put pressure on local governments to clean up their cities and slowly, over time things did improve.

Industrial capitalism, an economic system based on industrial production, created a new middle-class-the industrial middle class. It was made up of people who built factories, bought the machines, and developed markets. They enjoyed a good standard of living with good homes, good food, nice clothing, extra money to spend on “luxury” items, and the ability to take vacations.

The industrial working class, in comparison, endured wretched working and living conditions. They worked long hours for little pay, they worked in dirty, unclean, unsafe conditions. They often worked for harsh bosses or supervisors that would punish them for working slowly or not producing enough. People worked while being sick in fear of losing their jobs. Over time unions formed and workers did gain better working conditions, wages and rights.

Living conditions were no better for the working class. They often lived in over- crowded conditions, unsanitary dwellings, without adequate access to clean water, sewage or garbage disposal. They worked for very low wages and therefore could not afford enough food, good clothing or many of the basic essentials of life.

Women and children in particular endured severe hardship.

Once again, over time, these conditions did improve as workers gained more rights. Restrictions were placed on the age that children could go to work as well as the number of hours. Also working hours were limited for women which meant that men earned most of the family income outside the home allowing women to stay home and take care of the family and earn a little income by performing low paying jobs in the home.

The Congress of Vienna

1. What was the overall goal of the Congress?

2. Which countries were involved?

3. Who was the most influential leader?

4. What did he mean when he claimed that the principle oflegitimacy guided him?

5. How did they believe stability and order would berestored to Europe?

6. What did they do to form a new balance of power?

7. Explain the political philosophy of conservatism.

8. What was the policy of intervention?

9. Which country did not agree with this policy? Why?

10. What is a fundamental belief of liberalism?

11. What type of government did liberals believe in?

12. Identify three other important beliefs of liberals.

13. What was the most powerful force in Europe during thenineteenth century?

14. What first made nationalism a powerful force?

15. How did it impact other countries?

16. Why were conservatives threatened by nationalism?

17. Why did liberals support nationalism?

The Congress of Vienna

Nationalism became an important force for change in the 19^th century. Nationalism arose when people began to identify themselves as part of a community defined by a distinctive language, common institutions, and customs. This community is called a nation. In earlier centuries people’s loyalty went to the king or to their town or region. In the 19^th century people began to feel that their chief loyalty was to the nation. Nationalism did not become a popular force for change until the French Revolution. One of the most important outcomes of the Napoleonic era on Europe was the spread of Nationalism.

Following the defeat of Napoleon, European leaders moved to restore the “old order”  in Europe.  The leaders of the victorious nations of Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia met at the Congress of Vienna in September 1814 to arrange a final peace settlement.

Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria was the most influential leader. He wanted the return of the lawful monarchs from royal families be restored to their positions of power. It was believed that this would ensure peace and stability in Europe.

The members of the Congress rearranged the territories of Europe in hopes of forming a new balance of power. They wanted to avoid one country from dominating Europe.

The members were  conservative meaning that they were resistant to change, believed in tradition, promoted obedience to authority and the importance of religion to keep order in society. In other words they were opposed to many of the ideas of the Enlightenment.

One point of disagreement was that of the principle of intervention. According to this principle the great powers had the right to send armies into countries where there were revolutions to restore legitimate monarchs to their thrones. Britain did not share this view and felt the great powers should not intervene in the internal affairs of other nations.

Many of the decisions made at the Congress helped pave the way to World War I.

German Unification-P. 630

1.  What do you thinkis meant by the term the “Concert of Europe?”

2. What was the Crimean War?

3. What impact die the Crimean War have on the Concert ofEurope?

4. In particular, how did it impact Italy and Germany?

5. Who did the German states look to in order to accomplishunification? Why?

6. Who was the leader of Prussia? Who did he appoint asPrime Minister?

7. What policy did the Prime Minister believe in?

8. What did the PM mean with his quote; “Germany does not lookto Prussia’s liberalism but to her power.”

9. Outline the steps the PM took to accomplish unification.

10. What is the significance of:

            -Franco-PrussianWar

            -Alsace andLorraine

            -Hall ofMirrors

German Unification

One of the important outcomes of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars was the rise of nationalism, pride and devotion to one’s own country. The people of the conquered territories resented  paying taxes to France and sending soldiers to serve in Napoleon’s armies. They wanted to restore their own governments, customs and traditions.

Napoleon’s wars had left Europe in chaos. Monarchs had been overthrown and many nations had been invaded by France. In 1815 leaders of the major countries of Europe met in Vienna, Austria in a attempt to restore the traditions that had existed before the French Revolution. The most influential members of the Congress of Vienna included Russia, Prussia, Britain, Austria, and a delegate from France who also played an important role.

The leader of the Congress, Metternich from Austria, wanted to restore power to royal families that had lost their thrones when Napoleon conquered Europe. The Congress also redrew the boundaries of most of Europe. The Congress of Vienna created the German Confederation, a loose organization of 39 separate states headed by Austria. But many Germans wanted a unified nation.

