Download World War I and the Russian Revolution

World War I and the Russian Revolution
In this chapter, you’ll learn about World War I, a conflict that began in Europe but which also eventually
involved the _______________. New military technologies made this war more destructive than all
previous conflicts in _____________. The violence of the war toppled conservative monarchies in
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Turkey. At the ______________ Peace Conference, the
victorious allies encouraged the creation of new nation-states in Eastern Europe. In Russia, Bolshevik
revolutionaries led by Vladimir Lenin established the world’s first _____________________ state.
The Outbreak of World War I
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The World on the Eve of World War I
In 1900, Europeans were enjoying greater peace and prosperity than ever before. Despite minor
conflicts, Europeans had not experienced a major war on the continent for almost a ______________.
But in some places in the world, forces of discontent were brewing. In Turkey, Mexico, China, and
Russia, reformers influenced by _____________________ ideas were outraged at sharp social
_________________ and __________________ governments. In Austria-Hungary (Austria’s name after
a compromise with Hungary in 1867), different ethnic minorities dreamt of independence and
establishing their own _________________________.
Unable to achieve reform through ____________________ means, some reformers turned to forming
secret ______________________ movements. Shortly after the turn of the century, different parts of
the world exploded in social revolution. Demonstrations forced the Tsar to create a national
______________________ in Russia in 1905. Reformers in Turkey overthrew the Sultan in 1908. In
Mexico, a revolution overthrew the country’s military dictator in 1910. Even in China, nationalist
reformers overthrew the emperor in 1912. All this was only the __________________ to later violence.
The powerful forces of nationalism and reform, which affected Russia, Turkey, Mexico, and China, had
an equally explosive impact on the ________________________ empire of Austria-Hungary. Only two
years after the fall of the Chinese emperor, events in Austria-Hungary would bring the rest of Europe
into armed ______________. This struggle, known at the time as the “____________________,” would
be a major turning point in world history. New technologies made warfare tremendously more
_______________________ than ever before. Imperial governments and the old class system of Europe
were forever shattered. The peace that followed saw the momentary triumph of democracy, national
self-determination and the creation of a new international peace organization. But the violence of the
war also prepared the way for the rise of both _______________________ and __________________.
The Underlying Causes of the War I
Several factors prepared the way for the war. Many Europeans believed that some kind of major
conflict had become inevitable. However few could have predicted that World War I would be as
____________________ as it was.
Nationalism
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Nationalism is the belief that each _________________ group should have its own
______________. It is also the belief among citizens of existing nation-states that they should
promote their nation’s interests. Nationalist sometimes also assert that their own nation is
____________________ to others.
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Nationalism encouraged __________________ between France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Russia. The spread of nationalism also led to the creation of new, independent nations in the
Balkans – Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, and Rumania – where the _______________ had
once ruled.
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Some of these new countries were __________________. In 1912 and 1913, they fought a
series of local wars that threatened to involve the larger powers. Finally, Austria-Hungary itself
still consisted of several different ethnic groups, including Germans, Hungarians, Czechs,
Rumanians, Poles, Serbs, and Croats. Some of these groups wanted their own
________________________. These demands threatened to break the Austro-Hungarian
Empire apart.
Imperialism
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Many European powers believed that the sign of a great power was possession of overseas
__________________. The European powers had become accustomed to competing for
colonies in ______________ and __________. Competing claims created an atmosphere of
tension between the major powers. Behind nationalistic rivalries of the European great powers
were competing ________________ interests.
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By 1900, one quarter of the world was under __________________ rule. German
industrialization threatened British economic _____________________. Russian interests in the
Balkans threatened both Austria-Hungary and Turkey.
The Alliance System
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By 1914, Europe had come to be divided into ______________ large alliances. On one side
stood Germany and Austria-Hungary. Italy joined them to form ___________________ in 1882.
On the other side stood Russia, France, and Great Britain, known as the
______________________. Although these alliances sought to preserve the existing balance of
power, any dispute involving any two of these countries threatened to drag in all the others.
Militarism
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Militarism occurs when military values and goals take over ______________ society. By the end
of the 19th century, societies had become increasingly militaristic. Bismarck had united Germany
through Prussia’s military power, and every European country tried to build up its
____________. Kings wore military uniforms, even in daily life. Generals became influential in
__________________. Germany and Britain competed to build the most powerful __________.
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Military ______________ played a key role in the outbreak of World War I. Because it took time
to assemble and move armies on ____________________, military leaders thought it was better
to attack first then to wait to be attacked. This created pressure to _______________ and act
quickly.
