WW I and the Russian Revolution CH 27 section 1 Setting the stage for War

Nationalism, Imperialism, Militirism For a time after the Congress of Vienna in 1815, relations among European countries were harmonious For a time after the Congress of Vienna in 1815, relations among European countries were harmonious In time, however, the cooperation broke down In time, however, the cooperation broke down Growing rivalries in the Balkan regions through competitions for overseas colonies. Growing rivalries in the Balkan regions through competitions for overseas colonies. By the early 1900’s the great powers of Europe were plunging toward war By the early 1900’s the great powers of Europe were plunging toward war

Continued Four Factors fueled the movement to war Four Factors fueled the movement to war -Nationalism (the pride people have in their country and or ethnic group) -Imperialism (overseas territory) -{Militarism (glorification of armed strength)} -and the system of alliances Militarism was important to many European leaders before WWI Militarism was important to many European leaders before WWI They believed that they could achieve their goals through threats of violence They believed that they could achieve their goals through threats of violence

Militarism As rivalries among European nations grew, armies also grew As rivalries among European nations grew, armies also grew In the 1890’s Germany began to enlarge its navy in order to rival Great Britain In the 1890’s Germany began to enlarge its navy in order to rival Great Britain When Great Britain launched the Dreadnought, the worlds first modern battle ship, Germany rushed to build similar ships When Great Britain launched the Dreadnought, the worlds first modern battle ship, Germany rushed to build similar ships These nations were also building numbers of soldiers, weapons, and other munitions These nations were also building numbers of soldiers, weapons, and other munitions

The Dreadnought

The System of Alliances The unification of Germany and Italy had changed the balance of power of Europe The unification of Germany and Italy had changed the balance of power of Europe A powerful German empire emerged under Otto Von Bismarck A powerful German empire emerged under Otto Von Bismarck Bismarck was afraid that France would try to gain back the Alsace-Lorraine region that they had lost in the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 Bismarck was afraid that France would try to gain back the Alsace-Lorraine region that they had lost in the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 Therefore Bismarck formed an alliance that included Austria-Hungary and Russia known as the Three Emperors’ League Therefore Bismarck formed an alliance that included Austria-Hungary and Russia known as the Three Emperors’ League {The next year Italy was persuaded to join Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance} {The next year Italy was persuaded to join Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance}

The Triple Entente The Three Emperors’ League ended due to a rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Bulkans The Three Emperors’ League ended due to a rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Bulkans In 1888 William II became Kaiser of Germany and dismissed Bismarck and his policies In 1888 William II became Kaiser of Germany and dismissed Bismarck and his policies Meanwhile France had been trying to avoid diplomatic isolation, they helped Russia out of a financial crisis and signed a military alliance by 1894 Meanwhile France had been trying to avoid diplomatic isolation, they helped Russia out of a financial crisis and signed a military alliance by 1894 Great Britain was also troubled with Germany’s military build up Great Britain was also troubled with Germany’s military build up After agreeing to recognize each others spheres of influence {Russia, Great Britain, and France made the Triple Entente to isolate Germany due to their military build up} After agreeing to recognize each others spheres of influence {Russia, Great Britain, and France made the Triple Entente to isolate Germany due to their military build up}

Kaiser William II

Nationalism and territorial rivalries Nationalism was strong in the central region of the Balkans. The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) gained control of the Balkans in the 1400’s. The Balkans were made up of four main ethnic groups the Albanians, Greeks, Romanians and the Slavs. The Balkans were struggling for independence. Greece began a successful revolt against Turkish rule in the 1820’s. Romania followed suit in 1859 {Thanks to a war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire in 1878, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Serbia staked their claim to nationhood} Soon-after, Austria-Hungary occupied the small Balkan kingdoms of Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia saw Bosnia as part of their rightful territory and their growing strength threatened Austria-Hungary’s territories in the Balkans.

The Balkan Powder Keg Russia saw itself as a protector of the Balkan Slavs (Bosnia and Herzegovina) When Austria-Hungary moved to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, Serbians increased their terrorist activities When Austria-Hungary moved to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, Serbians increased their terrorist activities

Continued In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was touring Bosnia in an open top car when he was assonated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in the streets of Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia) In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was touring Bosnia in an open top car when he was assonated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in the streets of Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia) Austria offered to forgive the incident if Serbia went along with a few demands they knew no one would accept and Serbia didn't Austria offered to forgive the incident if Serbia went along with a few demands they knew no one would accept and Serbia didn't Austria-Hungary quickly declared war on Serbia. Germany quickly offered support to Austria, and Russia honored its alliance with Serbia Austria-Hungary quickly declared war on Serbia. Germany quickly offered support to Austria, and Russia honored its alliance with Serbia

Mobilization of Europe Since Germany had mobilized to support Austria Hungary Russia sent troops to its border with Germany Since Germany had mobilized to support Austria Hungary Russia sent troops to its border with Germany Germany demanded that Russia stop its mobilization or face war, Russia declined and on August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia Germany demanded that Russia stop its mobilization or face war, Russia declined and on August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia Germany declared war on France two days later assuming that France would side with Russia Germany declared war on France two days later assuming that France would side with Russia Even though the powers had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality they broke that promise when Belgium refused to let Germany pass through Even though the powers had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality they broke that promise when Belgium refused to let Germany pass through {Germany wanted to defeat France quickly and marched through Belgium which brought Great Britain into the war} {Germany wanted to defeat France quickly and marched through Belgium which brought Great Britain into the war}

The War Expands Japan later entered the war on the side of Great Britain and France in order to gain German possessions in China and the Pacific Japan later entered the war on the side of Great Britain and France in order to gain German possessions in China and the Pacific Italy remained neutral for 10 months and finally signed a secret treaty with Great Britain, France, and Russia in order to share in the spoils of war Italy remained neutral for 10 months and finally signed a secret treaty with Great Britain, France, and Russia in order to share in the spoils of war Germany went out and got The Ottoman Turks in order to gain strategic position that would bottle up the Russian fleet in the Black Sea Germany went out and got The Ottoman Turks in order to gain strategic position that would bottle up the Russian fleet in the Black Sea Germany also persuaded Bulgaria to enter the war on their side in October 1915 Germany also persuaded Bulgaria to enter the war on their side in October 1915

Review Questions What is Militarism? What is Militarism? Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary in the which Alliance Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary in the which Alliance What was the purpose of Russia, Great Britain, and France making the Triple Entente? What was the purpose of Russia, Great Britain, and France making the Triple Entente? Thanks to a war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire in 1878, who staked their claim to nationhood? Thanks to a war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire in 1878, who staked their claim to nationhood? What brought Great Britain into the war? What brought Great Britain into the war?