Revision Notes: The 20th Century

First World War

Outbreak of War: Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914, leading to a chain of events that resulted in a global conflict 🔗
Allied Powers: Britain fought alongside France, Russia, Japan, Belgium, Serbia, and later Greece, Italy, Romania, and the United States 🔗
British Empire's Involvement: Over a million Indians and soldiers from the West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada fought for Britain 🔗
Major Battles: The Battle of the Somme in July 1916 resulted in about 60,000 British casualties on the first day alone 🔗
End of the War: The First World War ended at 11:00 am on November 11, 1918, with victory for Britain and its allies 🔗

Home Rule Promise: In 1913, the British government promised 'Home Rule' for Ireland, proposing a self-governing Ireland within the UK 🔗
Easter Rising: In 1916, Irish Nationalists staged an uprising against British rule in Dublin 🔗
Irish Free State: In 1922, Ireland was divided into two countries: Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Irish Free State 🔗
The Troubles: Years of disagreement led to a terror campaign in Northern Ireland and elsewhere 🔗

Outbreak of War: Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 led Britain and France to declare war on Germany 🔗
Dunkirk Evacuation: In 1940, over 300,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk 🔗
Battle of Britain: The RAF successfully defended Britain against German air attacks in the summer of 1940 🔗
The Blitz: German bombing campaign against British cities, particularly affecting London and Coventry 🔗
Winston Churchill: Became Prime Minister in 1940 and led Britain through the war with inspirational leadership 🔗
D-Day: On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy, marking a turning point in the war 🔗
End of the War: Germany was defeated in May 1945, and Japan surrendered in August 1945 after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 🔗

What event triggered the outbreak of the First World War?
a) The invasion of Poland
b) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
c) The sinking of the Lusitania
d) The Russian Revolution
In which year was Ireland partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State?
a) 1913
b) 1916
c) 1921
d) 1922
Who became the Prime Minister of Britain in 1940 and led the country through most of World War II?
a) Neville Chamberlain
b) Winston Churchill
c) Clement Attlee
d) Stanley Baldwin
What was the name given to the German bombing campaign against British cities during World War II?
a) The Luftwaffe
b) The Blitzkrieg
c) The Blitz
d) The Battle of Britain
On which date did Allied forces land in Normandy, an event often referred to as 'D-Day'?
a) June 6, 1944
b) August 15, 1945
c) May 8, 1945
d) September 1, 1939

Answers: