Fin de Siècle Leading to War “end of the century” and the Balkan Powder Keg Kevin Lu Period 5 Legend: Bold means important term/ fact = interesting tidbit.

Fin de Siècle Leading to War

“end of the century”

and the Balkan Powder Keg

Kevin LuPeriod 5

Legend:

Bold means important term/ fact

= interesting tidbit

This background cartoon shows imperialism: every country wants a cut of land during the Fin de Siècle

Background• Alliance between Great

Powers weaken • Due to political and

economic rivalries (fall of Ottoman Empire, Crimean War, Austro-Prussian War, Franco-Prussian War) destroy Concert of Europe (the balance of powers in Europe settled at the Congress of Vienna after 1803 – 1815 Napoleonic Wars)

• Hence, breakdown of balance of powers and diplomacy

http://www.worldology.com/Europe/pre_world_war.htm

Background continued.

• Growing sense of distrust• armaments• territory disputes • nationalism (independence,

patriotism, preserve culture and religion)

• each country wants to prove dominance by gaining land/ asserting spheres of influence

• Culminates in formation of defensive “system of alliances”

Now, let’s see the situation for the important European players before WWI

GermanyPrelude:• before 1871 = loose confederation of independently-ruled

territories; Prussia is largest (Background)• Chief minister Bismarck unites Germany- Acquires territory of Schleswig-Holstein (in Austro-Prussian War

1866) and Alsace-Lorraine (in Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871)- Asserts pressure on Austria by excluding Austria from ZollvereinPrewar:- Germany = unified, major European power- Goal after unification: security- Congress of Berlin (1878) – led by Bismarck, stabilize Balkans,

restrain Russia, Ottoman Empire weakened -> key diplomacy (Chambers 822)

- Form web of alliances for security, isolate France through Triple Alliance (1882) with Austria-Hungary and Italy

- Reinsurance Treaty (1887) with Russia under terms: - Russian remains neutral if war between Germany and France,

Germany remains neutral if war between Russia and Austria-Hungary (Chambers 823)

Triple Alliance: Germany | Austria-Hungary | ItalyCurrent state: industrialized, united, careful to not upset other countries under Otto von Bismarck, but 1890, Kaiser Wilheim II take over with aggressive global ambition

Germany continued.- Alienate British when congratulate leaders of Boer Wars

(1896) (Chambers 824) early sign that they will not ally

Bottom Line:- new belligerent German Kaiser, Wilheim II dismisses

Bismarck in 1890 things go downhill- replace Bismarck’s conservative foreign policy (realpolitik)

with “weltpolitik” (world policy) (Weltpolitik)- imperialism want territory, hostile demand of French

Congo in exchange for agreeing to France’s annexation of Morocco (Chambers 825)

- refuses to renew treaty with Russia - competes against Great Britain in naval arms race (begin

to build ships after Germany Navy Law 1900)- Largest land army because it is bordered by France and

Russia- aggressive foreign policy alienates all countries except for

Austria-Hungary

Origins of German nationalist catchphrase “A Place in the Sun” in defending colonialism

“The days when Germans granted one neighbor the earth, the other the sea, and reserved for themselves the sky, where pure doctrine reigns…. those days are over…. we do not want to put anyone in our shadow, but we also demand our place in the sun.”

– Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow 1897 (Gehrz)

- Kaiser Wilheim II used the phrase his 1901 speech about becoming the naval stronghold in Europe:

“In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts, that our industry and agriculture may develop within the state and our sailing sports upon the water, for our future lies upon the water. The more Germans go out upon the waters, whether it be in races or regattas, whether it be in journeys across the ocean, or in the service of the battle flag, so much the better it will be for us.” (Modern)

Difference betweenImperialism vs. ColonialismColonialism = practice, like building houses on newly gained landImperialism = idea

Triple Alliance: Germany | Austria-Hungary | Italy

British postcard depicting what would happen if Germany took the “place in the sun”

http://mrshellshear.wikispaces.com/World+War+One

FranceTriple Entente: France | Russia | Great Britain

Grand Guignol – Paris theater of horror entertainment, fascination with morbidity, reflect the urbanized, revolutionary spirit (lasting impact of the French Revolution). Life is no longer centered around religion.

