World War IWorld War I

Modern World HistoryModern World History

World War IWorld War I

The Great WarThe Great War ‘‘The War to End All The War to End All

Wars’Wars’ Global war, all Global war, all

nations of the nations of the world affected in world affected in some waysome way

WWI began in WWI began in Europe in the Europe in the summer 1914 & summer 1914 & lasted until lasted until November 11November 11thth, , 19181918

Total WarTotal War Total war is a Total war is a conflict of unlimited scope in which a of unlimited scope in which a

belligerent engages in a engages in a mobilization of all available of all available resources at their disposal, whether human, at their disposal, whether human, industrial, agricultural, military, natural, industrial, agricultural, military, natural, technological, or otherwise, in order to entirely technological, or otherwise, in order to entirely destroy or render beyond use their rival's capacity destroy or render beyond use their rival's capacity to continue resistance.to continue resistance.

The practice of total war has been in use for The practice of total war has been in use for centuries, but it was only in the middle to late 19th centuries, but it was only in the middle to late 19th century that total war was identified by scholars as century that total war was identified by scholars as a separate class of a separate class of warfare. In a total war, there is . In a total war, there is less differentiation between combatants and non-less differentiation between combatants and non-combatants (combatants (civilians) than in other conflicts (or ) than in other conflicts (or none at all), as nearly every person from a none at all), as nearly every person from a particular country (or opposing area), civilians and particular country (or opposing area), civilians and soldiers alike, can be considered to be part of the soldiers alike, can be considered to be part of the belligerent effort.belligerent effort.

Countries Involved in WWICountries Involved in WWI

Industrial Industrial RevolutionRevolution

Handful of nations became Handful of nations became great powersgreat powers Advanced economiesAdvanced economies

Established colonies to Established colonies to acquire raw materials & sell acquire raw materials & sell finished goodsfinished goods

Trade routes had to be Trade routes had to be protected with navies & protected with navies & armies armies

Used wealth to develop Used wealth to develop increased military powerincreased military power

By 1900 almost the whole By 1900 almost the whole world was under the world was under the domination of a few ‘Great domination of a few ‘Great Powers’Powers’

Conflict was inevitableConflict was inevitable

MAIN Causes of World War IMAIN Causes of World War I

MilitarismMilitarism AlliancesAlliances ImperialismImperialism NationalismNationalism

MAIN Causes of MAIN Causes of World War IWorld War I

MilitarismMilitarism Militarism is the Militarism is the

belief that a country belief that a country should maintain a should maintain a strong military strong military capability and be capability and be prepared to use it prepared to use it aggressively to aggressively to defend or promote defend or promote national interestsnational interests

AA II NN

MAIN Causes of World War IMAIN Causes of World War I

MilitarismMilitarism Discipline is the Discipline is the

highest social highest social prioritypriority

AA II NN

MAIN Causes MAIN Causes of WWIof WWI

All major powers All major powers increased military increased military expenditures prior expenditures prior to WWIto WWI Both size of forces Both size of forces

& war materials& war materials

Primarily:Primarily: Britain -- largest empire Britain -- largest empire

& navy& navy Germany -- most Germany -- most

powerful armypowerful army France -- France -- Desired revenge Desired revenge

over loss to Germany in over loss to Germany in Franco-Prussian War 1870-71Franco-Prussian War 1870-71

Wanted Alsace-Lorraine backWanted Alsace-Lorraine back Russia -- Russia -- Quarrelling Quarrelling

w/Austria over Balkansw/Austria over Balkans Austria -- Austria -- Quarrelling Quarrelling

w/Russia over Balkansw/Russia over Balkans

Population ExplosionPopulation Explosion

020406080

1871 1914

Germany

France

The New KaiserThe New Kaiser Wilhelm II comes to power in GermanyWilhelm II comes to power in Germany

Born w/paralyzed left arm & ear defectBorn w/paralyzed left arm & ear defect As adult, required help cutting food & dressingAs adult, required help cutting food & dressing

Psychological need to show his strengthPsychological need to show his strength aka…little man syndrome?aka…little man syndrome?

Increasingly turned to military & foreign affairsIncreasingly turned to military & foreign affairs Dressed in uniform, soldiers as advisorsDressed in uniform, soldiers as advisors

Increasing Tensions -- Naval RaceIncreasing Tensions -- Naval Race Germany’s industrial success Germany’s industrial success

Passed Britain in industrial outputPassed Britain in industrial output Began focus on foreign affairsBegan focus on foreign affairs

Acquire coloniesAcquire colonies Create German-dominated economic zoneCreate German-dominated economic zone Expand Navy (goal to match Britain)Expand Navy (goal to match Britain)

British government responds to German buildupBritish government responds to German buildup Goal for navy to equal #2 & #3 togetherGoal for navy to equal #2 & #3 together Led to development of DreadnoughtLed to development of Dreadnought

MAIN Causes of World War IMAIN Causes of World War I

MM AlliancesAlliances II NN

Treaties signed with other nations in order to create ‘friendships’

Promises to help each other out if a war breaks out