World War I“The Great War”, or “The War to End all

War”

The World of 1914Militarism: The idea that waging war, or threatening to wage war, is justifiable foreign policy

Examples:Britain’s Navy wants to rule the waves-Two Power Standard-Dreadnoughts (Battleships)-“Arms Race” with Germany

The World of 1914Alliances:

Alliances:A justifiable defensive strategy

Triple Entente Triple AllianceBritain GermanyFrance Austria-HungaryRussia ItalyLater will be called “Allies” (and the U.S. will join)

Later will be called the “Central Powers” & Italy will turn their back on them

1871: Alsace Lorraine Annexed byGermany

-Germany wins the Franco-Prussian (German)War-Germany takes France’s territory, the Alsace-Lorraine-France wants this territory back!

1882: Triple Alliance FormedGermany, Austria-Hungary and Italy form an alliance

Purpose: link together to gain strength and power

1907: Triple Entente Formed

Great Britain, France and Russian form an Alliance

Purpose: worried about Germany’s increasing strength (and strength of the Triple Alliance)

1908: Austria annexed the OttomanEmpire’s province of BosniaAustria-Hungary, in a search of more territory,annexed BosniaCaused more territories in the Balkans to wanttheir own independence

The World of 1914Imperialism:Believing that having an Empire with colonies is a justifiable economic policy

Example:-Britain became a very rich nation from its Empire

- An empire in which “The Sun Never Set”- India, the crown jewel- Slaves and raw resources from Africa- Cash crops in the Caribbean (Americas, “West

Indies”

Example: “The Scramble for Africa”- In 1870, 10% of Africa was under European control-By 1914, 90% of Africa was under European control

-Boer War: British in South Africa-Mahdist War: British in Sudan-The Congo: Belgians killed approx. 8 million (50% of population) in 20 years

“WeltPolitik”(World Politics)

“We wish to throw no one into the shade, but we demand our own place in the sun.“

- Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1890

The World of 1914Nationalism:Think Patriotism… A justifiable Pride1)You are an ethnic minority living under the rule of someone else

Ex., Slavs, Serbs, Polish living within the A-H EmpireEx., Arabs, Persians living under the Ottoman Empire

2) My country is just so AWESOME-> Nation = Identity

“One constant among the elements of 1914—as of any era—was the disposition of everyone on all sides not to prepare for the harder alternative, not to act upon what they suspected to be true.” ― Barbara W. Tuchman, The Guns of August

The World of 1914…… thought war would be glorious and quick

June 28, 1914: The SparkGavrilo Princip (Serb) assassinates Archduke

Franz Ferdinand, heir to A-H Empire

July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary invades Serbia-Russia mobilizes in its defence-Germany declares war on Russia and France-Germany invades France through Belgium-Britain defends Belgium and France

28 July 1914 -11 November 1918Approx 10 million military dead

Approx 23 million wounded

Approx 7 million civilians dead

= 1.58 – 1.87% of world

population