Chapter 1
United States History, Government, and Citizenship
Course: Elementary Education Multiple Subjects 5001
Subject: Elementary Education Social Studies Subtest 5004
Chapter: World History And Economics
The 20th century was a defining era of transformation marked by global wars, ideological battles, political revolutions, social reform, technological progress, and the formation of a highly interconnected global society. Educators must not only know key events but also understand how they reshaped the modern world through enduring political, social, and economic effects.
1. The World Wars: Global Conflict and Restructuring of Power
a. World War I (1914–1918)
Also known as The Great War, this was the first global conflict involving industrialized warfare and mass mobilization.
- Long-Term Causes:
Militarism: Arms races (especially between Britain and Germany).
Alliances: Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) vs. Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain).
Imperialism: Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia.
Nationalism: Ethnic tensions in the Balkans.
- Militarism: Arms races (especially between Britain and Germany).
- Alliances: Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) vs. Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain).
- Imperialism: Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia.
- Nationalism: Ethnic tensions in the Balkans.
- Trigger: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist.
- Technological Warfare: Introduction of tanks, chemical weapons, machine guns, submarines (U-boats).
- Outcomes: