Context of 20th Century Global Conflicts

Abigail Young
6 min read
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#European History: A Last-Minute Study Guide 🚀
Welcome! This guide is designed to help you feel confident and prepared for your European History exam. Let's break down the key concepts and events, focusing on what you need to know for success. Remember, you've got this! 💪
#1. The Road to Global Conflict: From Rivalries to World Wars
#1.1. Seeds of Conflict: 19th-Century Tensions
Breakdown of the Concert of Europe: The system designed to maintain peace crumbled, leading to increased competition and rivalry among European powers.
Imperialism: Competition for colonies fueled tensions and created new rivalries, while also rekindling old ones. Think of it like a high-stakes game of Risk, but with real-world consequences.
Nationalism: A powerful force that both unified and divided. It led to the breakup of empires and fueled desires for self-determination.
Industrial Revolution: Spurred an arms race as nations sought to outpace each other in military might.
#1.2. World War I: The Great War
Alliance System: Europe was divided into two major alliances: the Triple Entente (France, Britain, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).
Remember: Entente = "friendly understanding" (think of it as a group of friends), Alliance = a more formal agreement.
Russian Revolution: Russia's withdrawal from the war created a void, which was filled by the United States.
US Entry: The fresh troops and resources of the US military were crucial in ending WWI.
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