Download Day 3 - Age of Imperialism and World Conflict

Age of Imperialism and World Conflict
1.
Define the following terms:
8.
a. Imperialism - the act of extending rule over a foreign territory and/or having colonies.
c. Missionary – someone who goes on a mission to a foreign place to spread religion or aid.
2.
Why did the Europeans seek out to colonize other territories? Think back to exploration.
c. Nationalism – the idea that the nation you are in a wonderful and great and no other
country can beat it.
European nations could dominate a resource market if one country claimed land for a certain
resource (like sugarcane or rubber). Then it could make all the profit from selling that
resource. As that nation became more powerful in that market, other countries would have less
and less ability to enter that market.
What started the Opium War?
The Opium War began because England continued to ship opium to chine, even though China
asked that they stop. In 1839, the Chinese dumped about 20,000 chests of opium into the sea
in protest, and thus begun the Opium War.
5.
What was the East India Company?
The East India Company was a British company created in 1600 that held a monopoly on
trade with India. Eventually, this company grows very large and trade with the entire world
and changes its name to the British-East India trading Company. They owned many trade
ships and employed many people and sailors. However, they also utilized the work of slaves
and children as well. The Company begins to fail when they continue to export and import
slaves after slavery becomes illegal in many places around the world and is looked down
upon.
6.
Define "Scramble for Africa".
King Leopold became the driving force behind the colonization of Central Africa. In the late
1870s, he set up Belgium settlements throughout the Congo. New trade routes were
established, along with new rivalries. Many European countries started to rush to gain
territory in Africa. The French went after Northern Africa, Germany and Britain each tried to
claim land in East Africa. Spain claimed western Sahara and part of Morocco, while Italy took
control of Libya and most of Somalia. Portugal wanted Angola. This rush of colonial activity
is now referred to as the Scramble for Africa. This led to many arguments between European
nations.
7.
Define the following terms:
a. Militarism – the belief that a nation should maintain a strong military.
How could European nations dominate the resource market? How did this effect their lives?
4.
9.
e. Sphere of Influence – areas where imperil powers had exclusive rights to trade of
resources.
Europeans sought out God, Gold, and Glory for their countries and themselves. During the
Age of Exploration, the main goal was to find new trade routes, now these countries seek to
conquer those newly found locations and claim the land and resources as their own.
3.
What happened to the African tribes and groups after the Berlin Conference?
After the Berlin Conference, African nations were divided and taken over by the European
nations. The pre-existing African groups, tribes, and nations were not consulted in how the
land should be divided. For many, they were forced to abandon their own culture and beliefs
and forced into those of the imperialist country they were now being controlled by.
b. Indigenous – from a certain region.
d. Extraterritoriality – being exempt, or free from, local laws.
Name_______________________________
What was the Berlin Conference?
From 1884 –1885, major European countries met in Berlin to discuss African territory and to
settle disputes and who controlled what. The European nations were tired of arguing and
wanted peace. The group agreed on how to divide Africa up among the European nations.
b. Alliance – when two or more countries or groups join forces to fight a common enemy.
d. Entente – an agreement.
e. Front – where the main fighting in a war occurs; where the opponents meet.
f. Isolationism – the act of staying out of the issues of other countries.
g. Stalemate - when neither opponent in a battle gains any ground
h. Reparations – compensation, typically in the form of money, to someone who has been
wronged.
10. What were the causes of World War I?
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism were all contributing factors to the
outbreak of WWI. These factors, over time, created arguments between countries. The trigger
that set off this war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary
on June 28, 1914. You can remember the causes of WWI by thinking about the word
M.A.N.I.A; the added "A" on the end stands for assassination.
11. Name the countries that were part of the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance.
The Triple Entente included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
The Triple Alliance included Russia, Britain, and France.
12. Name the two major European alliance of WWI that had formed by August 1914 and the
countries belonging to each side.
The central powers included Austria-Hungary, Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
The Allied Powers (the Allies) included Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, and later, Japan and
Italy.
13. Why did the United States not immediately join the war? What events forced the U.S. into
fighting and which side did the align with?
The U.S. had adopted a policy of isolationism. In other words, they did not wish to get
involved in what they saw as European politics and issue.
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine destroyed the Lusitania. A British cruise ship. Onboard
that ship were over 100 American citizens. This event along with the discovery of a possible
alliance between Germany and Mexico (the Zimmerman Telegram) in 1917 led the U.S. to
join on the side of the Allies. The U.S. declared war on Germany on April 2, 1917.
