Unit 8: 20th-Century Global Conflicts

War creates economic and political instability all over the world.

Fascist dictatorships used modern technology and propaganda that rejected democratic institutions, promoted charismatic leaders, and glorified war and nationalism to attract the disillusioned.

Browse slides from the stream 'Rise of Fascism.'

In this stream we go through the main causes of World War I. We first focus on the long term causes, specifically looking at MAIN (militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism). We go through each of those indepth and then transition to the short term causes. We focus on the 'Crisis in the Balkans' and the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand.

Come test your knowledge on the causes and events of WWI!

The Communists takeover prompted a long civil war between Bolshevik forces and their opponents, who were aided by foreign powers. that will lead to an overthrow of the Romanov Monarchy and the establishment of the Soviet Union.

The Holocaust and the “final solution” were the culmination of nearly a decade of German antisemitic policy. As the fascist Nazi party consolidated its power in Germany, the Jewish people saw their civil liberties restricted by the Nuremberg Laws and faced brutality by Germans during Kristallnacht. Other developments in the interwar years, such as Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement and the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact (also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), allowed Hitler to seize territory quickly and without interference. By 1940, the Nazis had conquered France and established the Vichy government. In both of these invasions, Hitler utilized the Blitzkrieg tactic. Other notable developments of the era include decolonization, one of the greatest legacies of World War II.

Appeasement is the policy of making concessions to a dictatorial power so that conflict is avoided. The rise of appeasement occured after World War I and is often tied to Neville Chamberlain. After the League of Nations failed to deliver on its attempt to solve disputes between nations, Chamberlain’s appeasement policies grew. However, despite its growth, many conservatives such as Winston Churchill opposed appeasement.

Totalitarianism is an attempt by a nation’s government to control society and limit freedom. It tries to limit the individual liberty of citizens so the government can completely control the nation. Through restricting freedoms, the government interjects on all aspects of daily life for citizens. Therefore, totalitarianism set the stage for restricting freedoms and can be compared to movements that followed.

Modernism was a literary and philosophical movement that transformed Western culture after World War I. It led to the introduction of many new art forms that expressed the ideas that things needed to be new and progress had to be made. Modernism’s impact can be seen in a variety of literary and artistic expressions today, as it led a new way of thinking after World War I, when pieces had to be rebuilt in Europe.

After the revolution of 1905, Russia had become a constitutional monarchy. However, mounting discontent concerning food shortages and other internal problems continued to increase until it ultimately culminated in the February Revolution which saw the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. In October, a second revolution occurred, and the provisional government was overturned by the Bolsheviks. As a result of the Russian Revolution, the Soviet Union was established and would exist until its collapse in 1991.

New military technologies, a system of alliances, competition for empire, and a rising tide of nationalism collided in the early twentieth century, leading to the most devastating war that Europe had ever experienced - the first war fought with the technologies of the Second Industrial Revolution. World War I would bring Europe to a point of "Total War" that it had never previously experienced, challenging Victorian ideas of masculinity and femininity. World War I would set the stage for a tumultuous period to follow, in spite of the intentions of European leaders who negotiated the Treaty of Versailles that it should be the "War to End All Wars."

The breakdown of the Concert of Europe allowed for territorial rivalries among European nations to arise and culminate in the world’s most deadly global conflicts. 19th century conflicts among European nations over imperialist goals created new rivalries and rekindled old ones. These rivalries spiraled into larger issues:

No single issue above could have caused WWI, but combined, tensions seemed insurmountable and combined with an alliance system, forced most European nations to choose a side when, on June 28, 1914, a Serbian nationalist group assassinated the heir to the Austrian throne on a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. His wife, Sophie, and their unborn child were killed as well. 

Socialism rose in response to the Industrial Revolution across Europe in the late 19th century. This also led to the growth of socialist political parties in the early 20th century. Socialist parties sought to organize socialist ideas in an effort to make large scale reforms on government. 

Each of the members of the conference entered negotiations with their own agendas.

Great Britain, France, Russia, Belgium, and Germany saw the largest economic impacts of WWI. Nations were forced into a war of attrition. The new fighting style and weaponry of WWI caused extensive damage, more than any previous European war. 

Different types of propaganda convinced the public that authoritarian leadership was necessary and desirable. While several elements like strengthening the nation through stable economics attracted the population, other aspects were hidden under a guise of nationalism and empty promises. The following propaganda techniques were used in Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, and many other Eastern European countries. Below are examples with details for how they pertained to German propaganda techniques.

Tensions were mounting from the moment the Treaty of Versailles 1919 was signed to the moment Poland was invaded. Extreme economic conditions left many Europeans desperate for change, no matter what that change looked like. When authoritarian leaders began promising that change -- to break from economic stress, grow the economy, boost the morale of the nation, and create a great nation -- they were all voted into office. 

There was a long standing history of anti-Semitism in Europe. Early on, Jews were blamed by Christians for the death of Jesus, although they did not kill him. Jews were also excluded, tortured, and exiled by many European countries in the Medieval period, as well as through the Protestant Reformation. However, the rise of nationalism saw a resurgence in anti-Semitism, as no European country identified with a Jewish heritage.

Before the outbreak of war in the 20th century, people believed that science and industry met the needs of people. While there were complaints with labor laws and life in society, most would not trade new inventions, consumer items, or developments in science and medicine for their old ways.