Build Eiffel Tower (1889)

 Current state: weak democracy, aims to avenge loss of Alsace-Lorraine

http://www.asso-trinity.org/Trinity-Arts.php?affiche=Le%20Grand%20Guignol%20:%20acte%20un,%20histoire%20et%20r%E9pertoirehttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ARTwaltz.htm

Prelude:• rebuilding after losses of Napoleonic Wars and Franco-

Prussian War• colonizing Africa • thinks of Germany as a threat Prewar:• France forms alliance with Russia in 1894, after new German

leaders break Reinsurance Treaty (Chambers 824)• First Moroccan Crisis 1905:

– Background: French army moves in 1903, other countries agree

– 1905 Kaiser Wilheim angry with alliance → wants to break up, humiliate France → national conference at Algerciras

– Result: countries support France who retains interest in Morocco (Chambers 825)

– Importance: solidify alliances (France and Great Britain) and enemies (disaster for Germany, only support from Austria-Hungary)

Second Moroccan Crisis 1911• Background: France intends to annex Morocco• French troops in Morocco, Germany incited that France broke the

treaty that ended First Moroccan Crisis• sent gunboat Panther to port Agadir to test the bond between Great

Britain and France (Chambers 825)• Want French Congo in exchange for accepting France's control over

Morocco (Chambers 825)• Result: Great Britain come to France's aid, some land is given to

Germany• Importance: further solidifies Great Britain and France's alliance,

and Europe's distrust of Germany (Chambers 825) Learn more

Bottom Line:• Wants to regain lost land of Alsace-Lorraine from Germany• Bound to Russia by treaty

France continued.Translation: Lorraine and Alsace is ours! By popular artist Jean Jacques Waltz

Prelude:- Depleted by Crimean War isolation, had to regroup and

impose influence- Global ambition: wants warm water port (Russian) wants to

gain Balkan lands - imperialism- vast, but divided- Mostly peasants, slow industrializationPrewar:- Humiliated by loss of Russo-Japanese War in 1905- Internal revolution 1905 (caused by terrible work conditions, 11

hour work days, little wages) “Bloody Sunday” (Tsar) Read more- Largest army force in number, but lack of equipment,

backwardsBottom Line:- Protector of Slavs (Chambers 827)- Intact treaty with the Serbs, can’t let Austria-Hungary control

Balkan

RussiaTriple Entente: France | Russia | Great Britain

Current state: tsar Nicholas II weak leader, influenced by “mad monk” Rasputin, lose war to Japan 1904

Russian postcard in 1914 depict nailing German eagle to post shows hate

http://www.johndclare.net/causes_WWI2.htm

http://www.indiana.edu/~jia1915/war/weather27.html

Japan sink Russian fleet

Great BritainPrelude:- Aligned with France in Crimean War, want to prevent Russia from expanding it

influence over strategic location of Ottoman Empire (ironic: join Russia in alliance later)

- prosperous middle class → unrestrained, seek to “live life to the fullest” - period of decadence and degeneration after the Industrial Revolution (Livesey)- “Splendid Isolation” = foreign policy of neutrality Prewar:- Naval arms race with Germany – build powerful Dreadnought battleship in 1906

(Chambers 825)- Revolutionize naval warfare- Tied to nationalism and imperialism- Fastest of its time (steam turbines) and first warship with big guns - Winner of race!

