20th century detailed

Question 1

Long-Term Causes

Answer 1

World War I (WWI)
Long-Term Causes
Militarism
Arms race, especially between Britain and Germany.
German naval expansion threatened British dominance.
European powers increased military spending by 300% from 1870-1914.
Alliances
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy.
Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia.
Created a rigid interwoven system where conflict between two states could drag in entire blocs.
Imperialism
Competition for colonies, particularly in Africa (Moroccan Crises in 1905 and 1911).
German Weltpolitik aimed to challenge British and French dominance.
Nationalism
Balkan tensions: Pan-Slavism vs. Austrian control.
Serbia’s ambition to unite Slavs led to hostility with Austria-Hungary.

Long-Term Causes
Political Instability
Weak democratic governments (Second Republic, 1931-1936).
Deep divisions between conservatives (monarchists, Catholic Church) and leftists (socialists, anarchists, communists).
Economic Inequality
Land ownership concentrated in a few hands.
Industrial workers in cities demanded reforms; agrarian poverty fueled radicalism.
Military Influence in Politics
Spain had a history of military coups (e.g., Miguel Primo de Rivera in 1923).
Rising Extremism
Fascist Falange vs. socialist/republican factions.
Assassinations and violent street battles between left and right.

Question 2

Short-Term Causes

Answer 2

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914)
Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip killed the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, triggering alliance obligations.
July Crisis & Diplomatic Failures
Germany’s “Blank Check” promise to Austria.
Russia mobilized in defense of Serbia, escalating tensions.
Britain joined when Germany violated Belgian neutrality (Schlieffen Plan).

Short-Term Causes
Election of 1936 & Popular Front Victory
Left-wing coalition won, alarming conservatives.
Right-wing politicians and military officers conspired against the government.
Assassination of José Calvo Sotelo (July 1936)
Right-wing leader murdered by leftist police.
Used as a justification for the military uprising.
Military Coup (July 17-18, 1936)
Led by Franco, Mola, and Sanjurjo.
Failed to take complete control, leading to full-scale civil war.

Question 3

Foreign Influence

Answer 3

WWI: Britain and France relied on U.S. industrial and financial support.
SCW:
Nationalists (Franco): Supported by Hitler (Luftwaffe, Condor Legion) and Mussolini (troops, weapons).
Republicans: Soviet aid (tanks, advisors), but internal divisions weakened effectiveness.
Western democracies (Britain, France) remained neutral.

Question 4

Mobilization of Human and Economic Resources

Answer 4

WWI
Human resources: Total war mobilization, conscription in all major nations (Germany 13.2 million, Britain 8.9 million troops).
Economic resources: Shift to war economy; U.S. support through arms and loans.
SCW
Nationalists: Better access to foreign resources, disciplined military.
Republicans: Divided forces, reliance on disorganized militia groups.

Question 5

Guerrilla Warfare

Answer 5

WWI: Trench warfare dominated; little guerrilla activity.
SCW:
Republican militias used guerrilla tactics but lacked coordination.
Franco’s forces, disciplined and organized, crushed opposition.

Question 6

Technology and Warfare

Answer 6

WWI:
Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, and aircraft shaped battle strategies.
U-boats played a major role in naval warfare.
SCW:
First large-scale use of aerial bombing (Guernica, 1937).
Tanks and mechanized infantry played key roles in Franco’s victory.

Question 7

Impact on Women

Answer 7

WWI
Women worked in factories, transport, and medical roles.
Some countries granted women suffrage (Britain 1918, Germany 1919).
SCW
Republican side promoted gender equality.
After Franco’s victory, women’s rights were heavily restricted.

Question 8

Territorial Changes

Answer 8

WWI
Treaty of Versailles redrew maps (Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, creation of Poland, Yugoslavia).
SCW
No territorial change; Franco re-established a centralized Spanish state.

Question 9

Political Consequences

Answer 9

WWI
Collapse of empires (Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, German).
Rise of fascism and communism due to political instability.
SCW
Establishment of a fascist dictatorship under Franco.
Spain remained neutral in WWII but leaned toward Axis powers.

Question 10

Peacemaking Processes

Answer 10

WWI
Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany (War Guilt Clause).
Led to WWII due to resentment and economic hardship.
SCW
No peace treaty; Franco ruled until 1975, suppressing opposition.