The presence of Austria in the German Confederation was one of the most serious obstacles to German unity. Austria opposed German unification worrying that it would lose influence among German states. It also feared competition if a powerful German nation were created in central Europe. Other countries in Europe especially France and Russia also feared the creation of a united Germany.

There was also some opposition among the German states who feared domination by Prussia and the potential of losing their customs and traditions in a larger nation.

Prussia led the movement for German unification. Prussia had become the dominant power amongst the German states with a strong and powerful state with a well disciplined army. During the Industrial Revolution Prussia had become a powerful economic state as well.  The Ruhr Valley, controlled by Prussia, had the largest coal deposits in Europe and these fields fueled the iron and steel industry.

Although Prussia’s leaders had implemented some reforms such as abolishing serfdom and creating a public education system it was still an authoritarian state that strongly supported militarism-glorification of the military and readiness for war.

In 1861 King William I came to the throne of Prussia and wanted to make sure Prussia would remain both militaristic and authoritarian. To accomplish these goals he appointed Count Otto von Bismarck as prime minister and minister of foreign affairs.

Bismarck came from a conservative, aristocratic family. He had no respect for representative government of for liberal reform. He said that Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism to accomplish unification but to her power.

Bismarck and William I shared the goal of uniting Germany under Prussian control. They wanted to make a unified Germany the most powerful state in Europe. Bismarck insisted that these goals would be achieved “not with speeches and majority decisions….but with blood and iron” meaning warfare and the military.

Bismarck followed a policy of “Realpolitik” meaning realism. He took whatever steps he thought necessary whether or not it was legal or ethical. He ignored the constitution and parliament to accomplish his goals.

Three Wars of Unification

His first goal toward unification was to weaken Austria. Ironically he did this by creating an alliance with Austria.

i) War with Denmark: In 1864 Prussian and Austria went to war with Denmark over the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein. The combined forces easily defeated Denmark and Austria was given control over Holstein while Prussia would administer Schleswig.

ii) War with Austria: Before going to war with Austria Bismarck made sure other European nations would not support Austria by making vague promises to them.

He made an excuse to send troops into Holstein over a dispute about Austria’s administration of the territory. Austria responded by declaring war which is just what Bismarck wanted. Austria was no match for the powerful Prussian military and was quickly defeated in what became known as the Seven Weeks War.

iii) The Franco-Prussian War: France was growing concerned over the growing power of Prussia. Napoleon III of France was experiencing growing domestic problems and hoped a war with Prussia would save his failing regime. A dispute over who would assume the throne of Spain led to the Franco-Prussian War. The Spanish government offered the throne to a cousin of William I which angered France. A French ambassador met with William and demanded his cousin not accept the throne. William of course refused. William sent a telegram to Bismarck describing the meeting and Bismarck. Bismarck sees an opportunity here and rewords the telegram to make it appear the meeting was acrimonious and that France had been insulted. On July 15, 1870 France declares war. As with Austria, France was no match for Prussia and was easily defeated. One of the important consequences of this war was that France was forced to give up two valuable territories along its border with Germany called Alsace and Lorraine. This later becomes a factor leading to World War I.

On January 18, 1871 at the palace of Versailles William I is proclaimed emperor of Germany. Germany unification had been completed but had created a lasting enemy in France.

Causes of World War I

The situation is extraordinary. It is militarism run stark mad,” wrote an American official visiting Europe in early 1914. “There is too much hatred, too many jealousies.” All that was needed was “a spark to set the whole thing off.”

Nationalism:

At the root of much of the rivalry was the growth of nationalism. It brought about unity to some nations and disunity to other. Peoples such as the British and the French had been politically united for centuries and felt great pride in their countries. Others such as the ethnic groups in Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were still struggling to win political independence. As they did they threatened the very existence of those states.

Nationalism created tensions between France and Germany. The French bitterly resented their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and were eager for revenge. They were also determined to regain Alsace-Lorraine. Germany was equally determined to keep them.

Nationalist feeling were also high in Italy as a million Italians lived in areas controlled by Austria-Hungary. Other ethnic groups in Austria-Hungary ethnic minorities wanted to free themselves from the empire

The Balkan Powder Keg: The Balkan region of Europe in particular was a melting pot of ethnic tension. The Serbs and Russians were angry over the fact that Austria-Hungary was given the right to administer much of the region by the Congress of Vienna. War broke out in the region in 1912 as Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece went to war with the Ottoman Empire to drive them out of the region. The three victors argued over the captured territory and in 1913 Bulgaria attacked Serbia and Greece but was defeated. An uneasy peace followed these two wars and to many people the Balkans were “the powder-keg of Europe. As the Serbian president remarked in 1913, “The first round is won; now we must prepare the second against Austria.”

Assassination in Sarajevo: The second round began in June 1914 when Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary visited Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia. The Serbs were angry about this because they felt the Austrians were sending the Archduke into a province the Austrians had annexed illegally. On June 28, the Archduke and his wife were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a 19 year old Bosnian revolutionary member of the Black Hand. The Austrians believed the Serbian government was actually behind the assassination. Francis Joseph, emperor o Austria-Hungary wrote to Kaiser Wilhelm II expressing their belief the Serbian government was behind the assassination. Kaiser Wilhelm agreed to faithfully stand by Austria-Hungary who took this as a ‘blank check” from Germany. As tension increased Austria-Hungary issues an ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia agrees to all terms except one; they would not accept the demand that Austrian officials go to Serbia to conduct an investigation into the assassination. This would violate Serbian independence. Austria-Hungary was not satisfied with this response and was determined to punish Serbia for nationalist movements within its empire. Austria-Hungary begins to mobilize for war. As tensions rise Great Britain calls for a great-power meeting to try and avoid war. Germany and Austria-Hungary reject the British proposal. On June 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Now the alliance system begins to take effect. Russia mobilizes to help Serbia. Germany asks that Russia not mobilize and warns they will declare war on Russia. Russia does not reply to the request so on August 1 Germany declares war on Russia. Realizing that France will enter the war on the side of Russia, Germany also declares war on France on August 3.

World War I was under way.

Colonialism:

The competition to establish colonies abroad had led to tensions among European countries and almost led to war several times.

Wilhelm II was determined to create “a place in the sun” for Germany. This meant he wanted Germany to be a world political and military power.

To accomplish this he interferes with French affairs in Morocco. He hopes this strategy will drive a wedge between France and Great Britain. The strategy backfires as it actually strengthens the bond between the two countries as they come close to going to war with Germany over the dispute involving Morocco.

Militarism:

With the tense climate that existed in Europe at the time the nations of Europe took steps to prepare for war. Military spending increased by 300% and military leaders began to have more influence on governments.

The military build up was particularly evident in the naval rivalry between Great Britain and Germany. GB tried to maintain a “two power standard” meaning it wanted its navy to be stronger than any other two nations combined. This competition between GB and Germany for naval superiority increased tensions between the two nations.

Other European nations were busy building up their armies. The military tensions in Europe at the time increased the likelihood that it would not take much to set off a war.

Alliances:

The major European nations were not only building up their military might but were also developing a system of alliances who would support them in the event of war. Otto von Bismarck had created several alliances in an attempt to isolate France so it could not take revenge on Germany.

Wilhelm II had dismissed Bismarck as his advisor and allowed a treaty with Russia to expire. France seized this opportunity and created an alliance with Russia because it had issues with Austria-Hungary and was concerned about the growing strength of Germany.

Britain, for the most part, tried to stay out of the problems among the countries on the continent of Europe. However the growing power of Germany concerned them so they created The Entente Cordiale (friendly agreement) with France. A loose alliance now existed between France, Russia, and Great Britain.

The system of alliances that was created increased tensions because now any crisis involving any o the great powers meant it would also involve the alliance members. It also increased the likelihood that a minor incident could lead to a larger war. That is exactly what happened with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. 

The Americans Enter the War:

At the beginning of the war the US refused to get involved because they followed a policy of isolationism-not wanting to get involved in the problems of other countries. They preferred to pursue their own economic and political agenda. So, why does this change?

-Propaganda-the British targeted American media with stories about the atrocities of the war and to demonize the Germans

-Unrestricted submarine warfare-at the beginning of the war the Germans implemented a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare meaning they would sink any ship trying to get to Great Britain regardless of country of origin. The Germans sink the British passenger liner the Lusitania with over one hundred American citizens on board. However, there were military supplies on board the Lusitania so the Germans regarded it a legitimate military target. They were afraid that as a result of the sinking  the Americans would enter the war so they stopped the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.

- Zimmerman Telegram-realizing the Americans were likely to enter the war at some point the German diplomat Arthur Zimmerman sends a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico to try and convince the Mexicans to enter the war against the Americans. In return Mexico would reclaim territory previously lost to the United States.

-Finally the Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson believes this violates American neutrality so in April 1917 the US enters the war.

The Schlieffen Plan

Devised by Count Alfred von Schlieffen-the most  senior general in the German army.

The plan he made in 1905 aimed to avoid a war on two fronts. He estimated that Russia would take six weeks to get in a position due to the poor system of roads and railways.

Therefore he believed the German army could invade France through Belgium and northern France to capture Paris. Having defeated France within six weeks their military could then be sent to the east to fight the Russians who would still be getting ready for war.

The overall plan was simple: One arm of the army would launch an attack toward Paris from a base in Alsace-Lorraine. While the French army engaged this attack a second wing of the

German army would sweep through Belgium and northern France and attack the enemy from behind. Caught between the two flanks of the German attack the French would be crushed.

From the outset the plan ran into problems. The Germans believed that neutral Belgium would allow them free passage through their country towards the north so that the German army could swing around northern France and encircle Paris. Belgium refused the Germans free passage so Germany invaded Belgium. The unexpected consequence of this was that the British now entered the war because of an agreement they had to protect Belgium neutrality.

Russia attacked Germany sooner than expected. This meant the Germans had to send some of their men in the west to help fight the Russians in the east.

Despite some setbacks the Germans were making progress towards Paris. However when they reached the Marne River the French and British were ready. The Battle of the Marne lasted a week and involved over 2 million men. Gradually the Germans were driven back and any hopes of a quick victory ended as both sides dug in. This became known as the “Miracle of the Marne.”

