History Unit 1 Key Words/Terms:
1. Alliances – agreements or promises to defend and help another country
2. Otto Von Bismarck-
German chancellor 1871-1890)
He forms/starts the alliance system
As Prussian chancellor, he successfully led Prussia to victory against France in
the Franco – Prussian War (1870-71)
United Germany under Prussian leadership, making him the King of Prussia
the Great Empire.
3. Big Three – UK, France, USA (Big Four if Italy is included)
4. Militarism – building up armed forces, getting ready for war. (arms race)
5. Nationalism – having pride in your country, willing to defend it.
6. Empire – where a powerful country controls several less powerful countries
7. Militarism – building up armed forces, getting ready for war.
8. Imperialism – trying to build up an Empire.
9. Triple Entente – France, UK, Great Britain, Russia (later known as the Allies)
10. Triple Alliance – Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy (later known as Central
Powers)
11. Kaiser Wilhelm II –
Made Bismarck leave his position as German chancellor
Formed the new foreign policy which made other countries like UK and
France worried and tensions rise
Made Germany lose its friendly relationship with UK, France and Russia
Gave Austria-Hungary a ‘blank cheque which encouraged them to attack
Serbia
Abdicated on 9th November 1918
12. German foreign policy –
new Kaiser’s foreign policy aggressive
concerned other countries – this caused tension
Increased competition between the Great Powers created a tense situation
Imperialism/ empire building
13. Czar/Tsar – Russian Emperor
- Last Czar was Nicholas II
14. Nicholas II – the last Czar –
Nicholas II married to Alexandra (German Princess)
Had four daughter and one son: Alexis (had haemophilia)
Russia had no parliament, no democracy ‘duma”
Nicholas was an (autocrat) – he rules Russia alone
The ruling family and nobility are very wealthy
Abdicated on 15th March 1917
15. Archduke Franz Ferdinand –
the Archduke of Austria- Hungary
murdered in Sarajevo, Bosnia by Gavrilo Princip of the black hand
gang
16. Duma – a parliament set up by Nicholas II in Russia
17. USSR – Union of Soviet Socialists Republics was the name Russia was known as
after the Russian Revolution – also known as Soviet Union
18. Bolsheviks (Red Guards) – Communists Party that took over Russia
19. Vladimir Lenin –
Bolsheviks Leader
Anti democratic// the communist party represents the workers
Equality – no private property// industry and banks controlled by the state
Lenin promised to end the war.
20. Whites (white Guard) – anti-communists forces that fought the Bolsheviks in the
Russian Civil War (1917-1922/3)
21. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk –
Signed on March 1918
Russian losses – 89% of coal mines
- 34% of population
- 32% farming land
- 54% of industry
- 28% of railways
- had to pay 6 billion marks in reparations
- Land lost: Poland, Ukraine, Finland, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania (Baltic States)
22. Armistice – cease fire/ temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement between
the opponents – signed on the 11th November 1918 – fighting on the Western Front came to
an end.
23. New countries formed in Europe by November 1918:
Austria
Hungary
Czechoslovakia – Czech Republic and Slovakia
Yugoslavia - Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Romania
Poland
Jordan
Iraq
Syria
Palestine
24. Allies (winners) – Big Three, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Romania, Greece, Serbia
25. Central Powers (defeated) – Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria
26. France –
wanted a harsh peace treaty
wanted Germany to separate into smaller countries like before the Franco-Prussian
War
Wanted to ensure future French security
Wanted Saar Basin to boost its profits as it has coal mines
27. UK –
Wanted a moderate peace treaty
Punish Germany but not too harshly
28. USA –
Wanted a lasting and fair peace
Set up League of Nations to maintain world peace by talking instead of war
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
29. Treaty of Versailles –
Terms created by the Big Three
Signed on 28th June 1919
Germany was not invited to discuss the terms (diktat)
Losses: 100% of colonies, 13% of European land, 10% of population, 26% of
coal resources, 75% of iron ore deposits
30. Diktat – Something that is imposed or dictated without discussion
31. Demilitarised – Without troops, armaments or fortifications
32. Rhineland – was Demilitarised according to the Terms of Treaty of Versailles
33. Plebiscite – A vote on a single issue in the manner of a referendum. Plebiscites were held
after 1918 in areas of uncertain nationality to establish which country the populations wished
to be governed by.
34. Article 231 – War Guilt clause – place all the blame for starting the war
35. Reparations – the name given to the compensation that the defeated powers had to pay the
Allies for damage caused and for war pensions. Reparations could be paid in cash or in goods
such as coal or timber. Reparations that Germany had to pay was 6,600 million pounds
36.Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
Governor of New Jersey (1911 – 13); President of the USA (1913-21)
Created the Fourteen Points
Wanted self determination for colonies, Belgium, Turkish Empire, Austria
Hungary and Poland
Was an idealist that believed he could bring peace
37. George Clemenceau (1841 – 1929) – nicknamed ‘The Tiger”
Hard headed, tough and uncompromising politician
Wanted a harsh peace
Wanted Rhineland to be independent
Wanted to ensure future security of France
38. Self determination – Allowing an area to decide its own political future, usually by
voting.
39. David Lloyd George (1863-1945)
Dynamic, persuasive and unconventional politician.
Realist
Wanted a peace that would punish Germany but not too harshly
Did not want Germany to be too weak – worried of the spread of
Communism
Did not want Rhineland to be independent, as it would make Germany
not wealthy enough to buy British goods on the same scale as before
the war.
40. League of Nations – a general association of Nations that Wilson wanted to create from
his Fourteen Points.
41. Mandated territories-mandates were former German or Turkish colonies handed over to
the Allies to be governed by them on behalf on the League of Nations.
42. Justified- having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason.
- To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid
43. Treaty of Saint-Germain – signed on 10th September 1919 – Austria
44. Treaty of Trianon – 4th June 1920 – Hungary
45. Treaty of Neuilly – 27th September 1919 – Bulgaria
45. Treaty of Sevres – 10th August 1920 – Turkey
46. Treaty of Lausanne – 24th July 1923 - Turkey
