IMPERIALISM & WW1

IES Camilo José Cela

Teacher: Rocío Bautista

In order to understand the WW1 (1914-18),

it is necessary to know what was the

international situation of Europe before 1914.

What new countries had been formed in the 1870’s?

The expansion of which ideology favoured the unification of

these countries?

How did the Congress of Vienna (1815) re-established European Balance after the

Napoleonic period?

What emergent ideology did they ignored?

REMEMBER…

European Balance had been re-established in the Congress of Vienna…

BUT IGNORING NATIONALISTIC FEELINGS!!!!

REMEMBER…

Austria was expelled from the German Confederation (Austro-Prussian War -1866) so it was an independent country.

French territories (Alsace & Lorraine) had been annexed to Germany (Franco-Prussian War - 1870)

During the 19th Century the forces of

NATIONALISM had been at work in Europe.

By 1871 it had created two major new

countries: Germany & Italy.

At the end of the century, Nationalism

continued to threaten the stability of

multi-national states…

POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS prevailed in most Western Europe, USA & Japan.

Exceptions:

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Russian Empire

Ottoman Empire

AUTOCRATIC SYSTEMS

& states formed by multiple nationalities

POLITICAL SYSTEMS

• Austro-Hungarian Empire

• Belgium

• Denmark

• German Empire

• Greece

• Italy

• Netherlands

• Ottoman Empire

• Portugal

• Russian Empire

• Spain

• Switzerland

• UK

• United Kingdom of

Norway and Sweden

Activity 1: Colour in & label your

map with the major states in Europe

in 1871

INTERNATIONAL

SITUATION

UK

Germany (outpaced UK by the early 20th

century)

USA (outpaced UK by the early 20th century))

France

Japan

Mediterranean Countries

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Russia

Ottoman Empire

Countries in Europe industrialized

at different speed.

Countries’ power was measured

by their degree of

industrialization.

1871 – 1890

BISMARCK’S ALLIANCE SYSTEMS

- Secret military alliances toisolate France (who wanted revenge due to the loss of Alsace & Lorraine).

1891 – 1914

PEACE THROUGH STRENGHT

EUROPEAN ALLIANCE

SYSTEMS

• European Balance broke after the Italian &

German unifications.

• 2 stages in European international relations:

Permitted peace in Europe.

Ended due to a confrontation between

the emperor (William I), who wanted to

create a colonial empire, and the

Chancellor (Bismarck) who opposed to it.

Bismarck’s Alliance systems were military alliances between

Germany & the main European powers (Russia, Austria, Italy &

UK) to isolate France.

1871 – 1890

BISMARCK’S ALLIANCE SYSTEMS

Secret military alliances to isolate France (who wanted

revenge due to the loss of Alsace & Lorraine).

1891 – 1914

PEACE THROUGH STRENGHT

Growing tensions due political & economic problems led to the formation of 2 military blocs:

EUROPEAN ALLIANCE

SYSTEMS

• European Balance broke after the Italian &

German unifications.

• 2 stages in European international relations:

Permitted peace in Europe.

Ended due to a confrontation between

the emperor (William I), who wanted to

create a colonial empire, and the

Chancellor (Bismarck) who opposed to it.

TRIPLE

ALLIANCE

- Germany

- Austria

- Italy (will

change side)

TRIPLE

ENTENTE

- France

- Russia

- UK

TRIPLE

ENTENTE

TRIPLE

ALLIANCE

In conflict with

Germany due to its

growing economic

& colonial power

In conflict

with Germany

due to Alsace

& Lorraine

In conflict with

Austria (ally of

Germany) due

to interests in

the Balkans

Which states were threaten by

nationalism?

P. 101 exercises 4 & 5

Activity 2

IMPERIALISM1870 - 1914

IMPERIALISM

Goal: besides the economic control, it implied

the military & political control of the European

minority over the dominated territory.

COLONIALISM

Goal: dominate the economic resources of the

colonies.

≠

CAUSES OF IMPERIALISM

Allowed to control trade routes& strategic territories

Reduced problems related to the population growth (e.g.:

unemployment) excess population emigrated from the metropolis to the

colonies to relieve populationpressure

Colonies supplied raw materials,markets to sell the metropolis’

industrial products, territories to invest capitals & cheap labour force

Spread of the idea of the superiority of the white race & that its mission was to “civilise” the rest of the world (social

Darwinism).

International prestige it was a way of increasing a country’s

power at a time when European Balance had been broken.

UK, FRANCE & other imperialist powers (BELGIUM, GERMANY,

ITALY, THE NETHERLANDS, RUSSIA…) established diverse forms

of colonial rule:

FORMS OF COLONIAL

RULE

CONCESSION (CHINA)

Agreement by which an independent country granted commercial advantages to imperial powers (e.g.: ports for trade)

PROTECTORATE (INDIA / EGYPT)

2 administrations coexisted:

- Indigenous government for internal affairs

- Imperial power controlled foreign policy, army &

exploitation of certain resources.