By mid-August British forces were reinforced with troops from the rest of the British Empire including Canada. The long trench war had begun.

Each side tried to outflank the other moving toward the English Channel. Neither side won this “race to the sea.” The trenches they dug to stop the other side from advancing eventually stretched from the English Channel to Switzerland. Neither side could make any significant gains and resulted in a stalemate.

Winning the War

Economic Warfare:

At the beginning of the war Britain formed a blockade to keep supply ships from reaching Germany. This tactic was successful and as the war progressed it became harder and harder to feed the German and Austrian people. The winter of 1916-17 was called the “turnip winter” because the potato crop failed and that was all the people had to eat. Eventually the lack of food and supplies becomes a reason why the Germans surrender.

Germany also attempted to create a blockade of its own of Britain. German submarines sank any ship attempting to reach Britain. In May 1915 a German submarine sinks a British passenger liner, the Lusitania, killing 1200 passengers of which 128 were Americans. The Germans argued that the Lusitania was a legitimate military target because it carried weapons. Fearful that the Americans would enter the war the Germans stopped the unrestricted submarine warfare campaign.

Propaganda, the spreading of ideas to promote the cause or damage an opponent’s cause, was used by both sides. It was used to get soldiers to sign up, to get people to donate money and supplies especially food. The British used the tactic to demonize the Germans and spread the stories to the United States in an attempt to bring the US into the war.

By 1917 the morale on both sides was fading. The Germans were running out of supplies and soldiers and were sending boys as young as 15 off to fight. The financial cost to Britain brought them to the brink of bankruptcy.

We learned earlier that a revolution in Russia had brought a new government into power, Lenin and the Communists, and they took Russia out of the war. This greatly helped the Germans as they no longer had to fight the war on two fronts and could now shift all of those resources to the Western Front.

The United States enters the War:

Prior to the outbreak of WWI the United States had a policy of isolationism-wanting to stay out of the affairs of other countries. They wanted to focus on developing their own economy and not get dragged into problems that they believed did not concern them.

There were a number of reasons why the American attitude changed causing them to enter the war. Two are listed above:

-unrestricted submarine warfare and the sinking of the Lusitania

-propaganda had an impact which turned many Americans against the Germans

-In 1917 the Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare which angers the American President Woodrow Wilson.

-Zimmerman Telegram. Arthur Zimmerman, German foreign minister, authorizes his ambassador in Mexico to try and encourage the Mexicans to enter the war against the Americans promising to give them back territory they lost to the Americans. The British intercepted the message and gave it to the Americans. This further increased resentment against the Germans

President Wilson convinces the Congress to declare war “to make the world safe for democracy.”

Wilson’s Fourteen Points:

President Wilson drafted a document outlining his goals for a lasting peace. He believed that a document needed to be developed that all sides could live with. Therefore he felt it was important that the terms not focus on blaming anyone for the war and that it would not treat any country too harshly-a peace without victors. He believed that it needed to deal with the problems that ultimately led to WWI. He called for freedom of the seas, free trade, reductions of arms, an end to secret treaties, and for peoples in Eastern Europe (Balkans) a right to self determination-borders based on ethnicity not geography. He believe it vitally important to create a “general association of nations” to keep peace in the future.

Victory at Last:

The Germans wanted to launch a major offensive before the Americans arrived in Europe. Initially the attack was successful and they drove the Allies back 40 miles. This attempt took a heavy toll on the already tired German soldiers. The Allies launched a counterattack bolstered by the American soldiers arriving by the thousands and began driving the Germans back through France and Belgium. The Kaiser was advised that the war could not be won and to try and negotiate a peace settlement. As well uprisings began happening inside Germany among the hungry city residents. The Kaiser was advised to step down which he did and went into exile in the Netherlands. Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire asked for peace which left Germany all alone. Finally the new German government was forced to agree to an armistice or agreement to end the fighting.

Making the Peace:

Contrary to Wilson’s vision of a just peace, a peace without victors, the European Allies did not share this vision. Europe lay in ruins and millions had died fighting the war. They were looking for someone to blame and to punish.

When the Allies met at the Paris Peace Conference the Central Powers and Russia were not invited to participate. Wilson had to compromise on many of his fourteen points especially the one on self-determination where it became impossible to give every ethnic minority their own territory and they became unwanted minorities in newly created states. Italy expected to get territory promised them from Austria-Hungary. Japan was angry because their demands in Asia went ignored and Russia was angry for having been left out after losing so much in the war.

Wilson did hold fast however to the principle of creating a League of Nations that would act to preserve the peace in the future and correct any mistakes made in Paris.

The Treaty of Versailles:

In June 1919 the Allies ordered the Germans to sign the treaty they had drafted in Versailles. The Germans were stunned when they saw the contents:

-Germany was to accept full blame for the outbreak of the war

-Huge reparations were placed on Germany to pay other countries for the damage caused by WWI

-The size of the German military was greatly restricted

-Return Alsace-Lorraine to France

-Germany lost its overseas colonies

-Not to form an alliance with Austria

-Austria-Hungary broken up into two separate countries

-The Allies would occupy a demilitarized zone along the France-German border called the Rhineland.