The Flashpoint the Ignites The War
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In July 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian-Empire, was
_____________________ by a member of a terrorist group, the ____________________, a Slav
nationalist group. Austrian leaders ________________ believed that Serb officials had secretly
helped the assassins. The Austrians decided to teach Serbia a lesson. Austria-Hungary invaded
tiny Serbia. This set off a _________________ reaction. Because of the various alliance treaties,
_______________ entered the conflict to protect Serbia. Next, Germany entered the war to
fulfill its treaty obligations to protect __________________.
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Finally, Britain and France came in to honor their alliance with ________________.
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Thus, within just a few weeks, Austria, Russia, Germany, Britain, and France were all at war.
What began as a minor regional crisis in the _______________ had quickly escalated into a
major European conflict. Italy refused to join the Central Powers since ________________ had
attacked first. The _____________________ quickly joined the Central Powers to oppose
Russia, while Bulgaria joined to oppose Serbia.
Fighting the War
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Military leaders on both sides thought the war would be over _____________. In fact, the
struggles lasted several years. To avoid a two-front war, German war plans called for Germany
to march through the lowlands of ________________ Belgium and to take Paris quickly before
Russia could ______________ the war. The Germans advanced but were stopped before
reaching Paris. Meanwhile, when war broke out President ________________________ called
upon Americans to take no sides and to remain ________________.
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New and improved _______________ were used in fighting the war, including the
___________________, _________________, _______________, and airplanes. These
weapons made it easier to _____________ positions than to attack. Soldiers dug deep
____________________. Soon trenches extended hundreds of miles along eastern France.
Trench ______________ was a new and strange form of warfare the world had never seen. In
trench warfare, both sides dug ditches to create fortified positions. These trenches were
separated by fields of barbed wire and mines known as “no mans’ land.” Anyone who climbed
out of the trenches faced instant _____________ from enemy machine gun fire. Soldiers spent
_____________ in these trenches, facing shelling from artillery fire for hours each day. Since
neither side could advance, fighting lines became ___________________.
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Sometimes, soldiers would face attacks with poison gas. Casualty rates were ____________.
___________________ were first introduced but were still too primitive to be effective.
Overhead, the first airplanes were used to see what was going on across enemy lines. In the
oceans, German submarines, called U-boats, were used to attack large ships. Britain placed a
__________________ around Germany and Austria-Hungary in an attempt to _______________
them into submission. Russia became isolated from the West. Each side tried to mobilize all its
_______________________, turning the war into a “total war.”
The United States Helps Win the War
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Serbia, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Greece, and Portugal joined the Allied Powers. Although the
United States was officially neutral, Americans were sympathetic to ___________ and
________________. When American ships sent supplies to the allies, they were attacked by
_________________ submarines. In response, the United States finally entered the war in
___________________; in the same year, Russia dropped out. President Wilson declared that
the war would make the world “safe for democracy.”
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President Wilson announced America’s war aims in the Fourteen Points. He wanted to redraw
the map of _________________ so that each nationality had its own state. For example, he
demanded creation of an independent Poland. Wilson also demanded freedom of the seas, and
end to ____________ diplomacy, and the creation of a League of Nations. America’s entry into
the war broke the deadlock in Europe. In November 1918, __________________ laid down
their weapons and surrendered.
The Aftermath of World War I
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The human and material costs of World War I were _________________. ______________ of
people were killed or injured. Famine and malnutrition threatened many regions. Under the
stress of the war, the governments of Russia and Germany were _____________________.
The Paris Peace Conference (1919)
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Believing that President Wilson’s offer would be the basis of the peace settlement, Germans
agreed to end the war and to __________________ the Kaiser. Allied leaders Woodrow Wilson,
David Lloyd George from Great Britain, and Georges Clemenceau from France met in Paris to
negotiate the _____________. Allied public opinion was eager for _______________. The
Treaty of Versailles (1919) concluded peace with Germany; other treaties dealt with AustriaHungary and Turkey. The final peace terms turned out to be extremely ______________ on
Germany.
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An independent Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia were created. The former nation of
_____________ was combined with parts of Austria-Hungary to create the nation of
______________________.
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German colonies were given to Britain or France as ____________________ – territories ruled
like colonies but subject to the supervision of the ___________________________.
Europe before WWI
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Europe After WWI
According to the Covenant of the League of Nations, its purpose was to promote
_______________________ and prevent _______________. The League had no military force
of its own, so it depended on the help of its member states. The League consisted of a Council,
representing the Great Powers, and an Assembly in which all member states were represented.
It also created a new _________________________________________________.
