1. Imperialism: Policy of forming and maintaining an empire. Domination by a powerful nation over the political, economic and cultural affairs of another state or region.

   Picture depicting British imperialism throughout the world.

2. Nationalism: Devotion to one's country. Often develops when people share common language, history, traditions, etc. Independence and unification movements got their start here. (Nationalism promotes self-determination?)

   Factors Contributing to Nationalism:

   • Common language, religion, traditions, culture, etc.
   • Military Achievements.
   • Empire Holdings.
   • Cultural Achievements (arts, etc).
   • Economic progress.
   • Military power.
   • External threats (real or perceived).

3. Colony: A region governed by a foreign power.

4. Triple Alliance: Military alliance formed 1882 of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Otto von Bismarck of Germany sought this alliance in an attempt to isolate France.

5. Triple Entente: Military alliance formed by Britain, France and Russia in response to the rising powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. (Note: Russia joined the Triple Entente in 1915.)

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Dominant world empires in 1900. Especially note British, French, German, and Turkish empires. See page 23!

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Major imperial powers sought to expand at the turn of the century for several reasons:

• Increase in power and prestige by winning an overseas empire.
• Political rivalries and military strategies.
• Desire to expand economically by acquiring new markets and raw materials
• Humanitarian and religious concerns (ex. Notion of "white man's burden").
• Philosophy of Social Darwinism.
• Also see page 25 in text!

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Nationalism:

Examples:

• French resentment over loss of Alsace/Lorraine during the Franco- Prussian war 1870.

• Germany's demand for her "place in the sun".

• Great Britain's desire to maintain position as dominant world power ("Sun never sets on the British Empire").

• Extreme nationalist movements in the Balkans. Many ethnic minorities like the Slavic people of Eastern Europe wanted unity an independence. Austria-Hungary attempted to stop the spread of these nationalistic ideas because they threatened the existence of the empire.

Economic Rivalry & Quest for Colonies (Imperialism):

Competition for trade and colonies (raw materials and markets) resulted in tense relationships between nations.

Examples:

• Russia and Austria-Hungary became rivals over the Balkans.
• Moroccan crises 1905 and 1911 between Germany and France for control over Morocco.

Arms Race/Militarism:

Military expenditures increased international tension.

Example:

Naval rivalry between Britain and Germany when Germany challenged Britain's "two power standard".

Entangling Alliances:

In an effort to maintain a balance of power in Europe, the major powers created opposing alliances. By 1907 Europe was divided into the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France and Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy).

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Germany played a major role in the formation of military alliances before World War I. Former German chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, engineered an alliance system in the late 1800's whereby he aimed at isolating France.

1. Dual Alliance 1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary.
2. Triple Alliance 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
3. Reinsurance Treaty 1887 was a secret treaty between Germany and Russia whereby each agreed to remain neutral if the other was attacked by a third party.

Bismarck had secured different treaties with both Russia and Austria-Hungary. This was important because Bismarck would not have been able to secure one treaty of all three powers due to the extreme tension between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Balkans.

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See text p.41 for time-line of the major steps to war between June 28 and August 4 1914.

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How the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand impacted on each of the following as related to the outbreak of World War I:

Serbian nationalism: Nationalism was a powerful force in the Balkans (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.) For example Serbia hoped to absorb all Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula into its own nation.

Austro-Hungarian/Serbian relations: When Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and its large Serb population in 1908, Serbia was outraged. With its large multi-cultural empire, Austria-Hungary felt threatened by nationalism. When a young Serbian nationalist (Gavrilo Princip) assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was visiting Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Austria-Hungary became outraged and issued Serbia an ultimatum demanding permission for Austro- Hungarian officials to enter Serbia to investigate the murder.

German government's response: Being worried that if war broke out Russia might come to Serbia's defense, Austria-Hungary looked to Germany for support. Germany's response was unconditional support in the form of a Blank Cheque.

Russian Mobilization: When Serbia refused the ultimatum, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The next day Russia mobilized its armed forces in preparation to aid Serbia.

Russian troops mobilizing to aid Serbia.

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Assessment of how Germany and British attitudes toward war on the eve of World War I contributed to rivalry and conflict.

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Schlieffen Plan:

• Adopted by Germany to avoid two-front warfare against Russia to the east and France to the west.
• Plan was to move into France through neutral Belgian and crush France before Russia could prepare.