At first the Germans refused to sign but they were threatened with the return to hostilities so they signed the treaty because they had no choice.

League of Nations Offers Hope:

Over 40 nations joined the league. They agreed to negotiate disputes rather than resort to war.

However Wilson faced opposition to the League in his own country. The United States did not want to obligated to go to war in support of other countries-policy of isolationism. The United States never did become a member of the League of Nations.

Without the Americans the League’s power was weak. They also lacked any power over countries that did not sign. Over time it became clear that the League could not prevent other wars from happening but at least it was the first step towards an international organization dedicated to maintaining peace and advancing the interests of all peoples.

Russian Revolution

1894-Czar Nicholas II comes to power after the assassination of his father. Nicholas is a weak and indecisive leader more concerned about family life than running the country. He was not properly prepared by his father to be the ruler nor did he want to be the ruler.

Nicholas inherits a country in turmoil. A majority of the people of Russia are peasants who live a very difficult life and are essentially starving. They are demanding changes.

In 1904 Russia goes to war with Japan over territories in Asia. The Czar hopes that victory over the Japanese would settle things down in Russia and increase his popularity. Unfortunately the very opposite happens. Russia is really no match for the Japanese and suffers a humiliating defeat. This adds to the dissatisfaction in Russia.

In 1905 as things continue to spiral out of control a large mob marches on the royal palace in protest over the conditions in Russia. It was a peaceful protest with many of the marchers carrying signs in support of the Czar. The army over reacts to the protest and fires on them killing hundreds. This event seriously weakens the bond between the Czar and his people.

This event becomes known as Bloody Sunday.

In response to this the Czar agrees to form a legislative body called the Duma. In theory it would give a voice to the people but Nicholas never gave it any real power and simply adjourned it when he disagreed with them. This is another step in the decline of the Romanovs.

In 1914 Russia enters World War I. They suffer a serious defeat early in the war at Tannenburg. Following this defeat the situation declines rapidly for Russia in the war.

In 1915 Nicholas decides to go to the front to take control of the fighting. This is another disastrous mistake as he has no military training and no nothing about strategy. As a result he takes the blame for the war going badly.

Being at the front creates two other problems. One, he is not a home running the government and taking care of the internal problems of Russia. Two, his wife, under the influence of Rasputin, act as his advisors and make several bad decisions.

Rasputin contributes to the decline of the Romanovs because of his influence on them. The people of Russia lose respect for the royal family because they allow this Russian peasant who lives a life of drinking and womanizing and other unsavory behavior  to have such a close relationship with them.

Rise of the Bolsheviks-During the 1900’s there was the growth of a political party in Russia. This party was divided into two groups based on different approaches. One group was the Mensheviks (Minority) and the other was the Bolsheviks (Majority) led by Vladimir Lenin. Over time the Bolsheviks gain control of the party and re-name themselves the communists. They were committed to the overthrow of the monarch and the implementation of a political system based on the ideas of Karl Marx.

March 1917-With the war going poorly for the Russians and the conditions of the everyday Russian getting worse by the day a revolution broke out in Russia. They demanded changes immediately and wanted Russia out of WWI.

Rioting erupts in the city of Petrograd led by Leon Trotsky. They are successful in taking control.

The Duma reacts by forcing Nicholas II to abdicate his throne. He is replaced by a Provisional Government led by Alexander Kerensky.

Later in 1917 the Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government and take control of the country.

One of the first things the now named Communists do is to negotiate a treaty with Germany to get out of WWI. This becomes known as the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and Russia gives up much of its territory, people, and resources.

The Communists do not have total support of the people of Russia. A number of groups come together to try and defeat the Communists and a civil war breaks out. The Communist Army, called the Reds, are led by Trotsky and they are fighting against a group called the Whites. The Whites however are not a unified group with a shared vision. The only thing they share is a desire to get rid of the Communists.

During the Civil War Lenin implements a policy called War Communism where almost all of Russia’s industrial and agricultural resources go towards supporting the Red Army in the civil war. It ends up being a very bad decision as the economy suffers and millions of Russians starve to death.

In the end however the Red Army wins and by the early 1920’s the Communists have complete control of the country.

Not long after gaining control over Russia, Lenin dies. This results in a struggle for power between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Stalin wins this struggle and exiles Trotsky.

The Russian Revolution

Identify the following:

 Alexis

  Alexandra

  Alexander Kerensky

 Bolsheviks

  Duma

  Whites

  Reds

  Leon Trotsky

  Provisional Government

 War Communism

  USSR

 Explain the role Gregory Rasputin played in the downfall of the Romanovs.

 Explain who Vladimir Lenin was and his role in the Russian Revolution and civil war.

 Following the Revolution a civil war broke out in Russia. Explain why the civil war broke out, who was involved and the outcome.

Following the Revolution a civil war broke out in Russia. Explain why the civil war broke out, who was involved and the outcome.

Czar Nicholas II was the last Czar of the Romanov Dynasty. Outline the path of his downfall from his coming to power to the execution of the royal family by the Bolsheviks.