The Peace Terms Ending World War I
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Germany’s Territorial Losses.
A new independent ________________ was created. Germany lost territory to France and Poland, as
well as all of its overseas ___________________.
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Punishing Germany.
Germany lost its ______________, while its army was reduced to a small police force. Germany was
forced to accept ________________ for starting the war in the War Guilt Clause and was required to
pay huge __________________________ (payments for damages) to the Allies.
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Austria-Hungary and Turkey.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was ________________ into several new national states. Turkey lost its
territories in the Middle East.
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League of Nations.
The Treaty created the League of Nations, an organization of nations pledged to _______________ each
other against aggressors. The League was severely weakened when several major powers, such as the
United States and Russia, failed to _________________ it.
World War I and the Middle East
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World War I also led to the ______________ of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultan had joined the
Central Powers during the war because Turkey opposed Russia.
The Armenian Massacres
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For centuries, Armenian ___________________ had lived in the Ottoman Empire. Some
Armenians sought an independent Armenian state. The Ottoman government began to
________________ its Armenian citizens, fearing that they might be sympathetic to Christian
Russia. Armenian political leaders, educators, writers, and clergy were jailed and then hanged
or shot. Next, Turkish soldiers gathered over a million Armenian men, women, and children and
sent them on death marches into the Syrian desert. They also used firing squads, burnings,
drownings, poisons, and drugs against Armenian victims.
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After the war, the Allies took away ___________________ possessions in Arabia, Syria, and
Palestine. To gain Arab support during the fighting, the British government had promised Arab
groups their _____________________. But in 1919, these areas were instead divided between
Britain and France as ___________________ under the League of Nations. Uprisings in Egypt
and Arabia finally led to their independence (1922-1924).
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The Allies also planned to take away much of the Turkish heartland in _____________________.
General Mustafa Kemal, known as ______________________, organized resistance to Allied
attempts to dismember Turkey. A new parliament declared the birth of Turkey as a secular
state in 1920. After two years of fighting, Ataturk preserved Turkey in Asia Minor and abolished
the Sultanate in 1923.
The Russian Revolution
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One of the most important __________________ of World War I was the Russian Revolution of
1917. This revolution was to have far-reaching effects on the world. To understand the causes
of the revolution, it is necessary to first examine developments taking place in ___________
earlier in the nineteenth century.
The Roots of Revolution
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The Russian Tsars (emperors) ruled as _______________ (absolute rulers). Through a network
of secret police and strict censorship, new ideas were ________________. The vast majority of
Russians were illiterate serfs who lived in poverty. The serfs remained bound to the land, long
after serfdom had been abolished in other Western European countries. A small group of
________________ owned thousands of serfs and enjoyed vast wealth. Despite earlier efforts
to introduce Western ideas to Russia, ______________ conditions kept the country
economically under-developed. Russian reformers, inspired by the example of Western Europe,
hoped to ________________ serfdom and _________________ their country.
Emancipation of the Serfs
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Acting as ______________ of the Orthodox Christians, Russia waged a series of wars with the
Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. Between 1854 and 1856, Russia was engaged in the
_________________, in which England and France supported Turkey against Russia. Despite its
large army, Russia lost the war. Tsar Alexander II decided to listen to reformers and
____________________ (liberated) the serfs in 1861. The “Tsar Liberator” also intended to
introduce a new elected assembly and other reforms. Ironically, the liberal Alexander II was
____________________ by Russian revolutionaries shortly afterwards. This put an abrupt end
to all attempts at reform. The freed serfs remained landless peasants, paying rents to their
former owners. Later Tsars returned to a policy of _________________ all change and using
harsh repression to maintain the existing social order.
“Autocracy, Nationality, and Orthodoxy”
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Russian nationalism had important effects on its conservative __________. They identified their
empire with ____________, the Russian ______________ and the Russian Orthodox
_____________. The government acted as the protector of new Slav states in the Balkans. It
also adopted a policy of Russification, forcing non-Russian people such as the Finns, Poles, and
the peoples of Central Asia to adopt the Russian ___________ and _____________. Jews were
persecuted in anti-semitic pogroms (officially encouraged persecutions against Jews).
Prelude to the Revolution
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By 1900, the Russian Empire stretched from Eastern Europe to the ______________ Ocean.
Compared to the countries of Western Europe, Russia remained __________________.
