AP World History - Unit 7: Global Conflict

Introduction

• Instructor: Seth Gergis
• Content Focus: World War I & II, mass atrocities, genocides
• Time Period: Starts from 1900
• General Context: Dark parts of human history

Historical Context Pre-WWI

• Imperialism: Berlin Conference (1885) leads to Scramble for Africa
  • Need for raw materials & markets from the Industrial Revolution
  • Major players: newly unified Germany, Italy, Belgium; traditional colonial powers: Britain, France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal
  • Result: Hostile takeover of Africa, European nations’ advancement
• **Other Imperial Ventures: Russia in Asia, Japan’s modernization and victory in Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
  • French in Southeast Asia, US in Philippines, British in India

Shifting Powers & Revolutions

• Russia: Bolshevik Revolution (1917)
  • Causes: Loss in Russo-Japanese War, Industrial struggles, WWI losses
  • Result: Overthrowing of Romanov dynasty, establishment of communist regime
• China: End of Qing dynasty, Republic of China (1911)
  • Causes: Internal revolts (Taiping, Boxer Rebellions), Opium Wars
  • Leader: Sun Yat-Sen
• Ottoman Empire: Tanzimat reforms fail, Young Turks push for Turkish identity
• Mexico: Revolution (1917) ending dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz
  • Causes: Land control by elite, native Mexicans denied rights
  • Leaders: Pancho Villa, Zapata

Causes of World War I

• MILITARISM: Military expenditure & technology from Industrial Revolution
• ALLIANCE SYSTEM: Pre-war alliances, mutual defense agreements
• IMPERIALISM: Rivalries over colonies & resources
• NATIONALISM: Devotion and belief in state superiority
• Spark of WWI: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip
• **Events Leading to War: Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum to Serbia, alliances form, declarations of war

Conduct and Technology of WWI

• Trench Warfare: Stalemate, machine guns, crossing no man's land
• Chemical Warfare: Use of poison gas (mustard gas, tear gas)
• Military Technologies: Airplanes (reconnaissance), tanks
• Total War: Civilians’ involvement, rationing, propaganda
• US Involvement: Sinking of Lusitania, Zimmerman Telegram

Aftermath of WWI

• Paris Peace Conference: Treaty of Versailles
  • Disagreements between leaders, especially Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points
  • Effects on Germany: Blame for war, demilitarization, loss of colonies, reparations
• Economic repercussions: Global depression, hyperinflation in Germany, Keynes’ economic theories
• Fascism: Rise in Italy (Mussolini), Germany (Hitler)
• Totalitarianism: Scapegoating and persecution of minorities (Jews in Germany, ethnic Armenians in Ottoman Empire)

Colonization and Independence Movements

• Middle Eastern Mandates: “Civilizing” mission under League of Nations
• India: Civil disobedience led by Gandhi, boycotting British goods, salt production
• Southeast Asia, Africa: Moves for independence
• Palestine: Tensions from Balfour Declaration, Jewish migration

Causes of World War II

• Aftermath of Treaty of Versailles: Economic struggles, rise of Nazi Party
• Hitler’s Expansion: Breaking of Treaty, appeasement by European leaders
• Notable invasions: Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Poland
• Alliances: Non-aggression pact with Stalin, eventual invasion of Soviet Union

Conduct and Technology of WWII

• Blitzkrieg: Fast-moving warfare, as opposed to WWI trench stalemate
• Aerial Warfare: Bombing tactics, nuclear weapons
• Total War Continues: Repression, propaganda
• Changing Alliances: Soviet Union switches sides
• End of WWII: Victory in Europe (VE Day), atomic bombs in Japan

Atrocities and Genocides

• Armenian Genocide: Young Turks’ plan for a homogeneous Turkey
• Holocaust: Nazi extermination of Jews, other minorities
  • The Final Solution
• Nanking Massacre: Japanese atrocities in China
• Post-WWII: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, continued genocides

Conclusion

• Importance of vigilance against dehumanizing language, actions, and ideology to prevent future genocides and mass atrocities
• Encouragement to study further using available resources: movies, additional notes, and review materials. Be prepared for the impact of historical memory on current and future events.