30733 modern european economic history john...

Econ 30733 Modern European Economic History John Lovett

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Study Questions for "War & Revolution" in A History of Western Society by Mckay, Crowston, Wiesner-Hanks, and Perry (2017)

1. It’s 1913, the eve of World War I. Indicate whether each country is part of the Triple Alliance, theTriple Entente, or Neutral. The first one has been done for you.

Triple Alliance Austria-Hungary

Belgium

France

Germany

Great Britain (UK)

Italy

The Ottoman Empire

The Netherlands

Russia

The United States

2. It’s late March 1918, just after the Treaty of Brest-Livotsk. Indicate whether each country is part ofthe Central Powers, the Entente (Allies), or Neutral. The first one has been done for you.

Central Powers Austria-Hungary

Belgium

France

Germany

Great Britain (UK)

Italy

The Ottoman Empire

The Netherlands

Russia

The United States

3. Many have argued that conditions in Europe prior to World War I made a continent wide warwas (nearly) inevitable once any conflict, however minor, began. Which of the following havebeen suggested as a reason for this inevitable escalation? Check () any and all that apply.

_____ Europe’s system of alliances meant that war between two countries would quicklyescalate into a war of two huge alliances.

_____ Nearly a century after his fall from power, Napoleon’s empire came to be held up as a model of good government for Europe. Most thinkers believed Europe should be a single empire rather than numerous countries. The only question was who (French, German, Russian, Austrians) should create and rule that empire.

_____ Pan-European thinking began to replace nationalist thinking. Most people believed that Europe should be a single empire rather than numerous countries. The only question was who (French, German, Russian, Austrians) should create and rule that empire.

_____ Each country believed that the side that could mobilize its forces and get them to the front first would likely win any war. Once one nation started to mobilize, its enemies would rapidly due the same. Mobilization was, therefore, almost an act of war.

4. ___________________ What country was Serbia’s main backer (or ally) in the lead-up toWorld War I?


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5. ___________________ What country was Austria-Hungary’s main backer (or ally) in thelead-up to World War I?

6. ___________________ What country was Russia’s main backer (or ally) in the lead-up toWorld War I? What country had an alliance with Russia and agreed to go to war against anothercountry if Russia went to war with that country?

7. ___________________ What country was Russia’s main backer (or ally) in the lead-up toWorld War I?

8. ___________________ What country, other than Russia, was France allied with in the lead-upto World War I?

9. ___________________ What country was Serbia’s main enemy or rival in the lead-up toWorld War I?

10. ___________________ What country was Russia’s main enemy or rival in the lead-up toWorld War I?

11. ___________________ What country was allied with Germany (and her allies) in the lead-up toWorld War I, but did not go to war on Germany’s side? In fact, this country eventually went towar against the German side.

12. Why did Austria-Hungary consider Serbia a threat? Check () any and all that apply.

_____ In a recent war, Serbia had cut off Austria-Hungary’s access to the Mediterranean Sea.

_____ The majority of people in Austria-Hungary were of Serbian descent. Only a small rulingclass was Austrian. Austria-Hungary feared Serbia would inspire a people’s rebellion.

_____ Austria-Hungary was an empire ruling over many different ethnic groups. Serbia was a nation next to Austria-Hungary in which an ethnic group (the Serbs) had gained independence from an imperial power (the Ottomans). Austria-Hungary feared the example would inspire its own ethnic groups to rise up.

_____ Austria-Hungary and Serbia had engaged in a naval arms race (building battleships) to see who could dominate the Mediterranean.

13. What 2 countries engaged in a naval arms race (building battleships) in the lead up to World War I?

____________________ and ____________________.

14. What is the most costly war, measured by casualties as % of the population, in U.S. history?

___________________________


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15. _____ For the European combatants as a whole, how does World War I compare to the above (# 14)U.S. War (check out the class handout)? World War I was:a. much less costly to the European combatants as a whole than the war in # 14 was for the U.S.b. slightly more costly to the European combatants as a whole than the war in # 14 was for the U.S.c. about twice as costly to the European combatants as a whole than # 14 was for the U.S.d. about four times as costly to the European combatants as a whole than # 14 was for the U.S.e. about six times as costly to the European combatants as a whole than # 14 was for the U.S.

