Modern World History (World War 2) Sheet Notes

World War II Manchurian Crisis Japan wanted some of China's natural resources and space. in 1932 Japan annexed an area in Manchuria after an alleged attack by the Chinese in 1931. League of Nations did nothing. Abyssinian Crisis Diplomatic crisis that took place between 1934 and 1937 over Italy's policy of aggression against Ethiopia. League of nations did not do much. Anschluss Anschluss was a union of Germany and Austria. Hilter took advantage of the lack of unity between France, Britain, and the United States. He brought Austria into his Reich with little choice other than accept the union. Anschluss was one of Hilter’s first examples of his plans for world domination. Sudetenland Land that Germany thought was rightfully theirs due to the large German speaking population. Munich Agreement of 1938 An agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland; it is widely regarded as a failed act of appeasement toward Nazi Germany. Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939- when Germany took over the Sudetenland after annexing Austria because of claims that many Germans still lived there. Nazi-Soviet Pact A secret agreement between the Germans and the Russians that said that they would not attack each other. Invasion of Poland 1939- Germany invaded, breaking their agreement, so Britain and France declared war, starting World War II. Axis Powers vs. Allied Powers The Axis Powers were a group of countries led by Germany, Italy, and Japan that fought against the Allies in WWII. The Allies were a group of countries led by Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union that fought against the Axis Powers in WWII. Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg, meaning “lightning war” in German, was a new style of warfare that featured the use of speed and firepower to destroy enemy defenses and capture much of the enemy’s territory. The new military technology at the time made the blitzkrieg devastatingly effective. Using the new blitzkrieg, Germany was able to break through Poland’s defenses and capture the territory remarkably fast. Battle of Britain An aerial battle fought in World War II in 1940 between the German air force, which carried out extensive bombing in Britain, and the British Royal Air Force, which offered successful resistance. Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge was a battle between Allied and German troops with the hope of separating American and British forces. In December 1944, Hilter ordered a counterattack that caught the Allies by surprise. The snowy, cloudy skies prevented the Allies from utilizing their air superiority. Despite the brutal German assaults and frostbite, the Allies held their position and then when the skies cleared, the Allied bombers attacked German positions. In the end, the Battle of the Bulge was a desperate German attempt to stop the advancing Allied troops, but the battle crippled Germany’s reserves and demoralized its troops and ultimately shortened the time Hilter had left. Operation Barbarossa Battle of Stalingrad D-Day/Invasion of Normandy Codename for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during WWII. Unsuccessful German attack on the city of Stalingrad during World War II from 1942 to 1943, that was the furthest extent of German advance into the Soviet Union. D-Day, code name Operation Overlord, was the day that the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. Future President General Dwight D. Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander of 21 American divisions and 26 British, Canadian, and Polish divisions on a 50-mile stretch of beaches in Normandy. The operation included hitting five beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword, but before the plan could be carried out another plan needed to execute. The Allies created a fictional army in a different place along the English Channel, tricking the Germans into moving their top tank divisions and allowing the Allies to move on Normandy. Once the Allies had landed, they found that the Germans had dug trenches, built concrete structures from which heavy artillery could be fired, and heavily mined the beaches. The first wave of American soldiers stepped out of their landing crafts into a firestorm of bullets, shells, and death. Due to American bravery, the Allies were able to overrun German forces and gain a foothold in France. Within a month, more than a million Allied troops landed at Normandy and began their long path to Berlin. Rape of Nanking When Japan attacked China, raping and killing thousands of people. 1945- United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki August 1945. Potsdam Conference July 26, 1945 - Allied leaders Truman, Stalin and Churchill met in Germany to set up zones of control and to inform the Japanese that if they refused to surrender at once, they would face total destruction. Holocaust A methodical plan orchestrated by Hitler to ensure German supremacy. It called for the elimination of Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and mentally and physically disabled. Ghettoization, Concentration Camps, and Death Camps Nazi ghettos confine Jewish population completely (intended to temporarily remove and segregate population). Neighborhoods become prisons. Largest Ghetto was in Warsaw, Poland (400,000 crowded into 1.3 sq. miles). Extreme food rationing, poor running water, access sewers, and medical care, etc. Concentration camps and death camps were established in 1933 for imprisoning political opponents. 