Invasion Literature: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) and H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds (1898) example of people’s fear of foreign invasion | Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) – reflect fears of moral degeneration

http://rashmanly.com/2012/10/16/dracula-to-feed-on-television/http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_12-45_mk10_pics.htmhttp://pausaiz2.blogs.uv.es/political-discourse-paper-1/introduction-to-the-war-of-the-worlds-science-fiction-and-historic-facts

Triple Entente: France | Russia | Great BritainReasons for Splendid

Isolation:

1. Keep balance of power (as long as no ‘superpower’, it’s okay to stay out

2. Focus on protect its overseas territory with its large, powerful navy

12-inch guns on British Dreadnought, motto of public: “We want eight, we won’t wait!” (Wilde)

Current state: democracy that lived in “splendid isolation”

Great Britain continued.Bottom Line:• Ends isolation when it feels threat of

Germany and its navy, other countries colonizing future trade conflict, France and Russia allying

• 1904 Entente Cordiale with France (over concern of Germany’s global aim) which gains Morocco, and Britain rules Egypt (Chambers 824-825)

• 1907 Triple Entente with France and Russia

• When entering war, its dominions including South Africa, India, Canada, Australia offer help

England has many dominions as seen in this cartoon

Joining the War Efforts- All countries enforce

conscription – draft young men to serve in army (Encarta), except for Great Britain which only had volunteers for the army.

Reason: believe its superior navy can protect the island shores

http://www.personal.psu.edu/kmm6044/blogs/big_macs_first_blog/2011/04/april-8th-britain-and-france-sign-entente-cordiale.htmlhttp://mrshellshear.wikispaces.com/World+War+One

Austria-Hungary Prelude:• weak after loss to Prussia (Austro-Prussian

War 1866)• multinational empire–each group wants

independencePrewar:• 1908 Austria annexes Bosnia, anger Serbia and

Russia• Form alliance with Germany because of fear of RussiaBottom Line: • fear Serbia will control land, invade unprepared,

worst scenario: Russia comes to Serbia's aid

Triple Alliance: Germany | Austria-Hungary | Italy

*Italy signed a treaty saying it only joined the war efforts in “defense”, but Italy deemed the efforts “offensive” neutral, however in 1915, join Triple Entente

Father of Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939) begins his early work, realm of “unconscious mind”

Italy

Balkan Powder KegPrelude:• Balkan Land: turbulent area of

southeast Europe (see map) – mountainous peninsula, ethnic/ religious/ cultural differences cause disputes, oppression, driven by nationalism

• Ottoman Empire decline, nickname “sick man of Europe” (The Balkans)

• formation of independent Serbia, Romania, Montenegro

• Russia want outlet to Mediterranean, Great Britain opposes because of fear of Russia's dominance

• Austria wants to expand

Where does term “powder keg” come from?Hundreds of years of political and ethnic conflict → instability and wars, source of contention in Europe, all it needed was a “spark” to “explode” into war, that spark was ultimately provided by the Great Powers

http://www.worldology.com/Europe/pre_world_war.htm

Balkan Powder Keg continued.Prewar:

• 1908 Austria annexes Bosnia → Serbia and Russia furious at Austria's expansion

• 1912 First Balkan War: {Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro} wage war on weakened Ottoman Empire

• Ottoman lose most European land by March 1913, 4 countries split up land– Austria shocked and angered by Serbia's land gains– 1913 Great Powers draw up peace treaty in London – reduce Ottoman Empire,

divide up land between {Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro} – Serbia asks Bulgaria to readjust their territorial gains... Trigger…

• 1913 Second Balkan War– Bulgarians attack, but lose because

Serbia has allies (Greece, Romania, Turkey) (Chambers 823)

– Serbia divides the area → confident, nationalistic fervor

– only problem: enemy Austria

Bottom Line: - Example of imperialism, nationalism

http://www.worldology.com/Europe/pre_world_war.htm

CulminationImmediate cause of WWI, the

“spark”:- June 28, 1914:

- Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand – heir to Austria-Hungary throne – in Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia) by Serbian “Black Hand” nationalist

- Austria-Hungary takes this opportunity to crush Serbia and assert influence over the Balkans by declaring war

- Russia comes to Serbia’s rescue- Austria-Hungary looks to its ally

Germany- Chain of events, ultimately dragging

all alliances into war through association with those involved

- July 28 1914, Austria declare war on Serbia

Black Hand/ Union or Death: Serbian Terrorist SocietyPrelude: Austria gain control over Bosnia and Herzegovina from Turkey at Treaty of Berlin (1878) – multi-ethnic population

When Austria annex Bosnia in 1908, incite Serbs who want the land

Formed in 1911Goal: free Serbians from Austria’s control, using violence if necessaryBy 1914: 2500 membersAfter hear of Archduke’s visit, begin training 3 young Bosnians bid for war, didn’t expect world war

Learn more about Black Hand and the assassination

(Shackelford)

http://www.funfront.net/hist/wwi/outbreak.htm

http://www.johndclare.net/causes_WWI2.htm

A Picture is worth a thousand words: Cartoon explanation of how war started:

[Click slide to continue cartoon]

Part 2

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Summary of Causes of WWILong-term causes of WWI:

- Entangling network of alliances: Ironic that the “defensive” system of alliances that was suppose to deter war resulted in chain reaction bringing everyone to war

- Imperialism- Nationalism (Yellow Journalism, Propaganda, Oppression of certain

groups)• Bitter historical grievances (i.e. France lost Alsace-Lorraine to

Germany)• Militarism – ready for war, 300% increase in $$$ spent on main

European countries (Shellshear)• Rivalry in wealth, trade, land, industry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WWIchartX.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WWI-Causes.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chain_of_Friendship_cartoon.gif

Chain of Friendship cartoon

Did you know WWI was called the “Great War” during the time? “The war to end all wars” as novelist H.G. Wells put it. Pretty safe to say he was right.

Pictorial Summary of Causes

Significant FiguresOtto von Bismarck (1815 – 1898) • Iron chancellor (‘blood and iron”)• status quo, conciliatory foreign

policy after unite Germany

http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/notes/bismarck.htmlhttp://schoolworkhelper.net/tsar-nicholas-ii-and-his-effects-on-the-russian-revolution-of-1917/http://monarchus.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/hello-world/

Tsar Nicholas II (1868 – 1918) • Ineptness leads to unrest, food

shortage, strikes, revolution• Loses Russo-Japanese War,

growing working-class with terrible work conditions (-> Bloody Sunday) cause tension at home, he loses support (Tsar)

Kaiser Wilheim II (1859 – 1941) • Militarist, meddles with Bismarck’s stable foreign policy

bad relations with other countries (i.e. breaks Russian tie, makes enemy out of France in Morocco Crisis)

• Love of the navy naval arms race with Great Britain• Aggressive support of Austria-Hungary

Quiz1. Which country was not in the Triple Entente by 1914?

a) France

b) Russia

c) Britain

d) Germany

2. What is not a cause of WWI?

a) imperialism

b) alliances

c) militarism

d) nationalism

e) mercantilism

3. Which country had the most powerful navy by WWI?

a) Russia

b) France

c) Great Britain

d) Germany

e) Italy

4. What was Russia's role after Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?

a) as protector of the Slavs, immediately wage war on Austria-Hungary's ally Germany

b) ally with France to attack Serbia

c) aid Austria-Hungary

d) aid Serbia

e) neutral, secure its own borders

5. What is the significance of the First and Second Moroccan Crisis?

a) end bloody rebellions in Morocco

b) France is humiliated by Germany

c) Germany gain land through imperialism

d) solidify Great Britain and France alliance

e) Germany annexes Morocco

6. Which country made first declaration of war?

a) Serbia

b) France

c) Germany

d) Italy

e) Austria-Hungary

f) Bosnia

7. What countries make up Triple Alliance in 1907?

a) Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece

b) France, Russia, Great Britain

c) Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy

d) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

e) Germany, France, Great Britain

8. During the Balkan Wars, which Balkan nation came out as a strong, nationalistic power?

a) Albania

b) Bosnia

c) Bulgaria

d) Greece

e) Serbia

9. What is not an event leading up to World War I?

a) Bosnian Crisis

b) Boxer Rebellion

c) Second Balkan War

d) First Moroccan Crisis (Algeciras)

e) Second Moroccon Crisis (Agadir)