16. Which two, of the countries below, suffered the highest cost (per capita) from World War I? Check() 2 blanks.

_____ Belgium

_____ Britain (U.K)

_____ France

_____ Italy

_____ Germany

_____ the United States

17. Which one of the countries below suffered the most property (physical capital) destruction duringWorld War I? Check () 1 blank.

_____ Britain (U.K)

_____ France

_____ Italy

_____ Germany


18. Which one of the countries below had to pay very large reparations as a result of World War I?Check () 1 blank.

_____ Britain (U.K)

_____ France

_____ Italy

_____ Germany


19. _____ Where was Gallipolli?a. Blah.b. Blah.c. Blibbity-blabbity-boo

20. _____ What happened at Gallipolli during World War I?a. Blah.b. Blahc. Yabba-dabba-doo!

21. _____ It’s 1914 and Davit is an Armenian. In which country does he most likely live?a. Austria-Hungaryb. Francec. Germanyd. The Ottoman Empire (present day Turkey)

e. Portugalf. Romaniag. Serbiah. Spain


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22. _____ What likely happens to Davit sometime between 1915 and 1918?a. Blah.b. Blahc. blah

23. _____ What happened at Verdun in 1916?a. Blah. b. Blah c. blah

24. _____ What happened at the River Somme in 1916?a. Blah.b. Blahc. blah

25. _____ In 1917, how did the distribution of wealth in Russia compare to that in the rest of Europe?a. Land and other wealth was distributed more equally in Russia than in the rest of Europe.b. Land and other wealth was distributed less equally in Russia than in the rest of Europe.c. Land and other wealth was distributed about as equally in Russia as in the rest of Europe.

26. _____ What is (or was) the Duma?a. Blah.b. Blah.c. Blibbity-blabbity-boo

27. _____ Prior to 1917, how much power did the Russian Duma have?a. None at all because the Tsar never called the Duma.b. Not a lot. It was mostly an advisory body.c. Quite a bit of power over social regulations and civil law (what was legal or illegal). It had no

power, however, over government taxing and spending.d. Quite a bit of power over social regulations and civil law (what was legal or illegal). It had no

power, however, over the military.e. It held most of the political power in Russia … until Rasputin died in an airplane crash.

28. _____ During Russia’s “February Revolution” (of 1917), who lost power, and who became theleading power in Russia?a. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.b. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.c. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.d. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.


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29. _____ What did the (new?) Russian government do regarding World War I, after the February(1917) Revolution?a. Russia switched sides and fought with Germany against England and France.b. Russia made peace with Japan and China so she could send more troops against the Germans.c. Russia mobilized most of its adult population for a campaign that was so successful it almost

knocked Germany out of the war.d. Russia stayed in the war but continued to suffer large losses of men and land.e. Russia freed her millions of political prisoners for a campaign against Germany. The campaign,

however, went very badly for Russia German troops captured and burned Moscow.

30. _____ During Russia’s “October Revolution” (of 1917), who lost power and who became theleading power in Russia?a. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.b. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.c. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.d. Blah lost his/her/its power. Yabbidy became the national government.

31. _____ What did the (new?) Russian government do regarding World War I, after the October (1917)Revolution?a. Russia switched sides and fought with Germany against England and France.b. Russia made peace with Japan and China so she could send more troops against the Germans.c. Russia mobilized most of its adult population for a campaign that was so successful it almost

knocked Germany out of the war.d. Russia stayed in the war but continued to suffer large losses of men and land.e. Russia freed her millions of political prisoners for a campaign against Germany. The campaign,

however, went very badly for Russia German troops captured and burned Moscow.