1st is Dachau, near Munich, Germany. SS expanded their concentration camp system to warehouse other “undesirables” – hundreds of thousands of Jews and other groups. Many people were put to ‘work’ while living in these camps before being sent to death camps. Some camps included medical experimentation. Map of Countries: 1. Haiti 11. Mexico 2. Brazil 12. China 3. Algeria 13. Russia 4. Belgium 14. Turkey 5. Ghana 15. India 6. Kenya 16. Pakistan 7. Democratic Republic of Congo 17. Japan 8. Egypt 18. Germany 9. Italy 19. Great Britain 10. Ethiopia 20. Serbia Essential Questions/Themes: Nationalism and Imperialism: ● What strategies were used to promote nationalism? (Both generally and, with regard to German Unification) nation, multinational state, multistate nation, irredentism. Blood and iron Realpolitik ● What were the effects of Nationalism? Europe, putting together or breaking apart countries United 39 German states and Italy. Broke apart Ottoman and Austrian Empire - too many differences. ● What were the causes and justifications of Imperialism? Sometimes political like with Egypt - maintain powerful position in region More often than not economic means for Resources, etc especially with industrialization Racist ideologies like social darwinism and ethnocentrism, some competition, argued that stronger nations have right to dominate weaker nations used to further European expansionism. ● What were the varied responses to Imperialism? Initially responded positively. Despite knowing of possible infringement on their rights, Africans believed it would be for the good of their countries to have a powerful nation help their economic, political, and social needs. Believed it was for the good of them, not Europeans. Once they realized the true intentions of imperialism, they resisted diplomacy and fought back through guerilla warfare. European by that time had taken over too much and with the power came to dominate the colonies. ● What were the primary consequences of Imperialism (effects: short- vs. long-term, beneficial vs. harmful, etc…)? Short term - Put the countries on the right track relation economically, politically, socially Long term- The negative ended up outweighing the good as they failed to see larger impacts Beneficial The more impoverished countries state of wealth compared to European nations and the United States is directly correlated to the results of colonization. While one may be thriving, it is at the expense of the other. Colonization sets up an extractive economy in which the Europeans heavily benefit from resources of the colony. The purpose of this imperialism is to exploit their resources without regard to the way of life. Even as those colonies exported goods and food that they had, they still went hungry. One tactic employed was taxation, as it was an effective tool in forcing the colonies to grow and sell crops or work as peasants on plantations. Market boards were another strategy used to extract maximum resources at the expense of the colonies. Market boards keep commodities very limited in primary economics while foreigners prospered. The last way governments of imperial countries maintained their status above the colonies was through directly limiting and minimizing the available resources and access to infrastructure in order to make the colonies dependent on the plantation system of colonization. 20th Century Revolutions: ● What were the causes of the 20th century revolutions in Mexico, China, and Russia? [Consider economic, social, and political circumstances. Consider internal and external factors] China - Opium Wars Ruling Minorities Boxer Rebellion Mexico - Imbalance of power (govt, group of wealthy landowners). Russia - Outdated political system - Ineffective leadership of incomptent Tsar Nicholas - Middle Class wanting increased role in society - Urban workers, peasants wanting better lives ● What were the competing goals of the 20th century revolutions in Mexico, China, and Russia? [Consider economic, social, and political circumstances, and how those impact the different factions that existed] China Communists: - Power to the working class and rural peasants - Transform culture in favor of less few rich - Lower taxes, cooperation, women’s rights Nationalists: - Improve lives → democracy Mexico Russia Zapatistas: - Fought for land reform (division of land) - Fought opposing rebel groups and local landowners Liberals: - Westernization and freedom Villistas: - Right for rural and urban workers Bolsheviks: - Organized leadership Mensheviks: - Prepare for socialism - Capitalist economic system; inspired by U.S. - Unite China, eliminate Qing, expel foreigners Similar goals to communists Constitutionalists: - Monarchy - 1917 Constitution ● How did circumstances change due to the revolution? [Consider economic, social, and political circumstances. Consider domestic and international relations.] China Mexico Russia - Communist government, society, and economic system - Internationally pitting China against the rest of the world. - Constitution of 1917 - land reform - Unions - Attempt to power shift from foreigners to citizens - Re-invested in primary economy - ISI - Education and an increase in population, urbanization. March 1917: - Tsar steps down → Provincial government with Kadets but no real power and continues in WWI. Major influence in war and therefore world history. October 1917: - Rise of Bolsheviks fueled by discontent with govt and seize power to get out of WWI therefore the treaty ceeds great things. 