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World War I (A World of Rapid Change (Revolutions in France and North…
World War I
A World of Rapid Change
- Revolutions in France and North America by the end of the 18th cenutry.
- In 1830, France and Belgium had adopted the form of government, monarchy.
- which was elected by a poll from an electorate.
- Conservative / reactionary power > preserves the old world
^^ Cautious or traditional forces
- The 1848 revolutions were an attempt by the middle class and workers to gain more political and economic power.
The Industrial Revolution:
- Led to an increase in manufacturing and production
- Created three very strong military and economic powers (Britain, USA, Germany)
- And rapid growth in many other countries
Between 1900 and 1914 in Western countries there was a drastic change in:
- manufacturing technology,
- mass production
- arts and sciences
- growth of cities.
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A New Imperialism
- The IR meant new markets and sources of raw materials
- Germany did not want to extend the empire to Europe until 1884.
- They formed a system of alliances and extended their empire into Europe to isolate France.
- A new overseas empire allowed Germany to build a new navy and become a strong worldwide.
- Germany had made its colonies in western Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
- This expanding of colonies increased the possibility of war.
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The Naval Arms Race
- By 1914 Britain was kept out of European affairs for 100 years.
- This meant no contribution to wars, a small naval supremacy (authority)
- Britain was the only European country with no national conscription (compulsory military service)
- Britains naval supremacy was threatened by Germany when Kaiser Wilhelm II became emperor in 1888.
- Wilhelm II was an imperialist and nationalist who expanded the German navy.
- Britain and Germany had naval rivalry- which was an arms race (competition for the most military weapons)
Germany and France
- Germany had suspicion on France since the end of the Franco- Prussian war.
- France lost the war and had to pay with territory and reparations (payment for damages)
- The peace treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors in France in the former palace of Versaille, which was to further humiliate France.
Road to War
- Between 1890-1914 there were many international crises
- Germany continued to threaten France, and Britain was prepared to support France.
- the possibility of an alliance between Germany and Britain became highly unlikely.
An Eagerness for War
- Throughout Europe there was widespread support for war.
- During the summers in July, people would gather outside and listen to nationalistic speakers.
- Nationalism turned to jingoism (an extreme form of nationalism, and an antagonistic foreign policy (nations way of dealing with other countries))
The Size of an Army
- European countries had very large armies, approx. one million for each, France, Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary.
- Britain's was much less, 250,000 because it didn't have a conscription.
- Britain did not have any trouble in men enlisting for war and kept imperialism and nationalism a secret from the public.