The Great War Towards Disaster

Ever since the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 at Waterloo there had been no war in which all the major powers of Europe (France, Russia, Britain, Germany) had been involved) There had been many smaller wars and behind most of them was Nationalism In the 19th Century nationalism provokes only local wars. In the 20th Century it would drag Europe down the path to disaster

Nationalism 2 Forms: The great powers who wanted to extend their boundaries and then influence to make themselves even more powerful Groups of subject peoples who wanted to set up their own independence, national homelands, and states

Nationalism – Problems in Europe France Wanted to recover Alsace-Lorraine from Germany

Nationalism – Problems in Europe Italy Wished to recover Trenton and Trieste from Austria

Nationalism – Problems in Europe Poland Wished to recover their whole country from Austria-Hungary

Nationalism – Problems in Europe Balkans Especially Serbia, have strong desire to get rid of the foreign domination of Turkey and Austria-Hungary

Definitions Pan-Slavism To unite all people of Slavic origin

Definitions Pan-Germanism Fanatic German Nationalism, hatred of foreigners

Definitions Imperialism New resources were needed to support industries at home Having a large empire was prestigious German and Italy now wanted to be let in on the spoils of Empire building and this caused conflicts “White Mans Burden” the moral obligation of civilized people to protect and develop backwards nations and savages

Definitions Militarism The build up of armies and navies to strengthen position at the international bargaining table “Diplomacy without force is like music without instruments” – Fredrick the Great of Prussia Tremendous influence of military men on the government Science and Technology that helped men to improve the world also enable them to develop weapons that now threatened to destroy mankind e.g. rifles, machine guns, huge cannons, tanks, combat planes, battleships, gas etc.

International Anarchy Lawlessness No United Nations No League of Nations

Secret Alliances After 1882 all kinds of secret agreements and alliances existed