Age of Imperialism and World Conflict
14. What led to Russia pulling out of WWI.
In October 1917, a violent group called the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power and
demanded a government by and for the workers and peasants. The Russian military was primarily
Russian peasants who joined in with the protestors. This became known as the Russian revolution.
15. Who was the leader of Russia before the Russian Revolution? What happened to that leader?
Who replaced that leader?
Czar Nicholas II was the ruler of Russia before the Russian Revolution. He was captured by
the protestors led by Lenin during the Russian Revolution. He and his family were held
prisoner for a time and then they all were executed. Their mass grave was found not too long
ago confirming the identity and fate of the murdered Romanov family. This is the basis of the
fictional story Anastasia.
16. How did WWI end?
This war (a.k.a. as the Great War) devastated Europe. At best guess 37 million were killed or
wounded in the four years that it lasted. There was also a great illness (the Spanish Flu)
sweeping through Europe weakening the population. Simply put…the world was ready for
peace.
In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed bringing an end to WWI. This treaty forced
Germany alone to take the blame for all the destruction brought on by WWI. They were
required to pay reparations to other countries and to give up many resources.
17. Who came up with the idea of the League of Nations? What were its core goals? Which
important country DID NOT join and why?
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson came up with the idea for the league of Nations. Its goals
were to prevent wars, promote democracy, and keep the peace. The United States did not join
because they still wanted to keep to themselves.
18. What led to the beginning of World War II?
The Treaty of Versailles destroyed the German economy. The Germans resented the terms of
the treaty, so they stopped paying the reparations and withdrew from the League of Nations.
An extremist party called the Nazis rose in power. By 1921, Adolf Hitler was the leader of the
Nazi Party. Hitler was very convincing to the German public and eventually, through his
speeches, was able to gain the support needed to take control of Germany.
Hitler wanted to expand Germany so he began to invade and take over neighboring countries.
This was the starting point for what would become known as WWII.
19. What were the Axis Powers?
With similar philosophies, some dictators formed alliances. In 1936, Hitler and Mussolini
formed the Rome-Berlin Axis. Japan joined in 1940. Russia didn’t join the Axis powers, but
did sing a non-aggression p act with Germany in which they agreed not to attack each other.
Name_______________________________
20. Did the United States enter the war immediately? Why or Why not? What caused the U.S. to
enter?
No, again, the U.S. was still operating under a policy of isolationism and did not wish to be
involved in foreign matters. However, Japan decided to attack the U.S. on December 7, 1941.
Japanese military attacked a naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii causing great damage.
President Roosevelt called it “A day that will live on in infamy.” Four days after the attack,
war was declared between the U.S. and Axis Powers.
21. What were the Nuremburg Laws of 1935?
These laws effectively stripped Jews of their German citizenship. Beginning with their rights
to works in government, own property, and leave the country. Eventually, these laws forced
the Jewish citizens of Germany into living in Ghettos.
22. What were concentration camps? Who were sent to the concentrations camps?
Concentration camps were prisons used to house people that the Nazis felt were inferior. At
first, most camps were works camps where the prisoners would be forced to do different jobs
that helped the Nazi party (sew uniforms, make weapons, etc.). Eventually, Hitler begins what
he calls “The Final Solution” to execute all those he feels are not worthy. The work camps are
turned into death camps where the prisoners are murdered through various means (shootings,
beatings, starvations, gas chambers).
The Nazis sent Jews, communists (and other political opponents), homosexuals, gypsies, and a
variety of other ethnic groups that the Nazis considered inferior (including Poles, Ukrainians,
Slavs, and Serbs), and people with mental and physical disabilities to concentration camps.
23. How did WWII end?
On June 6, 1944, known a D-Day, Allied forces defeated the Axis powers in Normandy,
France. France and other countries that had been captured by the Germans were soon free and
in December 1944, the allies defeated the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. The
Allies continued into Northern Germany to join forces with the Soviets. Hitler died in a
bunker on April 30 a few days after Mussolini was killed. The Germans surrendered, and on
May 8, 1945, known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe), the Allies declared victory.
However, the Japanese did not surrender. On August 6, 1945, the Americans (President Harry
S. Truman) dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Still refusing to surrender
another bomb was dropped 3 days later, on the city of Nagasaki. Tens of thousands of
Japanese citizens dies because of these bombings immediately and thousands more died later
from exposure to radiation. On August 14, 1945, known as V-J day (Victory over Japan), the
Japanese’s surrenders onboard the U.S.S. Missouri. The U.S. occupied Japan for many years
afterward. The Japanese were forced to dismantle their army so they could never attack the
U.S. again.