Why do nations go to war? Who were the Central Powers/Triple Alliance? Who were the Allied Powers/Triple Entente?

Militarism European nations adopted a militaristic stance in the late 1800’s to protect colonies and investments Glorification of armed strength and the ideals of war led to the rise of large, sophisticated armies and navies Britain’s colonial empire by 1914 was 140x the size of Great Britain (GB) GB relied on its navy to protect its empire and thought it had to be bigger than its next two rivals combined (2 power rule) Germany decided to increase its navy which led the Brits in 1906 to create Dreadnaught– battleship fitted with enormous cannons & protected with thick armor

Imperialism & Industrialism Imperialism- to maintain strong, industrial economies, European nations carved out and competed for colonies – Raw materials – Cheap pools of labor – Markets for finished products France and GB battled for upper Nile (Egypt), GB claimed the Sudan, areas of the Americas, Asia, South Pacific and Africa France and Germany argued over control of Morocco with France eventually increasing its control over the area

Nationalism European nations began supporting militarism; nationalism stemmed from prosperity and growth Nationalism is a devotion to the interest of one’s nation— national pride Germany (1871) and Italy (1870) nationalism was huge because they had recently become independent nations N is connected to M & I in that N became cultural; Competition for colonies fueled nationalism and an army officer became a symbol of prestige and wealth Popular songs, poems and plays had nationalistic themes. Germany had a “Hymn of Hate” N bred hostility; it could also be a longing for independence in countries dominated by foreign powers (Ireland, Slovaks, Poles, etc) For France, Italy and Germany, N = unity but in Eastern Europe, they were divided by ethnic conflicts (Serbs and Croats, Czechs)

By 1916, Western Europe was the most technically advanced, wealthiest society on earth Industrial Revolution created huge industrial sectors that dominated the world economy : Crude Steel Production in Germany grew 10x, Coal production in GB increased 12x and Rail Road length in France grew 20x All aspects of daily life were affected by modernization (transportation, medicine, food production, education, housing, and heating) all experienced growth and sophisticated improvements Standards of living rose, increased life expectancy, decreased infant mortality 1914: Europe was 25% of the world’s population Modernization created a sense of superiority Europe at its Peak

ALLIANCE SYSTEM Industrialism + Militarism + Nationalism = a sense that war in Europe was inevitable end to European competition No one wanted to be left by itself without diplomatic or strategic allies The result was a web of interlocking treaties known as ‘Alliances’

Mastermind of the 1 st Alliances was Otto Von Bismarck, chancellor of Germany main policy goals: Keep Germany out of 2 front war in Europe Diplomatically isolate France He kept good relations with Britain hoping to block an Anglo-Franco alliance Created 3 emperors league in 1872 with Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany Rivalries between R, A-H over the Balkans destroyed it Came up with another Alliance with A-H and Italy Triple Alliance

Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany fired Bismark to follow more aggressive foreign policy Since Russia was alienated, they signed a mutual defense treaty with France, promising to support them in case of war with Germany Wilhelm revised policy with Britain, Britain was threatened by Germany’s growing navy and empire and sought an alliance with France (1904) and Russia (1907) Called Triple Entente Not a formal 3-way treaty, but created 2 rival sides in European politics Triple Entente

Complete and label the map of Europe, label the following countries: – Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Montenegro, Austria-Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, Greece, Albania, Serbia, Russia, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, UK, Ireland, Great Britain Color Code the following: – Red for Triple Alliance (Central Powers) countries – Blue for Triple Entente (Allied Powers) countries – Green for neutral countries