COLONY

It had no indigenous

institution. It was under the

direct sovereignty of the metropolis.

SETTLER COLONIES (CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND…) population mostly

European. Self-governed. Used to relieve population pressure in the metropolis.

EXPLOITATION COLONIES (BELGIAN CONGO) population mostly indigenous. Governed by

the metropolis. Used for economic benefit of the metropolis (it had exclusive rights to

exploit the colony’s resouces).

CONCESSIONS IN CHINA

UK, Germany, Russia, France & Japan distributed the areas of influence in

China.

PROTECTORATES

Egypt & India became protectorates of UK

EXPLOITATION COLONIES

Many territories in Africa were exploited as colonies (e.g.: Belgian Congo).

THE SCRAMBLE OF AFRICA

(“El reparto de África”)

• Before 1870 European presence in Africa limited to the coasts.

Some coastal territories were

controlled by European powers…

FRANCE (Algeria, Tunisia,

Senegal…)

UK (Egypt, South Africa…)

PORTUGAL (Angola,

Mozambique…)

• In the 1870’s European powers began to explore the

African continent.

LIVINGSTONE (UK) – explored the Zambezi

& Nile rivers. Discovered the “Victoria

Falls”.

STANLEY (Belgium) & BRAZZA (France) –

explored the Congo basin.

1884 to avoid clashes, the European

powers met in the “BERLIN

CONFERENCE” (1884) where they

established the rules for the occupation

of Africa:

1) Countries that had coastal possessions

had the right to occupy the interior,

provided that they demonstrated the

effective occupation & control of the

territory.

2) Free navigation on the Niger & Congo

rivers.

3) Free trade in Central Africa.

THE CONFERENCE OF BERLIN (1884)

It regulated European colonization & trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period. It is considered the starting point of the “Scramble for Africa” (invasion, occupation, division, colonization and annexation of African territory by European powers).

Organized by Germany.

It eliminated most existing forms of African autonomy and self-governance.

From 1885 onwards occupation of Africa accelerated:

UK tried to form a colonial strip N-S (Egypt – South Africa)

FRANCE tried to form a colonial strip W-E (starting from its

colonies in Senegal, Algeria & Tunisia)

Belgium, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain completed the occupation of Africa

COLONIAL CONFRONTATIONS!!

IMPERIALISM IN ASIA

• China system of concessions (maintained

its sovereignty, but gave commercial rights

to imperial powers).

ASIA

UK

• India

•Burma

•Malaysia

France •Part of Indochina

Netherlands •Most of Indonesia

US •Philippines

Russia

•Siberia

•Territories towards

China & India

(Caucasus, Turkestan)

IMPERIALISM IN OCEANIA

OCEANIA

UK•Australia

•New Zealand

USA •Hawaii

Netherlands

Some islands in the

Pacific oceanFrance

Germany

P.108 – 109 exercises 1 & 3

What ideology supported & justified

imperialism? Explain it. Do you agree

with it?

P.110 – 111 1b / 2 / 4

Activity 3

MIXED CONSEQUENCES OF

IMPERIALISM

Mostly positive:

• Political power &

self-esteem.

• Wealth (raw

materials, new

markets).

FOR THE COLONIZERS (Metropolis)

However, colonial

expansion caused

new tensions among

the powers. This

rivalry would be one

of the causes of

WW1.

MIXED CONSEQUENCES OF

IMPERIALISM

To some extent there

were also some

positive

consequences:

• Improvement in

health conditions

• Access to

education for the

native elite

• Construction or

infrastructures

(railways, ports…)

FOR THE DOMINATED TERRITORIES

Mostly negative:

• Economic exploitation

–Export agriculture was imposed

– Industrialisation was prevented

–Unequal trade

• Political domination

• Aggravation of internal

conflicts due to arbitrary

drawing of borders

• Foreigners became the

dominant social class

• Loss of own culture

WW1: “The Great War” 1914 - 1918

CO

NT

EN

DE

RS

ALLIES

(Triple Entente)

• UK

• France

• Russia

• Others: Serbia, Italy, US, Japan…

CENTRAL POWERS

(Triple Alliance)

• German Empire

• Austro-Hungarian Empire

• Others: Ottoman Empire,

Bulgaria…

ALLIES

(Triple Entente)

• UK

• France

• Russia

• Others: Serbia, Italy, US, Japan…

CENTRAL POWERS

(Triple Alliance)

• German Empire

• Austro-Hungarian Empire

• Others: Ottoman Empire,

Bulgaria…

CO

NT

EN

DE

RS

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

1

The new international expansionist policy (Weltpolitik)

undertaken by the German emperor (William II) in 1890. It

broke European balance.

