“Nationalism in Action”The Build-up to World War One, a.k.a., “the

Great War”

Social Studies 20-1

Imperialism

• What is Imperialism?

• To what extent, if any, would a country want to do this? Why be so aggressive against others? What would say, Great Britain, get out of it?

Effects of Imperialism?

• What would allow Britain, Germany and France to be powerful, global empires? What would such a cycle of violence, expansion and consolidation lead to? In other words, what would be required to do this?

Some, but not all, of the Effects

• 1) larger, better equipped armiesa) the Gatling, then machine gun

b) the Maxim single-barreled rifle

• 2) increase in technology, particularly in travel a) railroads, at home and in the colonies

b) steamships (1825+)c) observation balloons, searchlights, etc.

• 3) souring of relations between the “Great Powers” of Europe

• 4) Rapid, extreme competition • 5) A “social valve” for European empires

Likewise in Asia

The Diplomatic Roadblocks

• Franco-German hatred of one another• Russo-Austro-Hungarian rivalry for control of

the Balkans (around Serbia in Europe)• Germany’s fear of a two-front war against

both France and Russia • Great Britain and Italy as more or less “free

agents,” at least in the beginning

The Two Alliances

• How’d it get to this, then?:

The “Central Powers” – Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey and its possessions)

VS. The “Triple Entente” – the British Empire, France and Russia

Group Activity

• In pairs, complete the following chart (remember your peers’ presentations!)

Country Goals (Why go to war? To what end?)

“Natural” Allies, if any and why

“Natural” Enemies, if any and why

Great Britain

France

Russia

Germany

Austria-HungaryItaly

Country Goals (Why go to war? To what end?)

“Natural” Allies, if any and why

“Natural” Enemies, if any and why

Great Britain To counter German naval might, protect Belgium if invaded (agreement), attempt to limit growth of Germany in general

All had some advantages, but diplomatic actions repaired Anglo-French and Anglo-Russian relations, making those two more likely (at least latter on)

Germany, France (during 1898 crisis)* * Many Britons were still isolationist, but the British government co-operated with France, disliking Germany’s bullying foreign policy, Anglo-French combat plans against Germany were already made in 1904

France To get revenge on Germany for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 (loss of Alsace Lorraine)

Russia (seeking a two-front war against Germany, Russia was the obvious choice being Germany’s eastern neighbour), lots of French investment in Russia, historic ties between Russian artistocrats and France

Germany (historic feud, desires Alsace-Lorraine back and to recover from its previous humiliation), perhaps Britain (major colonial rival in Africa)

Russia To obtain warm water ports in the Balkans or Turkey, defend/influence Slavs in the Balkans

Serbia, fellow Slavic country, key to gaining power in the Balkans

Austria-Hungary, as they are rivals in the Balkans

Germany Many saw the war as inevitable, wanted to hit first, win a quick but decisive victory

Austria-Hungary (very close, different “spheres of influence”)

France (feud from well before even 1870)

Austria-Hungary To control, or possibly annex, Serbia and the Balkans in general

Germany (very close, different “spheres of influence”)

Serbia and its protector, Russia, as they defy Austro-Hungarian power in the Balkans

Italy To obtain land, prestige (highest bidder goes the loyalty)

None, really, prior allies were the Austro-Hungarians and Germans, but that meant little

Perhaps Austria-Hungary (Italians within that empire)And France (blocked their goals in North Africa, e.g. in Tunisia)

The “Spark” in the “Powder Keg”

•Heir of Austria-Hungary assassinated by the Black Hand