World War i

Essential Question: How was Canada’s identity as a nation shaped by the First World War and by its changing relationship to Great Britain and the world? Essential Understandings: Britain has played a significant role in shaping Canada’s history and identity Canada continues to be influenced by issues of war and peace, and international relations Since the beginning of the 20th C, Canada has played an increasingly active role in world affairs

AN OVERVIEW 1871-1914 1871 BALANCE OF POWER IS UPSET BY THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY AND GERMANY AND THE DEFEAT OF FRANCE 1914  START OF WWI

Canadian Autonomy and the Boer War The Boer War (South Africa, 1899-1902) Wilfred Laurier, PM from 1896-1911, wanted more Canadian autonomy from Britain South Africa was a British colony full of Dutch settlers (Boers) The Boers had declared independence from Britain in the 1870s, but Britain wanted the South African gold rich land In October 1899, the Boers declared war on Britain

The Boer War 1899-1902 Britain expected Canada’s help, but Canadians were undecided: Canadian Imperialists supported Britain But Many French Canadians, new immigrants, and nationalists did not see how the Boer war was relevant

The Boer War 1899-1902 Laurier compromised: He did not send the Canadian army but instead over 8,000 volunteer soldiers. The British paid the volunteers. Laurier’s compromise signaled a greater degree of Canadian autonomy

World War I: The “Great War” The First World War started in August 1914. It would last for more than 4 years. About 9 million people in uniform were killed. 20 million civilians were killed.

GREAT BRITAIN Its government was a limited monarchy Number one industrial nation; challenged by Germany and US Number one navy, small but strong army Number one empire: “the sun never sets on the British Empire” Difficulty in winning the Boer War (1899-1902) made Great Britain realize it needed allies Closer ties with France and Russia resulted in the formation of the Triple Entente (1907)

FRANCE Its government was a republic Number three industrial nation in Europe Number two empire Wanted “revanche” (revenge) on Germany following France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1871). Especially wanted the return of the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine Needed allies to achieve its goals, so in 1907 forms the Triple Entente with Great Britain and Russia

GERMANY Its government was an autocracy headed by the Kaiser It was controlled by Bismarck, the “Iron Chancellor”, until 1890 when he was fired by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Bismarck had been able to keep France isolated, but Kaiser Wilhelm II had not Number two industrial nation in Europe Wilhelm II pursued policies of nationalism, militarism, and imperialism to gain a “place in the sun” Germany formed the Triple Alliance with Austria- Hungary and Italy (1882)

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY of the Hapsburg family Its government was an autocracy ruled by Emperor Franz Joseph of the Hapsburg family Wanted to stop “subject-nationalities” from achieving independence Wanted to increase the size of its empire by expanding into the Balkans Formed the Triple Alliance with Germany and Italy (1882)

RUSSIA Its government was an autocracy ruled by Czar Nicholas II of the Romanov family Economically backward, agricultural, but starting to industrialize Competed with Austria-Hungary for control of the Balkans, to gain outlet to the Mediterranean Sea Russians called themselves the “big brother of the Slavs”, and did not want anyone else to control them Formed the Triple Entente with France and Great Britain (1907)

Europe Prior to World War I: Alliances and Enemies I PRELUDE TO WW1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_1384867839&feature=iv&list=UUUcyEsEjhPEDf69RRVhRh4A&src_vid=ZmHxq28440c&v=f11CKYB2FCA

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE Its government was an autocracy; had not modernized By the end of the 19th cent., it had become known as the “Sick Man of Europe” because it was losing control of its empire, including the Balkans

The Balkans: The Powderkeg of Europe the people of this region (who were mainly slavs) wanted unity and independence due to feelings of nationalism other countries in Europe, especially Russia and Austria- Hungary wanted to gain control of this region the desire for independence plus competition for the area would set off a major conflict, like a spark to a “powderkeg”

Tinderbox Europe - From Balkan Troubles to World War I PRELUDE TO WW1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYrofaDfMKI

CAUSES OF WWI 1914-1918

What Started WWI? Four Major Factors: Militarism Imperialism Nationalism Military Alliances

What Started WWI: Militarism In the early 1900s, European nations (especially Germany) began to build up their militaries They wanted to compete with Britain (largest navy) and Russia (largest army) This “Arms Race” lead to a dangerous buildup of weapons Advances in technology led to new and more dangerous weapons

What Started WWI: Imperialism Britain controlled more than one- quarter of the world’s land mass Other European countries (especially Germany) wanted more land and resources Animosity between nations, especially Britain and Germany, grew

What Started WWI: Nationalism Some Europeans wanted to unite with others of the same ethnicity. Example: Austria-Hungary had 50 million Austrians, Hungarians, Bosnians, Ukrainians, Serbs, and more. Many of these groups wanted independent countries. Many Serbs living in Bosnia and Herzegovina (part of Austria-Hungary at the time) wanted to become part of Serbia. Serbian nationalists agreed. Serbia worried about being overtaken by AustriaHungary.

What Started WWI: Alliances Triple Entente (Allies) The Triple Alliance Britain (and Canada!) France Russia Germany Austria – Hungary Turkey

What Started WWI: Alliances A military alliance means that members will protect each other and attack enemy countries if a member is threatened = domino effect Italy switched and joined the Allies in 1915; the U.S. and Japan later joined the Allies as well

The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28, 1914.

The Shot Heard Around the World A Shot that Changed the World - The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand I PRELUDE TO WW1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmHxq28440c

The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand This set off a chain of events that led to the start of WWI in early August 1914. Activity: Make a flow chart or other graphic organizer to show the chain of events that led to the assassination of Ferdinand and WWI. Textbook p. 291 can help.

Flow Chart Answer Key The assassination was traced to a Serbian extremist group that wanted to increase Serbian power in the Balkans by breaking up the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire attacked Serbia in response. Germany supported Austria-Hungary, while Russia sided with its traditional ally, Serbia. When Russia mobilized its military forces at the end of July, Germany avoided a two-front war with a quick invasion of France, Russia's main ally. German troops moved on France by invading Belgium on August 3rd. Britain, fulfilling its obligations to support Belgian neutrality, declared war the next day. On August 4, 1914, Canada, as a member of the British Empire, was at war.

TIMELINE TO DISASTER Austria - Hungary 7-28-14: __________________rejected all efforts to settle the dispute and declared war on ____________. Alliances went into effect. 7-30-14: with ___________support, ____________ mobilized despite ______________ warnings not to 8-1-14: warnings were ignored, so ______________ declared war on __________, and so _____________mobilized 8-3-14: _____________declared war on ________ 8-5-14: when ____________ violated the neutrality of _______________, __________________declared war on _________________ Serbia French Russia German Germany Russia France Germany France Germany Belgium Great Britain Germany

WWI: Then and Now The Western Front 1914-1916 https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng- interactive/2014/jul/25/the-western-front-in-the-first-world-war- and-now-interactive

The Outbreak of WWI - How Europe Spiraled Into the GREAT WAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FgaL0xIazk&list=PLB2vhKMBjSxMK8YelHj6VS6w3KxuKsMvT&index=1&t=0s