Schlieffen plan.

Battle of the Marne 1914: Western Front battle on Sept. 4^th which brought the Germans so close to Paris they could see the Eiffel Tower. Then, however, the German General Moltke made a fatal mistake. Instead of going west to surround Paris as planned, General Kluck’s armer went east of Paris towards the Marne. The battle lasted a week (5-11 Sept.). Two million men battled along a 240 kilometer front around the river. Gradually the French and the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) forced the Germans to retreat 60 kilometers to the Aisne River. Here, warfare on the Western Front turned from conventional marching columns and pitched battles to the nightmare of trench warfare.

Battle of Marne

Battle of The Marne 1918: By July 1918 the Allies, now bolstered by American divisions, pushed the German lines back over the Marne River. This marked a turning point of the war. From then on the Allies would have the initiative.

Battle of Tannenberg: Eastern Front battle in August 1914 where the Germans won a major battle against the Russians who were weakened by hunger (poor supply lines), poor communications and questionable leadership. The Germans killed at least 30 000 Russians, took 100 000 prisoners and captured a vast supply of guns.

Battle of the Somme 1916: This July offensive was designed to smash through German lines. Here, British General Haig sent repeated attacks against German lines with tragic and insignificant results. By the end of the battle, British and French had lost 620 000 men and the Germans 450 000. The Allies advanced only 15 kilometers at the furthest point.
-At Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme a Newfoundland regiment was ordered toward German trenches across “No Man’s Land". The futile attack lasted forty minutes with 91 percent casualties (26 officers and 659 men).

Zimmermann Telegram: A coded message from the German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmermann to the German minister in Mexico. It was intercepted by the British and disclosed to the United States Government. It suggested that if the USA declared war on Germany, Mexico should attack the USA with German aid and in return would gain the American states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The message created outrage in the USA and played a major part in the country’s decision to enter the war 3 months later.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: The peace treaty Lenin signed with Germany in March 1918. The terms were harsh for Russia which lost about 25% of its land and population. (Finland, Poland, Baltic States, the Caucasus, Ukraine and White Russia). The treaty was canceled later in the year by the armistice agreement. (See map p.48 20th Century History Basic Facts).

Armistice: -An agreement between opposing armies to stop fighting in order to discuss peace terms.

Example:

An armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies at the end of WWI. The Allies had signed earlier armistices with Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria-Hungary.

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See map p.37 in text for members of Allies Powers and Central Powers 1914.

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Trench warfare contributed to a stalemate on the Western Front because both sides dug in and built an elaborate system of tunnels, shelters, and trenches stretching more then 600 miles from the English Channel to the Swiss border. The stalemate on the Western Front lasted for 3 years as war became static, senseless, futile and barbaric. During this period neither side was able to make significant territorial gains.

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New military technologies had a great impact on the nature of war during WWI.

Examples:

• Machine guns: Machine guns proved lethal. For example, a water-cooled machine gun like the Vickers gun fired 600 bullets a minute.

  Machine gun used in World War 1.

• Tank: Built in 1915, this new weapon was an armor-plated tractor which moved at 6km an hour and was armed with both canons and machine guns. It could burst through hedges, cross tenches, demolish walls and snap off small trees. It also created terror to those in its path.

  Tank used in World War 1.

• Submarines: Operating mostly beneath the waves, German submarines, or U-boats posed a major threat especially to Allied shipping. The underwater war began in Feb. 1915 when the Germans announced that the seas around Britain were a “War Zone” in which they would sink any ship without warning. Their aim was to starve Britain into surrender by sinking the supply ships bringing food and supplies to her. The most famous sinking of a ship in British waters came on May 7^th 1915 with the sinking of the British liner Lusitania.

  World War 1 Submarine.

• Aircraft: At first airplanes were limited in speed, maneuverability, and fire-power. Early planes were mostly used for scouting enemy positions. Later they became more sophisticated and engaged in aerial combat with the enemy.

  Biplane used in World War 1.

• Gas: First used in WWI by the Germans on April 22^nd, 1915 at the Second Battle of Ypres. Various gases were used with horrifying effects. Side effects ranged from suffocation of the lungs to painful blistering of the skin. Fortunately both sides soon stopped using gas because it was easy to counter with gas masks.