The Great Depression

Impact of WWI:

Following WWI the continent of Europe was in a mess. There had been much destruction of the land, roads, bridges, cities and towns. Millions of people were homeless and the economy was in ruins including agriculture.

In contrast the United States and Canada did not suffer the destruction that Europe had undergone. Their factories had been transformed from producing consumer goods to military supplies but compared to Europe they were able to change them back to consumer goods quite rapidly.

The economies of the United States and Canada were quick to get back on track. After four years of suffering in WWI people were anxious to get back to a normal life. The creation of new products made people ready consumers. The agriculture industry also flourished because the destruction of farms and farmland in Europe meant that they had to purchase certain crops, especially wheat, from the US and Canada. Farmers bought more land and equipment to meet the demand. Most of these purchases were done on credit.

As mentioned in the video a ten year party broke out in the United States. People had jobs, agriculture was flourishing, people were going to movies and enjoying new kinds of music. This period of time was also known as the “Jazz Age” because of the development of this new kind of music.

Another interesting aspect of this period was Prohibition. A large group of people in the United States put pressure on the government to ban the sale and production of alcohol because they believed it was having a negative impact on American society. Overall Prohibition turned out to be a failure as people generally refused to follow the law. In reality the consumption of alcohol increased during this time. All the law did was drive the industry “underground” into secret clubs and bars and the illegal selling of alcohol. It also allowed organized crime to flourish, the Mafia in particular, because  they controlled most of the distribution of the alcohol which allowed them to become very wealthy.

However the “party” would not last. The collapse began in agriculture. Farms in North American were producing large quantities of wheat to sell to Europe because farming in Europe was largely destroyed during the war. Over time farmers in Europe began to get back into business and produced more of what they needed themselves. Farmers in North America did not adjust to the lower demand for their crops and kept their production high. They also over-farmed the land which eventually caused problems. In the late 1920’s there was an over-supply of crops and North American farmers could not sell all that they produced. It also caused a collapse in the price. As a result farmers could not sell their crops to make the money they needed to pay the banks back the loans they had taken out to buy more land and equipment.

A similar situation occurred in manufacturing. Companies produced large quantities of products which at first they sold without any problem. As factories in Europe got back on their feet the markets for those goods also declined. This led to an over-production of things, like cars, that companies could not sell. Eventually they had to lay off workers and many eventually went out of business.

The next problem was the stock market and a concept known as “buying on margin.” People could invest in a company by paying only 10% down. So if they purchased a 1000 shares of a company at $10 a share they should have paid $10000. However because of the buying on margin concept they had to pay only $1000 up front. When the stocks they purchase increased in value they could sell their stocks at a profit and pay off the loan. When the companies began to fail and go out of business people lost the money they had invested but still had to pay back the loans to the banks.

All of this reached a crisis level in 1929. On October 29,1929, called Black Tuesday, the bottom fell out of the stock market as more and more companies failed. Millions of people lost the money they had invested and in turn could not pay the banks back and thousands of banks also went out of business.

This led to a ten year crisis known as the Great Depression. Millions of people were without jobs, wandering around looking for any kind of work at all, they lost their homes and belongings. People lined up for blocks in soup lines trying to get at least some food. To make the problem worse a serious drought occurred at this time largely due to the over farming of the land in the 1920’s.

In 1932 a new president was elected in the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt or FDR. He got elected by promising the American public a “New Deal.” One of the first things he did was to end Prohibition because it wasn’t working anyways and it created a lot of violence as organized crime groups fought with one another competing over the illegal supply of alcohol.  He tried to put people back to work by using government money to create jobs on public works projects. This included the building of government buildings, schools, post offices, construction of roads and bridges, national parks and monuments, power dams, etc. He also established many social programs that still exist today; unemployment insurance, social security, old age security are examples.

These measures had some impact but did not end the Great Depression. The event that brought the Depression to an end was the beginning of WWII in 1939.  

+Rise of Totalitarianism

Timeline:

·       1917-Russian Revolution Ends

·       1918-End of WWI

·       1919-prohibition in the USA, Treaty of Versailles, Mussolini organizes Fascist Party

·       1922-Russia becomes communist USSR, Mussolini organizes March on Rome-Dictator

·       1923-Munich Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler sent to prison, Mein Kampf

·       1928-Stalin’s Five Year Plans

·       1929-Great Depression

·       1932-FDR Elected President of US promising a New Deal

·       1933-Hitler appointed chancellor of Germany

·       1935-Nuremberg Laws in Germany

·       1938-Kristallnacht –Night of Broken Glass

·       1939-WWII begins

World War I and the Treaty of Versailles:

WWI ended in 1918 but the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919

Controversial because of its treatment of Germany:

Germany forced to take the blame for WWI

Forced to pay reparations to the victors

Forced to give up colonies

Greatly restricted its military and destroy its navy

Not to have a military presence in Rhineland

Return provinces of Alsace-Lorraine to France

Not to have an alliance with Austria

Italy was left bitter because although they fought with the Allies they were not happy with how they were treated after WWI. Japan the same-

Most European economies were in a mess after the war and these countries were struggling to re-establish themselves.

