Canada and World War 1

Leading up to WW1 Start of the 1900’s much of Eastern Europe was controlled by three weak empires (group of nations ruled by one leader - emperor) 1.) Austro – Hungarian 2.) Russian 3.) Ottoman

Empires in the early 1900’s Great Britain France Belgium, Spain, Holland, Portugal, and Italy Russia Austria – Hungary Germany

World War 1 Background The nations under control of these empires wanted to be independent. When Austria-Hungary took control of Bosnia many Serbs were outraged Deep feeling of Nationalism

Page 22 of you text book

M.A.N.I.A. What cause World War 1 Militarism Alliance Nationalism Imperialism Assassination

Militarism The belief in and dependence on a strong military in order to defend and expand the borders of a country Military interests dominate government policy Arms Race - Countries competed to produce more weapons and better armies

Militarism In Germany, Britain, France, Russia, and Italy all men between the ages of 18 and 60 were fully trained and ready for army service at any time Militarism in countries lead people to believe that war was an acceptable way of helping a country’s interests

Militarism In the early 1900’s the British Navy was the largest in the world The official British naval policy was called the Two Power Standard. British Navy must be equal or better than any two other navies combined

Militarism Germany needed a strong navy to become a European power Britain saw Germany building their Navy as a threat Led to an arms race (a competition to see who could become the best equipped)

Militarism Germany also competed with France and Russia to build the largest military Germany’s military was not the largest, but was easily the best in training, equipment, medical supplies, and discipline These arm races increased tension and the possibility of war in Europe

Alliance Alliance: an agreement where each nation involved guarantees to defend one another if attacked by another country – Treaties - agreement or contract This was the main way that countries protected themselves prior to WW1

Alliances Many countries formed alliances to protect themselves. By early 1900s two alliances were established Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance (aka the Allied Powers) In response France, Russia, and Britain formed an alliance called the Triple Entente

Nationalism Nationalism: pride and patriotism in one’s nation and a desire to keep its own language, religion and traditions By 1914, feelings of nationalism in European countries were extreme. Some countries became aggressive and a major cause of international tension

Nationalism Nationalism also exists within an ethnic group that does not have its own country These groups want to be liberated (freed) from a dominant ethnic group.

Nationalism Before WW1 this type of nationalism led to the beginning of war in the Balkans, and Austria- Hungary Before WW1 countries valued national interests above anything else Countries prepared to go to war to support the interests of their homelands

Nationalism Nationalism was very intense in the Balkans A-H had taken over Bosnia (many different ethnic groups lived) There were 11 Slav groups in A-H that were nationalist and wanted independence

Nationalism

When A-H took over Bosnia the serbs in Bosnia were upset, but so was Serbia Serbia wanted to add Bosnia to its country Russia threatened war in Bosnia and Serbia, but backed off when Britain and France (its allies) did not support them

Nationalism Slav groups in Bosnia disliked being under A- H control Rebellions took place, trying to break free Area became know was the ‘powder keg of Europe’

Nationalism Bosnian Serbs were determined to free Bosnia from A-H They formed the Black Hand (a terrorist group that supported violence to achieve their goals – to free all Slav ethnic groups in A-H) Threatened to kill the Archduke of Austria – Franz Ferdinand

Imperialism Imperialism: domination of one country by another country or region; Some European nations had a large portion of the world under their control at this time Austria-Hungary took control of Bosnia*

Imperialism Imperialism resulted from industrialization because countries needed raw materials to supply their factories More goods were being produced than could be sold so countries needed new markets where they could sell their goods Needed Colonies (territories another country controls)

Imperialism Countries would compete over colonies – mostly in Africa and South-East Asia These conflicts threatened to bring war between European countries

British Empire British military and naval bases surrounded the globe British Empire was the envy of all other colonial powers Britain became very wealth because of its empire

British Empire

France France had large colonies in the Western hemisphere and Central Africa In 1900 Germany was France’s main rival in Europe and Germany began to target the French Empire France believed that Germany wanted to take over its colonies

French Empire

Belgium, Holland, Spain, Portugal, and Italy These countries had small colonies Spain and Portugal had lost most of their empires by the early part of the 19 th century Belgium and Holland were very small countries but had some important colonies

Russia Russia supported Pan-Slavism This was the idea of uniting the Slavic people of the Balkans Russia encouraged Slav nationalism so they could act as a ‘big brother’ for the Slavic people

Russia Russia’s promoted Pan-Slavism because their ports are frozen during the winter, If they controlled the Balkans they could have a warm weather port

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary also wanted to dominate the Balkans Austria-Hungary imperial programme focused on nearby territories, not territories overseas

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary wanted to dominate Balkans because Slav nationalism threatened existence of the A-H empire Many of the ethnic groups in A-H empire were connected to the same ethnic groups in the rest of the Balkans

Austria-Hungary If these groups in the Balkans wanted their own independent state, so would the ethnic groups of the A-H empire A-H only chance of survival was to dominate the ethnic groups of the southern Balkans (especially the aggressive Serbs)

Austria-Hungary A-H was in the way of Russian aggressiveness in the region The First World War was sparked by events in the Balkans

Germany Had colonies, but not very important ones (strategic or economic) In 1914, German colonies were costing Germany more money than they were worth

Germany German leaders demanded more colonies to be sources of raw materials for expanding German industries This demand brought Germany into conflict with Britain and France Germany decided

Germany Germany decided, that to be a great power they needed to gain more colonies This changed other country’s opinion of Germany

Assassination on June 28th, 1914, a member (Gavrilo Precip) of the Serbian terrorist group known as the Black Hand, shot and killed the Archduke of Austria- Hungary, Francis Ferdinand; while he visited Bosnia this is the famous “spark” that started WWI because it set the alliance system into effect

Assassination A-H looked to Germany for ideas on how to deal with this crisis Germany gave A-H the famous blank cheque, which meant that Germany would support A-H even if it meant going to war Germany thought Britain would remain neutral if a war broke out

Assassination With the support of Germany A-H began to prepare for war against Serbia Because the black hand was a Serbian terrorist group, the Austrians sent Serbia an ultimatum (give us your terrorists or face war)

Assassination On July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

The Beginning Russia that this declaration of war was part of a German plan to occupy the Balkans Russia wanted control of a warm port and gave Serbia its own ‘blank cheque’ and began to mobilize its army against A-H

The Beginning Germany demanded Russia stop moving their army When Russia did not, Germany mobilized its army (supporting Austria) and declared war on Russia

The Beginning Because France was in alliance with Russia, France told them that they would declare war as well Germany felt threatened by Russia and France, ordered them to stop. When this was refused Germany declared war on France

Questions 1. How did the Alliance system contribute to the outbreak of WWI? 2. Give 2 examples of imperialism pre WWI. How did imperialism affect Canada during this period? Give at least 2 examples.

Matching A) Militarism B) Alliance C) Nationalism D) Imperialism E) Assassination 1)Each nation involved pledges to defend one another if attacked by a country 2)domination of one country by another country or region 3)belief in and dependence on a strong military in order to defend and expand the borders of a country 4)Black Hand, shot and killed the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Francis Ferdinand; 5)pride and patriotism in one’s nation

Map Work On the map – Colour the Triple Alliance all one colour – Colour the Triple Entente all one colour – Colour the neutral countries one colour – Colour the Triple Alliance allies all one colour – Colour the Triple Entente allies all one colour – Page 22 in your text book will help you