1918-1922: - Civil War, fight for power, Bolsheviks surprisingly maintain power - New economic issues to deal with internally 31 Years of War: ● What were the causes of World War I and World War II in Europe and Asia? World War I Economic race/competition with new technology. There is a need for balance of World War II Invasion of Manchuria seeking resources; appeasement similarity; tensions. power and can not let another nation take too much power. Alliances formed between countries to protect Hitler’s Plan to abolish the Treaty of itself led to two major alliances. If one Versailles; expansionism; defeat communism. attacked, others would step in to protect an ally causing a chain reaction. Slightly uncertainty only increased tension. It would then allow a country to be more aggressive than before. Nationalism with a need to limit land and not allow another nation to become too powerful. Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, and Russia. Declining Ottoman Empire was a hot topic as if one country gained power, it would tip the balance in their favor. It leads to imperialism. Appeasement is the most notable cause of WWII. They were less concerned for others than with their own economic problems caused by the Great Depression that they allowed Hitler to take over and be more aggressive. Imperialism colonized much of Africa and much of nationalism. Britain and France colonized and reaped most of the benefits of imperialism and Russia and Austria-Hungary felt left out leading to long-term problems. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate strength. Arms Race/Militarism so because of rivalries, countries felt the need to build up military power to defend themselves. It prompted an arms race for manpower and firepower throughout Europe. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the initial spark of WWI that ignited a chain reaction ● How was WWI a “World” War and what was the impact of colonial participation? World War I was the first “world” war because it was no longer a war solely restricted to those in Europe, but included many vast cultures involved directly or through support for the first time. It featured Indian soldiers mobilized to fight for Britain, Chinese immigrants or African countries providing support for resources. The colonial system primarily employed through those major powers in Europe was utilized and had a major impact on the outcomes of the war. While different cultures mixed in one global “world war”, colonial colonies greatly influenced and contributed to the war, an oftentimes overlooked aspect of WWI. ● What were common characteristics of totalitarian regimes? Totalitarian regimes, like Hitler, Mussolini, and France, often resist individual rights and focus on the state run through an authoritarian leader. They censor individuals and use secret police to create fear of opposition. They often have a front leader that is charismatic and if I were to give three reasons why these totalitarian leaders and regimes came to power it would be these: exploiting social unrest, persecuting opposition, and promising a return to greatness. They preach extreme forms of nationalism. ● What were some of the key consequences of World War II? While World War II directly caused the deaths of tens of millions and the greatest loss of life in modern history, it signifies the end of a “modern developing world” into a post modern and industrialized society with non-existential capabilities. The war, and the German empire, temporarily served as a placeholder as the growing powers between the Europeans, including the United States, and Russia vying for control in the world. Following the war, the two powers resumed fighting for influence in the world resulting in the cold war. They had many proxy wars in these states and continue to today. The end of WWII created several satellite states in the Eastern and Western respective blocs. WWII transformed the world into a modern day place in which two formidable and capable powers grow until they reach a point where one must give in and there inlies the cause of the Cold War. ● Compare and contrast 20th century independence movements in Africa Kenya and Ghana both overthrew British rule similar to Indian & Pakistani independence. Kenya and Algeria both erupted with violence. ● How were imperialist attitudes reflected in the conduct of World War I? Oftentimes the imperialist attitude has a complete disregard to the aftereffects and consequences of their actions as the only concern is how much a colony can contribute or help them. Following a century of imperialism all around the world, WWI was conducted in such a way that the only concern was on the object of taking land, regardless of the consequences which decimated the land. ● What were the successes and failures of diplomacy in the 1920s? Successes - Establishment of the League of Nations, working conditions, health, disarmament attitude/cooperation. Failures - Too diplomatically focused on themselves following WWI and later during the Great Depression that they were negligent to the building of a war. After the war, focused on helping themselves and unconcerned with the consequences, their reparations to Germany only worsened conditions. ● What were the key turning points of World War II? Germany’s invasion of Poland triggering the war, Battle of Britain to resist Nazi bombings, Pearl Harbor which involved the United States into the conflict chaning the tides, D-Day which established an Allied foot in Europe, Battle of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front, Battle of the Bulge to withstand Hitler’s last attempt at changing the tides of the war. VE-Day and VJ-Day in which Germany Surrenders and Japan Surrenders.