Imperialism, Global Wars, and the League of Nations: Key Questions
Key Questions: 19th & 20th Century Conflicts
19th Century Imperialism
How do landscapes and resources affect empires?
19th century empires – technology and resource needs drove industrialization.
Why build global empires? What were the consequences?
19th century empires – reasons: technology, strategy, territory, prestige, resources. Consequences: societal changes, exploited territories, global tensions.
World War One
Why were there global wars in the 20th century?
WWI – alliances and empires escalated tensions into a global war.
WWII – Great Depression, existing empires, and revisionist powers fueled conflict.
How do resources and landscapes affect warfare?
WWI – defensive technology (machine guns) led to trench warfare. Overseas supplies led to naval warfare. Geographical limitations hindered amphibious landings.
How and why did warfare change in the 20th century?
Focus on WWI as a ‘total war’ with no limits. Features: all weapons (poison gas), blockades, rationing, conscription, societal changes (women in workforce), propaganda.
WWI – defensive technology superiority led to stalemate and attrition.
WWII – aircraft became crucial, affecting civilians.
Cold War – nuclear weapons prevented direct conflict between major powers.
How important was Germany’s geography in WWI?
Fighting on multiple fronts drained resources. Blockades limited imports due to few accessible ports.
The League of Nations and Peace
Why do nations develop interdependence?
League of Nations – formed after WWI to avoid similar wars. The alliance system was seen as a cause of the war, so a new system was chosen.
How do conditions affect supra-national organizations?
League of Nations – fear of another WWI, dissatisfaction with the peace settlement, and the Great Depression made success difficult.
What causes peace systems to fail or succeed?
League of Nations – unfair system caused resentment, missing members undermined it, collective security was idealistic, the Great Depression weakened it, and lack of enforcement undermined it.