WWI

Social Darwinism and White Man’s Burden

The white man must civilize other ethnic groups of the world, it is their duty to carry this “burden” Social Darwinism is the survival if the fittest and competition, superior race will triumph.

Old Imperialism

European nations did not acquire territory, rather just ports for trade (economic gain) 16 -18th century, resources, spread Christianity and create empires

New Imperialism

Colonialism 19th -20th century

Causes: Industrialism - need for new ports resources for trade Nationalism - competition between nations to be number one

Capitalism - greed to make a profit and exploit nations

Dominating the game Belgium and Britain

King Leopold II Belgium

Took control of the Congo

Brutal force of nations (Slavery)

Berling Conference

Hosted by Otto Von Bismarck nations met in Berlin, Germany in 1884 to lay down the rules for the division of Africa sparked competition between allied nations sought out resources

Trench Warfare

Form of combat in which soldiers dug trenches, or deep ditches, to seek protection from enemy fire and to defend their positions

Not successful - time consuming War fought like this for 4 years

New technology of war

Chemical warfare- mustard gas

Machine guns - easier to kill more

Airplanes

Explosives (more effective)

New weapons = deadlier and destructive

“No Man’s Land”

Deadly barren strip of land between enemy lines

Over the Top

Leaving the security of a trench to enter No Man’s Land

Enrich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Fronts

All Quiet 1928

Shows war in a different light

German empathy/ emotions

War is hell Nobody wants to kill or die

Burned during Nazi Era

Nationalism

Nationalism leads to competifon - amongst allies for (imperialism)

Germany wanted to empire

Britain wanted to perserve it’s empire

AH wanted to keep control nationalistic serbs/ slavs in the balkans

Imperialism

Berlin Conference scramble for Africa 1884- Divide up the continent creates European division/ rivalry due to competition

Belief of Social Dawinism by “white men’s burden” driving force

Militarism

New weapons / tech due to industrialization (U-boats, machine guns, planes, tanks)

Draft (conscription) introduced as armies built up

Russia- largest army in Europe, followed by France and Germany

Why were Serbians angry with AH

Serbia wanted to create a strong Slavic independent state (nationalism) AH- wanted to prevent this as they had Slavic minorities who wanted to separate from AH

Who assassinated the Archduke and why?

Gavrilo Princip, A Bosnian serb part of the Black Hands who wanted to end Austro Hungarian Rule and unite South slavic territory

What was the blank check between Germany and AH

Germany’s promise of unconditional support to AH this started WWI against the Serbs

Schleieffen Plan

Germany’s strategy at the start of WWI to avoid a two front war by defeating France then turning to Russia. Go through Belgium and Netherlands first