The climate of turmoil and confusion after WWII, high unemployment, social problems, ineffective governments created an atmosphere in Europe ideal for the rise to power of individuals who promised to bring an end to these problems and claimed to have solutions to all the ills facing those countries.

Fascism in Italy:

1. Why were Italians bitter and angry after WWI?

2. What were the conditions like in Italy after the Great War?

3. How did Benito Mussolini gain importance during this time?

4. Who were the Black Shirts and what was their purpose?

5. What is the significance of the March on Rome?

6. What title did Mussolini take?

7. What were the steps Mussolini took to control the country?

8. What were the beliefs of this new political system?

9. How was new political system different from communism?

The Soviet Union Under Stalin:

1. What was the purpose of Stalin’s Five Year Plans?

2. How did these plans affect industry?

3. What was collectivization? What was the result?

4. Who were the kulaks and did Stalin treat them?

5. What methods did Stalin use to control the country?

6. What were the gulags?

7. What was the Great Purge?

8. What was the “cult of personality?”

9. What was “russification?”

10. What was Soviet society like under Stalin’s rule?

11. What two different foreign policies did the Soviet Union pursue between 1911-1939?

12. Why were western powers suspicious of the Soviet Union?

13. What were the benefits and drawbacks of Stalin’s leadership?

Hitler and the Rise of Nazi Germany:

1. What was the Weimar Republic?

2.  What problems did the Weimar Republic face?

3. What caused inflation to sky rocket In Germany in the 1920’s?

4. What was the Dawes Plan?

5. Just as Germany began to prosper what other major problem occurred?

6. Where was Hitler born and how did this contribute to his anti-Semitism?

7. What two significant things happened to Hitler in 1923?

8. What beliefs did Hitler outline in his writings?

9. One of his important beliefs was that of Lebensraum. What did this belief involve?

10. How did the Great Depression help with Hitler’s rise to power?

11. Why did conservative politicians turn to Hitler to run the government?

12. What was Hitler able to accomplish in 1933?

13. What was he able to do within a year of the event above?

14. What measures did he implement?

15. Why did Hitler refer to his leadership as the Third Reich? What did he boast about this Third Reich?

16. In what ways did Hitler transform Germany into a totalitarian state?

17. What was the significance of the Nuremberg Laws?

18. What was Kristallnacht?

Joseph Stalin

Rivalry for power following Lenin’s death.

Leon Trotsky vs Stalin (man of steel in Russian)

By 1922 Stalin  became secretary-general of communist party. He used this position to develop a loyal following.

Trotsky believed Soviet Union should move more quickly towards communism and increase efforts to bring about a world revolution.

Stalin used these ideas against Trotsky and by 1927 Stalin had won support. Trotsky and his followers exiled to Siberia. Stalin established himself as dictator. Trotsky leaves the USSR in 1929 – eventually murdered in Mexico in 1940.

Stalin-Soviet Union surrounded by enemies and

economically backward

Stalin realized the economy had to change and wanted it done in 10 years. USSR could only survive an attack by improving industry.

Five Year Plans-economic programs with 2 specific goals:

1) rapid growth of heavy industry

2) increased agricultural production through collectivization of agriculture

Several 5 year plans were made to improve the economy.

Invested heavily in basic industries:

-steel mills

-electric power generation

-chemical plants

-cement plants

-oil refineries

Sacrifices made: farm workers forced to do labour, hidden sales taxes, basic needs such as food, clothing, were sacrificed. Massive propaganda campaign. Goals and quotas set and punishments given out.

Many peasants opposed. Main opposition from Kulaks-prosperous peasants.

Stalin executed many of them.

Farm production collapsed resulting in famine.

The state of the Ukraine was especially hard hit.

10 million Russians died due to collectivization efforts.

Compromise-allowed peasants to keep small plots to feed their families.

To make the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union a strong communist state he created a totalitarian state – a single-party dictatorship that controls every aspect of the lives of its citizens. Individual rights count for little or nothing. Citizens are expected to obey the government without question and critics are quickly silenced. Also supports extreme nationalism.

Has much greater power over people compared to an absolute monarch.

Under Stalin newspapers and radio were tightly controlled as were all forms of media. The press was used as a propaganda tool. Media were expected to glorify the state. Those that did not were dismissed or imprisoned. Terror was also an important tool to ensure compliance- individuality strongly discouraged.

People lived a difficult life with constant food and   housing shortages. Standard of living was very low.

There was no unemployment although wages were very low. Free education was also provided.

In theory communism provides a classless society however a small group of people enjoyed greater privileges.

Benito Mussolini

-ardent nationalist fought for Italy in WWI

-1919 organized Fascist Party-from the Latin word fasces meaning bundle of rods tied around an ax handle symbol of unity and authority in Roman Empire

Fascism: key idea was glorification of the state. “Everything in the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”
Condemned democracy-rival parties destroyed unity of the state.

Supported one-party system guided by single, strong ruler. Despised socialism and communism.

Defended private property and private enterprise which should be regulated by government.

Aggressive nationalism-strong nations had every right to take over weaker ones

Aggression represented action; desire for peace showed weakness.

