1. History 12
Readings and Questions from: Global Forces of the Twentieth Century
The World of 1900
Chapter 1: The Nation State
Chapter 2: The First World War: The Industrial Powers Collide
The Nation State
1. In your opinion what is the nature of and responsibilities of the nation-state?
2. One of the major issues of the twentieth century has been the debate about the sovereignty of
the nation-state as opposed to global government are contradictory. How does a government
balance sovereignty against a supranational global assembly?
3. Are you prepared to give up your citizenship to become a citizen of the world? What are the
advantages of being a Canadian?
4. In the United Nations each power has one vote. This places voting strength in the voting
strength in the hands of the more numerous non-industrial states rather than the larger but
fewer superpowers. How do you think the major powers react to such a situation?
5. Should nations permit domestic matters to become the property of outsiders?
The First World War:
6. How did industrialization affect the global power structure?
7. How did the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?
8. What was the Schlieffen Plan?
9. How did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand precipitate the war?
10. How did the formation of Germany in 1870 affect the European balance of power? Explain
where and why Germany ran into conflict with other industrial powers prior to the First
World War.
11. Briefly describe the first few months of the war and explain the results. What resulted from
stalemate and trench warfare?
12. Explain the significance of the battles at Verdun and the Somme.
13. Why did Russia leave the war?
14. Why did the United States enter the war?
15. What were Germany’s war aims?
16. What were Wilson’s war aims?
17. List the costs of the war.
18. The Treaty of Versailles was an attempt to establish a framework for settling the war and
restoring European peace. Explain key issues under these headings: (a) Security; (b)
Disarmament; (c) Political; (d) Territorial; (e) Reparations.
The End of the First War
19. How did Versailles create the grounds for future confrontation between the great powers?
20. Consider the ways in which nationalism lead to confrontation. Is nationalism a stabilizing or a
destabilizing force?
21. Contrast the principles of national security and disarmament.
22. Describe the concept and implications of total war.
23. Why did the great powers persist in mounting infantry attacks against heavily fortified
positions for a period of four years?
24. Examine the conduct of twentieth-century war in view of modern technologies. What effect
has science had on war?

2. Case Study: The British Home Front:
25. Using the example of Britain during the First World War, argue for or against: “War is a
positive force in effecting egalitarian social chance”
Case Study: The Influenza Epidemic:
26. Why was the mortality rate so high in the period of 1918-1920? Why was it high in India and
Asia?
27. What stopped the Virus?
Chapter 1 and 2 Vocabulary:
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Nation State
Spheres of Influence
Nationalism
Imperialism
Coup d’état
Autocracy
Successor States
Hegemony
Egalitarian
Decolonization
Intervention
Gross National Product
Collective Security
Self-determination
League of Nations
The Balkan Wars
Real Politick
Battle of Attrition
Lord Balfour
Balfour Report
Reparations
Woodrow Wilson
Influenza Epidemic
David Lloyd George
Georges Clemenceau
Isolation
War Guilt Clause
Scorched Earth Policy