World War I

World War I

Historical Context Europe was a number of sovereign nation-

states, but culturally very unified Similar food, clothing, arts and entertainment,

architecture Most nation-states were monarchies of

some kind; only France and Portugal were republics

Germany, France, and Britain dominated the world: Controlled about 80% of the world’s inhabited surface Possessed half of the world’s industrial might Merchants controlled half the world’s international

trade

National groups expressed their nationalism loudly Poles, Ukrainians, Croatians, Serbs, Czechs

After 1871 (Germany’s unification), there was a general agreement that the political boundaries were fixed no coveting a neighbor’s land

Arms/Military race

Two solid alliance blocks: Germany and Austria-HungaryBritain, France, and Russia

So how does it start?

Serbian nationalist assassinates A-H Archduke Ferdinand

Austria made demands on Serbia Russia mobilized to back Serbian ally Germany mobilized to stand by Austria France and Britain mobilized to stand by

Russia Germany invaded France to try to knock it

out of the war but got bogged down on Western Front

How does it turn into a WORLD WAR? The involvement of European countries with

their own colonies and other countries in Africa, Asia, and America made this a world war

British block supplies to Central Powers Uses imperial resources, manpower Indians deployed in many areas

French Use African troops

Japan Fights Germans in China, the Pacific

Ottomans Side with Germany Armenian genocide

United States Begins neutral German submarines attack American

shipping 1917, enter war

A Modern War Modernity had brought nationalism and

popular participation in government Whole peoples could be mobilized to fight Industrialization allowed for mass

production and transportation of goods Huge numbers of repeating rifles, machine

guns, artillery, ammunition, uniforms, trucks, food, poison gas, tanks, submarines, fighting aircraft

Failed Peace Peace of Paris: Treaty of Versailles

German war guilt Reparations to Britain and France

Austria-Hungary Czechoslovakia, Hungary,

Yugoslavia Poland independent

League of Nations formed

Africa During World War I

The Middle East AfterWorld War I

Consequences Arabs and Jews given conflicting assurances

Balfour Declaration Growth of Zionism Europe’s global position undermined Map of Europe changes 9 new countries

Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Austria

Some nationalist groups still exist and demand independence

Consequences Europe begins to lose economically to

rivals Much of Europe lay in ruins Resistance movements gain strength

Often assisted by Russia Huge loss of life and property

Europe 1920