Glorified military sacrifice.

The March on Rome

Mussolini’s followers wore black shirts. They roamed the streets beating up communists, socialists, and union members.

The Black Shirts ousted communists from city gov’ts.

Mussolini used growing support to seize power. On Oct. 22 announced a “March on Rome” to defend against a communist revolution (no threat existed)

Mussolini hoped the march would intimidate the gov’t and it worked.

King Victor Emmanuel III refused to use the army against them and 3 days later Mussolini was named Prime Minister.

Over time Mussolini was able to manipulate the gov’t to the point where he was in total control despite Italy having an elected parliament. Once in power implemented measures of a totalitarian state. He took the title “Il Duce” – the leader

“Mussolini is always right” Italians expected to believe in.

Opponents were held in remote prisons, critics were beat up, children were taught Fascist ideas-they wore black uniforms and learned discipline, duty, and obedience; the virtues that made ancient Rome strong.

Fascism different from communism because it supported private enterprise.

Formed corporative system- unions abolished and a government sponsored corporation controlled such matters as wages and prices. Corporations largely dominated by business interests and government

Assignment: One of the key elements of the Versailles Treaty was the creation of a League of Nations whose goal was to solve international problems diplomatically. Refer to the Italy-Ethiopia conflict to predict how effective the League would be in future disagreements.

The Rise of Nazi Germany

The Weimar Republic

Two days before the end of WWI Germany became a republic-set up in the town of Weimar so Germany in the 1920’s was called the Weimar Republic.

Not widely supported because representatives signed the Versailles Treaty. Military officers declared Germany had not been defeated but stabbed in the back by Jews, communists, and liberals.

Political extremists on the left (communists) and on the right (fascists) opposed democratic reform and the Versailles Treaty and created problems for the Weimar Republic.

Inflation and the Great Depression added to the discontent.

Hitler born in Austria. Affected by the nationalists of Austria who promoted closer ties with Germany and violent anti-Semitism. Enlisted in German army during WWI and emerged as an extreme nationalist who shared the belief that Germany was stabbed in the back.

Became an effective orator and gained control of the National Socialist German Workers’ party; a nationalistic, anti-communist, anti-Semitic organization better known as Nazi Party.

Growth of the Nazi Party

Hitler’s popularity grew during the 1920’s as he spoke out against the Weimar Republic and the Versailles Treaty.

Believing he had enough support to overthrow the government he led an uprising in Munich on Nov.8, 1923-beame known as The Beer Hall Putsch. It failed and he was arrested, tried for treason, and sentenced to prison.

While in prison he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). In this book he outlined his political ideas for Germany and that German people belonged to a superior “Aryan” race destined to control inferior races and rule the world. He blamed Jews for Germany’s economic troubles and for plotting with the communists to take over the world. He attacked Soviet Union as an obstacle to German expansion.

The Great Depression helped the Nazi cause as people turned to them for a solution and his ideas about unity and national strength appealed to them.

1932-largest party in Reichstag (German parliament)

1933- von Hindenburg asks Hitler to become chancellor

Called for a general election. Nazis use the threat of communist uprising to convince von Hindenburg to issue emergency orders to abolish freedom of speech and assembly.

Nazis do not win a majority but force the Reichstag go give Hitler dictatorial power for four years but Hitler eliminates all opposition parties and establishes a fascist state.

Founding the Third Reich

Declares himself “Fuhrer” or leader

Proclaims Third Reich- 1^st Holy Roman Empire, 2nd 1871-1918

Murders opponents, creates secret police called “Gestapo,”

state becomes more important than individual rights, wins support of military.

Nazis control every aspect of life

Joseph Goebbels- minister of propaganda

Hitler youth help round up and burn books

Embarks on a persecution campaign against Jews.

The Nazi persecution of the Jews began after Hitler came to power in 1933.As Germany prepared for war the government imposed many laws and restrictions that deprived Jews of their rights and possessions. Some trace the beginning of the Holocaust to the night of Nov 9, 1938. Beginning that night Nazi Party members killed dozens of Jews and sent between 20,000 and 30,000 to concentration camps. The Nazis burned or demolished more than 200 synagogues and destroyed about 7,500 Jewish owned businesses. This night became known as Kristallnacht-The Night of Broken Glass.

 Many leave Germany including Einstein. Forces them to wear Star of David.

Hitler’s Program for Strengthening Germany

Promised economic recovery and “living space” beyond Germany’s borders.

Launched vast building programs- housing, highways, sports arenas

Ignored Versailles Treaty and began to rebuild

Germany’s military. Thousands worked to produce weapons.

Increased taxes

Strict controls on wages and prices

Outlawed unions and banned strikes

National Labour Front-offered inexpensive vacations and supported Nazi propaganda to glorify labor.

Was successful in reducing unemployment and standard of living rose.

Mein Kampf- “Aryan master race” was destined to rule “inferior peoples” and Germany had the right to expand eastward and win “living space.”

To prepare for expansion Hitler increased armed forces claiming growing Soviet army made this necessary

League of Nations condemned Hitler’s actions but took no steps.