Peasants and factory workers lived in conditions of terrible ______________, while the
landowning nobles enjoyed lives of _______________ and leisure. The autocratic Tsars opposed
democratic reform, and secret revolutionary societies had formed among members of the
__________________ elite.
The Revolution of 1905
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Under these conditions, Russia was ripe for __________________. The crisis came to a head
after Russia was __________________ in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). When troops of
the Tsar trampled on __________________ demonstrators in St. Petersburg on “Bloody Sunday”
in 1905, revolutions broke out across the country. Peasants seized lands, while workers in the
cities engaged in demonstrations and general strikes. Tsar Nicholas II finally granted limited
_______________, creating an elected legislature known as the Duma. However, only the very
_________________ could vote for members to the new assembly.
The Russian Revolution of 1917
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The years after 1905 showed some signs of ___________________. But Russia was not
prepared for the strains of war. In 1914, Nicholas II brought Russia into the war against AustriaHungary and Germany. Poorly trained and badly equipped Russian soldiers suffered disastrous
defeats. In some cases, troops were even sent into battle without ________________. They
were told to pick up the weapons of their _____________ comrades. Mounting defeats led to
widespread discontent in the army. Russian industries were ________________ of producing
needed weapons and supplies. On the home front, _____________ supplies were dangerously
low.
The “February Revolution” (March 1917)
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In 1917, worker-led food ______________ broke out in cities all across Russia. When soldiers
refused to fire on striking workers in March 1917, Nicholas realized he was powerless to
________________ the nation. Nicholas gave up his ________________, and the leaders of the
Duma declared Russia a _______________. However, the provisional government that replaced
the Tsar failed to win the support of the people when it refused to _______________ from the
war.
The “October Revolution” (November 1917)
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Vladimir ____________ was a follower of Karl Marx, living in exile in Switzerland. The Germans
sent him back to Russia by railroad, hoping he would cause ____________ in Russia. This would
help to end the war on the Eastern front, allowing Germany to concentrate on defeating the
Western allies. Lenin’s supporters, known as the Bolsheviks, promised “Peace, Bread, and
Land”; peace to the ___________, bread to the ____________, and land to the ____________.
The Bolsheviks seized power by _______________ in a second revolution in November 1917.
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The Bolsheviks changed the name of their political party to the __________________. They also
changed the name of their country to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) or “Soviet
Union.” Russia had become the world’s first __________________ country.
The Soviet Union Under Lenin: 1917-1924
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The Bolsheviks were convinced that a world ________________ was about to begin, first in
Germany, then in Britain, and finally in the United States, Lenin added his own ideas to Marx’s
original theory of Communism. He believed that a small group of _________________ party
members must lead the country along the path to Communist ________________. He argued
that after the revolution, a “temporary dictatorship” of party leaders was ________________
because the workers, brought up in capitalist society, could not be trusted to know their own
true ___________________.
The Russian Civil War (1919-1921)
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Once in power, the Communists immediately __________________ from the war against
Germany. They transferred millions of acres of land to the poorer peasants. Workers were
organized to control and operate ______________, and all industries were _________________
(taken over by the government).
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A civil war followed between those who supported ______________ program, known as the
“Reds,” and those who wished to return to the rule of the ______________, known as the
“Whites.” Other countries were _____________ at events in Russia, just as they had been when
the French Revolution had occurred 130 years earlier. Several foreign powers, including the
United States, _______________, sending troops to help the “Whites.” Parts of the old Russian
Empire even tried to break away. The Red Army, however, enjoyed greater support from
__________________ and ____________. Lenin also took drastic measures, like
_______________ Tsar Nicholas II and his family in cold blood, so that the monarchy could
never be restored. After two years of fighting, the Reds defeated the Whites. The victory
secured the position of the new Communist ____________________.
Lenin’s New Economic Policy
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After half a decade of turmoil, the Russian economy was in ______________. Now that the
Bolsheviks had gained political control, they needed to deliver on their promises to
_____________ the people. By 1920, Lenin realized that changes to his program were needed.
Peasants were no longer growing enough ___________, since they were afraid it would be
_______________ by the government. By 1921, a severe famine was facing Russia. Lenin came
to the conclusion that Communist policies must be temporarily put aside to avoid disaster.
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Lenin’s goal was to keep the ___________ satisfied and to keep the ________________ in
power, as well as to stabilize the _________________. In 1921, Lenin introduced the New
Economic Policy, or “N.E.P.,” in which some ______________ ownership was permitted in small-
scale manufacturing and agriculture. Meanwhile, the government continued to control major
_______________. The N.E.P. succeeded in slowly increasing production. The policy seemed to
be working when Lenin _____________ in 1924. Although many thought Leon Trotsky, leader
of the Red Army, would succeed Lenin, ________________________ managed to gain control.