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

1

Tensions due to the annexation by Germany of the French

regions of Alsace & Lorraine (Franco-Prussian War, 1870).

France wanted to recover these regions.

VS

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

1

Economic rivalry due to the increasing economic & industrial

power of Germany, that in the early 20th Century had

outpaced UK. Tensions were intensified when Germany

started an ambitious naval program to compete against the

British Royal Navy.

VS

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

1

Confrontations between imperial powers in the colonies (e.g.:

Moroccan crisis & Kruger Telegram)

KRUGER TELEGRAM

The German emperor

(William II) sent a

telegram to the

president of Transvaal

(Paul Kruger) to

congratulate him for

having defeated the

British.

It caused huge

indignation in Great

Britain and led to a

further deterioration in

relations between the

two countries.

VS

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

11st Moroccan Crisis (1905): visit of the

German emperor (William II) to Morocco

(territory under French influence). The

Kaiser declared he had come to support the

sovereignty of the Sultan & the

independence of Morocco.

2nd Moroccan Crisis (1911): during a revolt

in Morocco, Germany sent a battleship to

the port of Agadir, under the pretext of

protecting German trade interests.

Both events were seen as provocative

challenges to French influence in Morocco.

Thus, they worsened German relations with

France, and strengthened relations between

France & UK (who supported France against

the Germans)

VS

Confrontations between imperial powers in the colonies (e.g.:

Moroccan crisis & Kruger Telegram)

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

1

Confrontations between Austria & Russia for the hegemony in

the Balkans (former territories of the Ottoman Empire), and

tensions between Austria (who had annexed Bosnia) & Serbia

(ally of Russia) due to Slav nationalism.

VS

CA

US

ES

OF

WW

1

The creation of a military alliance system & the arms race

(“Peace Through Strength”), which could turn any incident

into a war of enormous proportions.

TRIPLE ENTENTE

TRIPLE ALLIANCE

TH

E S

PA

RK

OF

TH

E W

AR

VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbwH1ZBnYds

TH

E S

PA

RK

OF

TH

E W

AR

The war finally broke out when Archduke Franz Ferdinand

(heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary) was murdered in

Sarajevo (Bosnia) on JUNE 28th 1914 by a Serbian

nationalist.

Austria blamed Serbia and issued an ultimatum to allow

Austrian forces to go to Serbia to investigate the murder.

Serbia rejected this demand, so Austria declared the war

on Serbia. From then on, the Alliance System created a

domino effect pulling everyone into war!!!

Telegram by which Austria declared the

War to Serbia (July 28th 1914)

TH

E S

PA

RK

OF

TH

E W

AR

ALLIES & CENTRALPOWERS IN THE WORLD

a) List 4 new weapons that were used in WW1.

b) What was propaganda used for in WW1?

c) Why did Russia left WW1?

d) What was the main turning point in WW1?

e) Why did Germany felt humiliated in the Paris

Peace Conference? What consequence did this

brought?

f) Indicate at least 7 territorial changes in the

map of Europe after WW1.

Activity 4: copy & answer as we go.

WW

1: C

HA

RA

CT

ER

IST

ICS

Characteristics of WW1

NEW WEAPONS:

- Machine guns- Flamethrowers

- Toxic gases- Mines

- Airplanes- Submarines

- Tanks- Hand grenades

New defence system:

TRENCHES.

PHYCOLOGICAL WARFARE AS A NEW FORM OF COMBAT.

Propaganda was used toinfluence people during

the war (persuade people to enlist, strengthen the soldiers’ will to resist,

demoralize the enemy…)SOCIETY SUFFERED MANY ADVERSITIES (food shortage & rationing, malnutrition, bombings, …)

WOMEN JOINED THE WORKFORCE

(to replace the men, who were fighting at the

front)

VAST TERRITORIAL EXPANSION it was known as the “Great

War”

Hand grenades

Machine gunsVery heavy, needed several people to

operate them. Fired up to 600

bullets per minute.

Airplanes

Tanks

Toxic gases &

gas masks

Flamethrowerrs

Soldier with moderate burns after a mustard gas attack during WW1

“GASSED” (John Singer Sargent; 1919) painting of the aftermath of a mustard gas attack during WW1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zs666sg

WW1 TRENCHES

WW1 TRENCHES

WW1 TRENCHES

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/

ww1/25626530

PHYCOLOGICAL WARFARE: use of propaganda to influence

people during the war (demoralize the enemy, strengthen the

soldiers & their will to resist…)

http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resour

ces/first-world-war-recruitment-posters

ALLIES’

RECRUITMENT

POSTERS FOR WW1

http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resour

ces/first-world-war-recruitment-posters

ALLIES’ POSTERS

POSTERS FOR WW1

Represented Germans as demons &

uncivilized people:

- happy for having killed babies,

children, women…

- Toasting with a glass full of

bload

CENTRAL POWERS’

RECRUITMENT

POSTERS FOR WW1

http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/11-

incredible-german-first-world-war-posters

FOOD SHORTAGE &

RATIONING

DURING WW1

WWI SUGAR RATION CARD

Front: shows the name of the

person the card belonged to and

the retailer where their ration

could be purchased.

