World Events leading to formation of United Nations

Transcription

1 History PART A Std VIII World Events leading to formation of United Nations Q1. When did the First World War break out? The First World War broke out in the year Q2. Why is the war fought between 1914 and 1918 called the First World War? It was fought on a worldwide scale and affected almost all the countries of the world. Because of the unprecedented extent of its spread, impact and damage and its total nature, it is known as the First World War. Q3. Give the meaning of Nationalism. It refers to a sense of unity felt by the people, who share a common history, language and culture. Q4. How was aggressive nationalism a cause for the First World War? Aggressive nationalism meant love for one s own country and hatred of the other countries. Each nation thought about its own national interests and did not care for the interests of the other nations. For example, France wanted to get back its provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from Germany. Italy wanted to get back the territory of Trentino Trieste from Austria. Balkan States like Serbia wanted that their fellow nationals (Slavs) who lived in other States should come together to form a greater Balkan States Q5. What is imperialism? A system by which a powerful nation used to establish its control over another country, either by political pressure, infiltration and annexation or by outright wars. Q6. Name the largest ship built by Germany in the year Imperator. Q7. Why Germany did dug the Kiel Canal?

2 The Germans dug the Kiel Canal deeper so that battleships could enter its waters. Q8. How were the single Nation-States different from the Imperial States? 1. Single Nation States national identities were based on their common language and traditions. Eg: - France, Holland, Germany. 2. Imperial States the population spoke different languages and had different cultural traditions. Eg:- The Austria Hungarian Empire was ruled by the Hapsburg dynasty of Austria and it included in its territory Hungarian, Serb, Bosnian and Croat population. Q9. Name the signatory countries of the Triple Alliance. State the rival block that was formed and the signatory countries of that bloc. 1. Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy. 2. Triple Entente: France, England, Russia and Japan joined later. Q10. Name the heir to the throne of Austria Hungary who was assassinated at Sarajevo. Archduke Francis Ferdinand. Q11. Name the Allied powers and the Central powers. 1. Allied powers Britain, France, Russia and their allies. 2. Central powers Germany, Austria and their allies. Q12. Why did the USA join the First World War? In 1915, the German U boats had sunk a British ship Lusitania. Among the 1153 passengers killed, 128 were Americans. The Americans were generally sympathetic to Britain, and this incident further aroused anti German feelings in the U.S.A. The allied powers (Britain, France, Russia and their allies) had vast amounts of loans in the U.S.A to pay for the arms and other goods bought by them. Therefore the U.S.A feared that if Germany won the war, she would become a serious rival to the U.S.A. Q13(a) What is the Treaty of Versailles? When was it signed? Ans The Treaty of Versailles refers to the treaty signed between the Allies (England, France, Russia and Japan) and Germany by which the First World War was brought to an end. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in Versailles, a suburb of Paris. Q13(b) Name the dignitaries who decided the terms of the Treaty. Ans Woodrow Wilson President of the United States. Lloyd George Prime Minister of Britain. George Clemenceau Prime Minister of France.

3 Q14. Why was the League of Nations established? The League of Nations was created as a world organization of all independent states in It was established to promote cooperation, to achieve peace and security and to guarantee the independence of all states. Q15. What are the aims and objectives of the League of Nations? All the states of the world were prohibited from entering any secret treaties and alliances. Member states were not supposed to maintain huge armies, warships and destructive armaments. All states were to respect each other s independence. Mutual disputes between states were to be referred to the League of Nations for a peaceful settlement. The Member-States were to take necessary action as directed by the League against any State which tried to disturb world peace and order. The League of Nations was to promote cultural, Social and economic cooperation among member states. STRUCTURED QUESTIONS Q1. Various events led to the First World War. In this context, explain the following: (a) Nationalism and Imperialism Nationalism refers to the sense of unity felt by the people, who share a common history, language and culture. This led to the development of aggressive nationalism. For Example, France wanted to get back the territory of Trentino Trieste from Austria and Balkan States like Serbia wanted that their fellow nationals (Slavs) who lived in other states should come together to form a greater Balkan states. These countries developed expansionist policies in the name of nationalism. Aggressive nationalism led to the rise of imperialism. (b) Race for Armaments- Every major power began stockpiling armaments in the name of self-defense and preservation of peace. In order to protect her colonies in Africa and a few islands in the Pacific, Germany began to build a powerful navy with a view to achieve parity with Britain. By 1914, she had left Britain and France far behind in the production of iron and steel and in many other manufacturers. One of its ship, the Imperator, built in 1912 was the largest in the world.

4 (c) Q2 Ans Q3 (a) The Germans dug the Kiel Canal deeper so that the battleships could enter its waters. Division of Europe into two hostile groups- There were two kinds of states in Europe in the early 20 th century. Single nation states like France, Holland and Germany and imperial states like the Austrian Hungarian empire and the Russian empire. Germany entered into an alliance with Austria Hungary. In 1882 Italy joined the alliance and it came to be known as the Triple Alliance. Later France entered into a friendly relation with Russia and England. The three countries entered into the Triple Entente in Later Japan joined the Triple Entente. How did the Sarajevo Crisis in 1914 lead to the First World War? On the 28 th of June, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian- Hungarian throne was assassinated at Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia by extreme Serbian nationalists called Black Hand or Union of Death. Austria served an ultimatum on Serbia on 23 rd July making 11 demands. Serbia accepted most of the demands except those that would have led to the loss of her sovereignty. Austria declared war on Serbia on July 28, There were several far reaching consequences as a result of the First World War. In this context, answer the following: Terms of the Treaty of Versailles- The Treaty of Versailles declared Germany guilty of aggression. The German Army was restricted to a force of 1, 00, 000 soldiers and the Navy was limited to 15,000 men and 24 ships. The Air Force and submarines were banned. The area of Rhine Valley was to be demilitarized and the German territory west of Rhine was to be occupied by the Allied troops for 15 years. Germany lost Alsace Lorraine to France Germany ceded parts of her pre-war territory to Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and France. The coal mines in the German area called Saar were ceded to France for 15 years and the area was to be governed by the League of Nations. Germany lost all her colonies to the victorious Allies Britain, South Africa and Portugal. The amount of reparation was fixed at 33 billion dollars. Germany had to cede (surrender) her merchant ships to the Allies as compensation. Germany had to supply huge quantities of coal to France, Italy & Belgium for ten years. The Treaty affirmed the complete independence of Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. *********************************************

5 The Covenant of the League of Nations was added to the Treaty of Versailles. (b) (c) Territorial Rearrangements- The United States surpassed Europe to emerge as a world power. Three ruling dynasties were destroyed the Romanov in Russia, the Hohezollern in Germany, the Hapsburg in Austria-Hungary. Austria and Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia emerged as independent states. Alsace -Lorraine was restored to France and Schelswig Hostein was restored to Denmark. Formation of the League of Nations- The horrors of war convinced the leaders of the world that there must be a mechanism to prevent war and promote international cooperation. Wilson s fourteen points included the creation of an international organization for the preservation of peace and to guarantee the independence of all states. Thus the League of Nation was created as a world organization of all independent States in 1920.