32. _____ What did Russia gain or lose in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?a. blahb. blahc. blahd. blah

33. _____ Which Russian leader is associated with the rise of Bolshevism?a. Alexander Kerenskyb. Dr. Yuri Andreyevich Zhivagoc. Nikolai Yudenich.

d. Tsar Nicholas IIe. Tsar Ivan IV (“the terrible”)f. Vladimir Lenin

34. _____ It’s October 1919, two years after the October Revolution. What’s going on in Russia?a. a horrific civil warb. a period of peace, prosperity, and rapid recovery from World War Ic. continued war between Russia and the Ottoman Empired. a period of peace, but a horrible famine


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35. _____ What group did Adolf Hitler despise almost as much as the Jews?1 From class notes.

1 In fact, Hitler often linked the two groups in what he saw as an “International Jewish - ________ “ community.

a. The Americansb. the Austriansc. the Bolsheviks

d. The Britishe. the Frenchf. the German Generals of World War I

36. _____ It’s late 1918 and early 1919. Are there any significant Communist movements in Europeother than the Soviet Union? From class notes.

a. Yes b. No

37. Rank the following wars in terms of Deaths/Capita with 1 being highest and 7 being lowest. From a class handout.

Rank War

7 The 1990 Iraq War, the U.S.A.

France in World War I

The U.S. Civil War

Europe belligerents as a whole in World War I

Germany in World War II

Poland in World War II

Russia in World War II

38. _____ What famous Economic thinker criticized the Versailles Treaty? From class notes.a. Blahb. Blahc. Blahd. Blah

39. _____ What is happening in Germany during late 1918 and early 1919? What is the Sparticist _______?

a. Blahb. Blahc. Blahd. Blah

40. _____ Which country most favored harsh terms for Germany at the Versailles (Treaty) Conference?a. Austriab. France

c. Great Britaind. Italy

e. Japanf. The United States

41. _____ Which country most favored very mild terms for Germany at the Versailles (Treaty)Conference? From class notes.

a. Franceb. Great Britain

c. Italyd. Japan

e. Polandf. The United States


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42. What is the Versailles Treaty often thought to have caused within Germany? Check () any and allthat apply. Hint. There are two correct items.

_____ Germans felt very mad, threatened, and betrayed.

_____ Germany was prompted to tie their new currency to silver instead of gold.

_____ While Germany grew enough food to feed its population in 1920 and 1921, because of food reparations, many Germans starved despite the good harvests.

_____ The German government decided to print lots and lots of money causing hyperinflation.

_____ Germany decided to sign a peace treaty with the Soviet Union in 1919.

43. Write down the values for Government Debt/GDP (ex. 75%, 105%) for each country and time.

_____ Britain after WW I (use the number from the Harrison reading)

_____ France after WW I (use the number from the Harrison reading)

_____ Germany after WW I (use the number from the Harrison reading)

_____ Britain after WW II (use the number from our class notes)

_____ The U.S. after WW II (use the number from our class notes)

44. Place the following events of Russian history in order. Two have been done for you.

Order Event

1st Tsar Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) is ruler of Russia

World War I is over for Russia. Russia quits fighting the War.

The Tsar gives up power.

The Bolsheviks seize power from the Provisional government.

The Reds v Whites Russian Civil War is over. The Bolsheviks are firmly in power in Russia.

A Duma is fist created.

7th Vladimir Putin is President of Russia

45. _____ In what year did the United States enter World War I?

46. ______________________ What was the name of the German Government from 1919 to 1933?


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47. Several lines have been drawn on the map below. 5 are the major front lines (areas where majorfighting took place) of the war. The rest are just random lines I drew. Indicate 3 of the (5) frontlines of world War I.

_______ , ________, and _______ are real front lines of World War I.

From: Greiss, Thomas (1986). Atlas for the Great War (West Point Military History Series). Wayne, NJ: Avery.

a.

c.

e. d.

f.

h. i. j.

k.

m.

b.

g.

l.

30733 modern european economic history john...

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