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Comparison of the nature of war on the Eastern and Western Fronts:

Western front: After, the Battle of the Marne, the war on the Western Front settled into a stalemate. Both sides dug in and held their respective positions. By 1915, each army had built an elaborate system of tunnels, shelters, and trenches. These battle lines stretched more than 600 miles from the English Channel to the Swiss border. The space between the two sets of trenches won the grim name of “No-Man’s-Land”. As soldiers settled into the trenches for weeks and then months and then years, people began to realize that this war was unlike any other in history.

Eastern Front: Here, Russians and Serbs battled Austrians, Turks, and Germans. The war in the east was more a war of movement than in the west, but here too stalemate was common. At the outbreak of the war Russian forces penetrated both Austria and Germany. In August 1914, the Germans crushed the invading Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg. Afterward, the Germans gradually pressed the Russians back into their own land. Russica never recovered from its defeat at Tannenberg. Short of food, guns, boots, and even blankets, the Russian army had only one asset - numbers. Russia’s enormous population was used to refill the ranks of the army despite overwhelming casualties. For more than three years, that army tied up hundreds of thousands of German troops in the east. Thus, Germany could never hurl its full force at the west.

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Reasons why the United States joined the Allied Powers in 1917: (Know any two)

1. German submarine warfare:
   • 1915 sinking of British ocean liner Lusitania (128 American lives lost)

   • 1917 Germany’s declaration of “unrestricted” submarine warfare.

   Note: United States position had been for “Freedom of the Seas” which enabled the United States to gain wealth with power from shipping produce and manufactured goods across the ocean.

2. Some Americans were swayed by British propaganda portraying the German soldiers as barbarians.

3. Many Americans viewed the war as a struggle between democracy (reputation by Great Britain) and autocracy (reputation by Germany).

4. Common cultural ties with Great Britain (language, ancestry, etc.)

5. Zimmermann Telegraph angered many Americans and created some anti-German sentiment.

The Zimmerman Telegram was an apparent secret message from the German Foreign secretary (Alfred Zimmerman) to Mexico suggesting that should Mexico become a German ally, Germany would support the return of Mexican territory lost to the United States during the American-Mexican war (1846-47)

Examples: New Mexico, Texas, Arizona

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The American entry into WWI and the Russian withdrawal from WWI affected both the Allied War effort and the War's outcome.

Impact of the United States entry on Allied war effort:

• Fresh Supply of soldiers and supplies to Allies
• Rallied allied fighting spirt and will
• Consider United States economic and military potential (1913-14) Page 35 of 20th Century Viewpoints or page 36 in second edition of text

Russia’s withdrawal was a blow to the Allies because Germany could relieve food shortages caused by the Allied naval blockade by using agriculture products from the Ukraine. It also allowed Germany to concentrate its forces on the western front against France and Britain.

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Analyze social, economic, and potential impact WWI had on Canada.

1. Social (change in the status of women)
   • During WWI the status of women improved and resistance by men against acknowledging the abilities of women were gradually set aside. During the War women participated in many activities that promoted their cause for social, economic, and political equality.
   • Formed nucleus munitions industry workers
   • Replaced men, offices, factories, schools, etc.
   • Raised money for war effort
   • Attended to sick and injured on the battlefield
   • Organized clubs (ex. Knitting) to send clothes over seas

2. Political (*note Canada’s increased role in international relations!)
   • The suffrage political goal was finally won in 1918 when women won their right to vote in federal elections.
   • The military service bill (conscription) introduced Robert Borden’s conservative government in 1917 had a political impact on Canada by hurting French-English Canadian relations.
   • *Canada’s contribution to the war effort (especially at Vimy Ridge) earned her international respect and she emerged from the war as a more independent country. Ex: Canada won a separate seat at the Paris Peace Conference and signed the peace treaty as a separate nation. Also, Canada was given representation in the new League of Nations.

3. Economic: Economially, WWI produced a boom in Canada industry. Steel and Munitions production and manufacturing grew dramatically. During the almost everyone could find a job. The Canadian economy now relied on industry as well as agriculture, lumbering, fishing, and mining. Canada has been changed from agricultural economy into a growing industrial nation. This laid the basis for a stronger and more prosperous country.

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Assess the issue of responsibility for the outbreak of WWI.

Read Viewpoints p.54 “Germany Was Responsible For The Outbreak Of The First World War?” and Voices p.63 The War Guilt Clause.