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Lenin
He was the major leader of the Bolsheviks. Vladimir Lenin. excellent organizer, ruthless. He fled russia because he was running away from the Czar regime but when it was safe to come back he came back and took over the government. The germans brought him back after years of exile because they wanted russia to be corrupt and they weakened the government by sneaking Lenin back into russia. He is significant because he led to Russia's withdrawal from WWI and the loss of a large part of russian terr -
Stalin (Man Of Steel)
cold harsh and impersonal. He was next in line after Lenin. " man of steel". He had complete power of the communist party and was a dangerous man. He transformed the Soviet union . He worked to establish total control of all aspects of life in the Soviet reunion. He controlled the government, the economy, ad many aspects of the citizens personal lives. -
triple alliance
Germany and Austria-Hungary made a triple alliance with Italy. They agreed to support each other if attacked by France or Russia. It is significant because it caused countries that had nothing to do with the arguments to fight against each other because they had a deal. -
nationalism
There were two kinds of nationalism in 19th century europe: the desire of subject peoples for independence, and the desire of independent nations for dominance and prestige. It's significant because As the powers try to dominate each other in Europe, their rivalries may be regarded as one of the causes of the First World War. -
triple entente
When the Triple Alliance was formed France felt threatened and formed an alliance with Russia and Britain. This led them to make a deal with Serbia to help them if they were attacked by the triple alliance. This is significant because it is the reason so many countries got involved in the war even though they had nothing to do with it. Basically it was because of alliances. -
shlieffen plan
The Schlieffen Plan was created by General Count Alfred von Schlieffen in December 1905. The Schlieffen Plan was the operational plan for a designated attack on France once Russia, in response to international tension, had started to mobilise her forces near the German border. It's significant because it led to Britain declaring war on Germany. -
Bolsheviks
The political parties in Russia split in 1903 and thus resulting with the creation of two revolutionary groups. On of which were the Bolsheviks which were led by Lenin. They are significant because when they came to power, Russia was pulled out of the war, all farmland was distributed evenly. They gave workers control of factories and signed truces. -
militarism
It started in 1907, militarism was a rise in military influence on policy making. A perfect example of this was in Germany and Russia. The parliament and the politicians had to follow the general staff. It is significant because it was one of the main causes of the First World War. -
New Weapons of War
This is significant because once the war started an urgency to make better and more deadly weapons rose, for example: poison gases, Long-range guns, and tanks, which meant more people were killed and more families had to grieve -
Propaganda
This is significant because since the beginning of the war, nations have been trying to trick people into thinking in a certain way. For example propaganda poster have been used to justify their actions or promote things such as men joining the army. -
eastern front
More than three-million men died in the fighting, more than nine-million men were wounded, and every major country which participated lost its form of government. Russia, collapsed so completely and catastrophically that the ensuing consequences still resonate in today's world. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The nephew of the Hapsburg emperor Franz Josef, Ferdinand was first in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne. He is significant because his assassination touched off World War I. He and his wife Sophie were shot to death as they rode through the city. the assassin was a member of the Serbian nationalist group. The shooting led to war between Austria and Serbia, which escalated into World War I. -
proletariat
The rapid industrialization in Russia stirred discontent among the people. More factories meant more workers, less wages, worse working conditions, and child labor. It was like the industrial revolution but 100 years later, and in Russia. They organized strikes because it was all they could do. This is significant because it resulted with several recolutionary movements that began competing for power. They would rule the country. -
The “powder keg” of Europe
The southeaster area of Europe, the Balkans, was called "The Powder Keg of Europe" because of the nationalistic spirit that was causing revolts and rebellion in that area prior to World War I. It's significant because It was where "the Great War," World War I, began with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II
He was a strong believer in increasing the strength of the German armed forces, particularly the navy. His policies towards Britain were contradictory. He alienated Britain with his naval expansion and a policy of aggressive German colonial expansion. He initiated policies destined to free France from isolation and turn Britain into a potential adversary. He is significant because he took actions that placed his empire in the precarious position of having to fight a two-front war. -
western front
The Western Front was the name the Germans gave to a series of trenches that ran 700 kilometres from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border. They are significant because the living conditions in them were awful and because they were so close and dangerous they caused the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. -
Trench Warfare
The Western Front during World War 1 stretched from the North Sea to the Swiss Frontier with France. Both sides dug themselves in ending any possible chance of a quick war; this caused a stalemate, which was to last for most of the war. they are significant because Over 200,000 men died in the trenches of WW1, most of who died in battle, but many died from disease and infections brought on by the unsanitary conditions. -
central powers
The Central Powers Alliance was described from the German and Austrian side as a "Bund", an association. Austria-Hungary precipitated World War 1 and was the first to go to war on July 28th, 1914 with its declaration against the Kingdom of Serbia. They are significant because the alliances made between these four nations were a result of Germany's inability to gain power on the "world stage". Allies- same as Entente -
total war
This is significant because “Total War” means that countries put everything they had into this war, so factories had great business and there was almost no unemployed people in Europe -
Unrestricted submarine warfare
This policy is significant because it meant that Germany would sink without warning any ship in the water around Britain. Germany sank US ships in 1917 which infuriated the Americans, so they joined the war and allied with the Allies. -
communist party
The Bolsheviks renamed their political party. It held all power in reality. Lenin established dictatorship in the communist party. -
communist party
The Bolsheviks renamed their political party. It held all power in reality. Lenin established dictatorship in the communist party. -
soviet
They were local councils made up of workers , peasants, and soldiers. In many cities Soviets were more powerful than the provisional government. It's significant because it demeaned the provisional government. -
Woodrow wilson
He is significant because he represented the US in the Paris Peace Conference and was one of the “big four” who made up the treaty of Versailles and decided what to do with Germany. He had a vision of world peace and tried to promote it with his fourteen points. -
self-determination
This is significant because it gave the people an opportunity to decide for themselves to be ruled by a government of their choice. It was one of Wilson’s fourteen points -
The Fourteen Points
This program of 14 points is significant because its purpose was to make a better world. 8/14 points solved border disputes and territorial issues. 5 out of the rest of the 6 concerned world peace and freedom and self-determination. The last point is the League of Nations which was an organization to ensure that another war does not break out. -
Rationing
This system is significant because it made people buy a limited amount of the items that were also needed for the war, which meant that everyone got the same share. -
Influenza Epidemic
The influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918 killed an estimated 50 million people. One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Scientists, doctors, and health officials could not identify this disease which was striking so fast and so viciously. Some victims died within hours of their first symptoms. It's significance lies in it's value for it killed more people within months than any other disease and it was a major disaster in world history -
Armistice
This is significant because this was an agreement to end fighting in the war. -
George Clemenceau
He is significant because he was the French representative in the Paris Peace Conference and one of the “big four” who wrote the treaty of Versailles. Clemenceau was frustrated and afraid of Germany because of WW1 and because Germany invaded France a couple of time before, so he tried to make the treaty as sever as he could to punish Germany -
Treaty of Versaille
This treaty is significant because it blamed Germany for the war(which frustrated the Germans the most), demanded that Germany pay the war cost, stripped Germany from its power, and took away German land, all this to punish Germany. One good thing that came out of it was the league of nations. -
War-Guilt Clause
This article is significant because it blamed Germany for the war and all the damages that came with it. They forced Germany into agreeing with this, therefore taking away the little pride they had left. Germans were frustrated and felt betrayed by their leader who signed this. -
League of Nations
This is significant because it was designed to promote and keep world peace(to make sure that war never broke out again). It also sorted out international disputes. It was one of Wilson’s fourteen points.
