Comprehensive Guide to Global Conflict: WWI and Interwar Years

Sick Men of Europe

Refers to the Ottoman, Qing, and Russian Empires, which collapsed in the early 1900s.

Ottoman Empire

Collapsed in 1922 due to ethnic nationalism and sided with Germany in WWI.

Young Turks

A reformist group advocating for a constitution and Turkification in the Ottoman Empire.

Qing Dynasty

Overthrown in 1911 by Sun Yat-sen, leading to a period of chaos in China.

Sun Yat-sen

Leader of the 1911 Revolution in China, advocating for democracy and nationalism.

Bolshevik Revolution

The 1917 revolution that replaced the Russian Tsar with the communist government.

Mexican Revolution

A revolt against Porfirio Díaz leading to land reforms and a new constitution in Mexico.

Total War

A war where a nation's entire resources are dedicated to the military effort.

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war.

Triple Entente

The alliance of Britain, France, and Russia before and during WWI.

Triple Alliance

The alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before WWI.

Self-Determination

The idea that peoples of the same ethnicity should have their own sovereign state.

Gavrilo Princip

The Serbian nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.

War Guilt Clause

Part of the Treaty of Versailles requiring Germany to accept blame for WWI.

Mandate System

A system that transferred control of Central Powers' colonies to Allied nations.

The Great Depression

A global economic crisis that began in 1929 due to stock market crash and agricultural overproduction.

New Deal

FDR's plan in the USA to provide relief and recovery during the Great Depression.

Corporatism

A fascist approach in Italy and Germany focusing on state control of industry.

Five-Year Plans

Stalin's strategies in the USSR to rapidly industrialize the economy.

Holodomor

A man-made famine in Ukraine caused by Stalin's policies resulting in millions of deaths.

Trench Warfare

A type of combat where soldiers fought from deep trenches, leading to stalemates.

Chemical Weapons

War weapons like chlorine and mustard gas used to instill fear and cause casualties.

US Entry into WWI

Triggered by unrestricted German submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 agreement that ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations on Germany.

Economic Mobilization

Efforts by governments to convert economies to support war efforts during wartime.

Military Buildup

The increase in military strength and capacity seen in fascist regimes during the interwar period.

Propaganda

Biased information used to promote a political cause or point of view, especially during war.

Vladimir Lenin

Leader of the Bolshevik Revolution who took control of Russia after the Tsar.