10. What was Britain’s foreign policy during fin de siècle?

a) containment

b) isolationism

c) interventionism

d) War on terror

e) Disengagement

11. Who was the bellicose German kaiser who dismissed Bismarck and began weltpolitik foreign policy?

a) Friedrick III

b) Kaiser Wilheim II

c) Leopold I

d) Franz Ferdinand

e) Kaiser Wilheim I

Answers:

1. d; 2. e; 3. c; 4. d; 5. d;

6. e; 7. d; 8. e; 9. b;

10. b; 11. b;

Click next to see answers!

More Info• Really good powerpoint giving overview of Balkans from

past to present:http://cmes.arizona.edu/sites/cmes.arizona.edu/files/1.%20The

%20Balkans%20-%20PowerPoint%20overview.pdf• Causes of WWI

http://users.humboldt.edu/ogayle/hist111/WWI.html http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/gcselinks/modern/revision/wwirevision.pdf

• Detailed Pre-1914 timelinehttp://net.lib.byu.edu/~rdh7/wwi/1914m/willnick/timeline.htm

• Learn more about Kaiser Wilheim II’s aggressive actionshttp://www.johndclare.net/causes_WWI3.htm

Works Cited/Bibliography“Background to the War Nobody Won: World War I, 1914-1918.” <http://iws.collin.edu/kwilkison/Resources%20for

%20Students/WWI.htm>. Web. Feb. 20 2013.Clare, John. “Background to the War.” <http://www.johndclare.net/causes_WWI2.htm>. Web. 16 Feb. 2013.Chambers, Mortimer. The Western Experience. 9th ed. New York: Knopf; [distributed by Random House, 1974.

Print.

Gehrz, Chris. “Germany’s Place in the Sun.” <http://pietistschoolman.com/2011/12/06/germanys-place-in-the-sun/>. Dec. 6 2011. Web. Feb. 18 2013.

Livesey, Ruth. “Fin de Siècle” <http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199799558/obo-9780199799558-0030.xml>.Web. Feb 18 2013.

“Modern History Sourcebook: Kaiser Wilhelm II: A Place in the Sun, 1901” <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1901Kaiser.asp>. Web. Feb 18 2013.

“Russian Where Angels Fear to Tread.” <http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/russo_japanese/>. Web. 15 Feb 2013.

Shackelford, Micheal. “The Black Hand.” <http://net.lib.byu.edu/~rdh7/wwi/comment/blk-hand.html>. Web. Feb. 15 2013.

Shellshear, “World War I.” <http://mrshellshear.wikispaces.com/World+War+One>. Web. Feb. 15 2013.“The Balkans – Many People, Many Problems.”

<http://www.historians.org/projects/giroundtable/Balkans/Balkans3.htm>. Web. Feb 15 2013.“Tsar Nicholas and the Great War and the Effects on Russia.”

<http://it.stlawu.edu/~rkreuzer/pburdick/Tsar_Nicholas_and_the_Great_War.htm>. Apr. 30 2003. Web. Feb. 20 2013.

“’Weltpolitik and Its Consequences”<http://revolutionizingawareness.com/2011/01/30/weltpolitik%E2%80%99-and-its-consequences/>. Jan 30 2011.

Web. Feb 18 2013.Wilde, Robert. “The Anglo-Germany Naval Race.” <http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/worldwar1/a/The-Anglo-

German-Naval-Race.htm>. About.com Web. Feb. 15 2013.“World War I.” <http://www.is.wayne.edu/mnissani/WWI/encarta.htm>. Web. Feb 15 2013.