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World War 1 Concept Map (Causes (Alliances (The Triple Alliance - Germany,…

- - - - The Alliance system and nationalism were important for this event because Austria saw the assassination of Ferdinand as an opportunity to demonstrate their power over Serbia using force and militarism. Furthermore, Austria was in intense competition with Russia and feared Russian intervention. Therefore, Austrian leaders saught the backing of their German allies, which they were assured by the “blank check.” The alliance system in Europe made it so that even small wars could not stay localized and led to more and more countries becoming involved in an issue that began as a small conflict between Austria and Serbia because of Austria’s nationalism and militarism.
- - - - The Schlieffen Plan depended on Belgium accepting an ultimatum (August 2) that allowed German troops to pass through Belgian territory. It also depended on a quick defeat of France, with who Germany declared war on August 3. This led to Great Britain declaring war on Germany on August 4. This quick series of events was a product of Germany’s allies and their use of war as a way to gain power in the European sphere.
  - - - Britain (David Lloyd George) has similar demands to France but takes a much less harsh approach. For example, they support the idea that Germany is to blame for the war, however they don’t agree that France should be allowed to take the Rhineland or that Germany should pay large sums for reparations, or that Germany should be divided. They also wanted independence for many groups of people that were previously under German rule. Italy’s (Vittorio Orlando) key goal is to claim the Adriatic Coast that was promised to them by the Allies if they were to join the war effort. They also believed that Germany must take blame for the war, pay full reparations, and its power to make war must be limited. Italy supported a league of nations, but believed that Russia and Germany should be excluded from it. The US had suffered fewer casualties than the European countries and did not have any damage done within its own borders. Woodrow Wilson arrived in Europe with the ‘fourteen points’ and believed that all parties including Germany should be treated fairly and that Germany should not be treated too harshly. The US believed that Germany should not be blamed for the war and therefore their reparations should not be too harsh and their ability to make war should not be completely reduced. The US also supported self determination for all groups of people. The US supported the creation of the league of nations.
- - - - ESPIONAGE: Espionage was an extremely important tactic to gain information on the enemy. However, it also created a fear of spies from other countries, sometimes leading to xenophobia and greater tensions between countries. It is surprising to me how advanced the different spying techniques were so long ago, like the German ‘moritz.’
      - PROPAGANDA: Propaganda created distrust between nations, especially in Atrocity propaganda. In American atrocity propaganda, Germany and Austria were depicted as inhumane. Nations used propaganda to create distrust between their people and other nations in order to justify war. This lead to a long lasting fear of other nations and a war mongering attitude. It was interesting to me how German propaganda was actually integrated into the culture. The idea that only armed conflict could secure a nation’s survival was taught in schools and ingrained in the population since childhood. Because of this, newspaper editorials were flooded with 50,000 daily offers for war poems. That’s crazy!
      - ANTI-WAR PROTESTS: Because of the great number of deaths during the war, many anti-war protests developed by important groups such as the Independent Labour Party, the National Women’s Party, and the Industrial Workers of the World. While demonstrating for peace, these protesters were often suppressed by soldiers. This movement for peace was widely ignored by the government but still an important movement that carried on throughout much of the 20th century.
        It is uplifting that women continued to be a part of the antiwar effort despite the descrimination they faced for these beliefs, like Theordore Roosevelt who said that any woman who opposed war belonged “in China or a harem.”
      - TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES: The technological advancements made during WW1 had long term military and lifestyle advantages that were beneficial after the war. The trench coat, blood banks, and the sanitary pad are some examples of lifestyle advances. Furthermore, tanks, tracer bullets, and new types of heavy weapons were introduced and some of these are still used today.
        It is surprising how diverse these advancements were and how their applications were changed over time to fit the needs of the people outside of the war effort as well. It's very impressive how many incredible advancements there were.
      - ANIMALS DURING WWI: The use of horses and dogs proved to be extremely important during the Great War, and these animals are still used for various tasks today as work animals and in the military and police force. The treatment of these animals during the war also provoked many animal rights movements.
        It was very surprising to me that slugs were used to detect mustard gases. This seems like an animal you would not normally think about but which served an extremely important role for those in combat.
      - SHELL SHOCK (PTSD): Shell shock affected a large number of soldiers after world war 1. The nerve damages caused horrible side effects and PTSD and were irreversible. These damages affected the lives of those who served long after the war, and PTSD is still common for many veterans today.
        It was disheartening and confusing that soldiers who were thought to be brain dead were put through further pain by electric shock treatments and extensive testing. It doesn’t seem as if the veterans who risked their lives were treated with compassion upon return home.
      - WWI IN THE MIDDLE EAST: The British and French divided much of the land in the middle east. They had control over the land and the people and made it difficult for them to gain independence. The conflicts between Britain and France, as well as between the sovereign countries and their peoples, lead to many of the conflicts that still exist now.
        It is disheartening that there were 2 million Persian deaths in this conflict. It is sad that the deaths in middle eastern countries are often talked about less than the deaths in European countries. The war was devastating for all the countries involved.
      - WWI IN ASIA: Many major battles took place in the Pacific Theatre of the war, consisting of many naval battles and Allied conquest of Germany territories in Asia, a massive strategic advantage if claimed by the Allies. After the war, China was left unstable due to a treaty which favored Japan and took away lots of Chinese land. This created political and social change, leading to a socialist government and eventually the communist government that China still has today. Maybe if the Chinese were given what was rightfully theirs, they wouldn’t be a communist country now.
        It is interesting to see the effects of the war in the Asian sphere and to analyze how the Great War led to conflicts that caused WW2. For example, the treaty with China and also Japan’s new militarism.
      - TRENCH WARFARE: Trench warfare was one of the most unique aspects of WWI and was a military strategy where both sides defended themselves from self dug trenches. The area in between was called No Man’s Land. Many soldiers were killed in trenches and those who lived often developed PTSD as a side effect of this conflict.
        It is disheartening to see how horrible the conditions were and how young the soldiers actually were. In photographs, there are many soldiers injured or dead in the trenches, depicting how difficult and horrible this war was.