Reverse: shows the terms and

conditions of the issue of rations

The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was in charge of carrying

out a large number of non-combatant tasks in France, freeing up more

men for service in the front line. Eventually, 9,000 women served with

the unit in France.

Women were committed to the war by

joining the workforce to replace the men

who were at the front.

Ww

1: M

AIN

FR

ON

TS

WW1 was fought mainly in Europe:

Western front (frontier France – Germany)

Eastern front (frontier Germany – Russia)

Other fronts:- Balkans

- At Sea (next to UK)

- In the colonies (Middle East, Asia, Africa, Oceania…) FRONT = the place where

combat operations are

carried on

Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S1914 WAR OF MOVEMENTS (“Guerra de Movimientos”)

This plan failed because…

- The Allies resisted the quick German attack at the Battle of the Marne.

- Russia mobilized its troops quicker than it was expected by the Germans,

and advanced rapidly through Prussia.

Germany attempted a plan (Schlieffen

Plan) which was based on:

1) Rapid victory on France, attacking

it through neutral Belgium.

2) After defeating France, turn east

to defeat Russia (Germans thought

that, given its huge size, it would

need a long time to mobilize its

troops).

Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S The failure of the quick war planned by Germany & the absence of a decisive

victory made the war turn into a long-term conflict.

The Western & Easter fronts were settled. Lines of trenches were dug in

the frontiers with Germany (specially in the Western front). It was the

beginning of the “Trench Warfare”.

1914 WAR OF MOVEMENTS (“Guerra de Movimientos”)

Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S In absence of a decisive victory, the fronts were stabilised along an

extensive lines of trenches protected by machine guns & barbed wire.

1915 – 1916 TRENCH WARFARE (“Guerra de Trincheras”)

The unoccupied area between two enemy trench systems was known as

“No man's land”.

N O

M A N ’ S

L A N D

This area was heavily defended by riflemen &

machine guns on both sides. It was a

devastated area, covered with barbed wire,

land mines, corpses and wounded soldiers

who were not able to make it across the

explosions and fire.

In order to advance, soldiers were forced to

cross it, but open fire from the opposing

trenches made any attempted advance very

difficult and slow.

During this period new weapons were

used:

• Machine guns

• Grenades

• Toxic gases

• Flamethrowers…

Exhausting offensives were launched from the trenches. The strategy consisted

in wearing out the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in

personnel & material. Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S1915 – 1916 TRENCH WARFARE (“Guerra de Trincheras”)

Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S 1917: Russia withdrew from WW1 (treaty of Brest-Litovsk) due to their

internal Communist Revolution. This allowed Germany to take more troops

to the Western front.

1917 – 1918 END OF THE WAR

Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S

1917: US joined the war on the side of the Allies. This marked a major

turning point in the war.

1917 – 1918 END OF THE WAR

Ww

1: P

HA

SE

S 1918: the Allies launched a series of offensives on the Western Front,

causing the surrender of the Central Powers.

1917 – 1918 END OF THE WAR

Ww

1: P

EA

CE

TR

EA

TIE

S

The LEAGUE OF NATIONS (“Sociedad de Naciones”) was created

international organization for promoting peace.

Several treaties were signed:

The Central Powers had to:

Reduce their armies

Pay war reparations

Make territorial concessions, from which new states emerged (Poland,

Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,

Finland...)

Germany (Treaty of Versailles):

Was blamed for the war

Gave Alsace & Lorraine back to France

Lost all its colonies

1919 – 1920 PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

Felt humiliated wanted

revenge

Ww

1: P

EA

CE

TR

EA

TIE

S1919 – 1920 PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

Ww

1: C

ON

SE

QU

EN

CE

S

CONSEQUENCES OF WW1

Terrible human losses:

- 9 million people died

- Many injured & disabled

- Widows & orphans

Huge economic losses (industries, fields, buildings…)

Favoured the work of women &

female suffrage

Increased German nationalism & its desire for revenge it will lead to fascism & WW2US became the leading

power in the world. Europe was set aside.

Define the following concepts:

Trenches

No man’s land

Paris Peace Conference

Devise a diagram about the characteristics,

phases & consequences of WW1.

Activity 5