1. World War I and Modern Independence Movements

2. I. The Great War (WWI) Key turning point in world history
Due to imperialism, European war spread throughout world
Weakened or shattered existing global systems
The coming of war
Fear of Germany’s economic and military power led to alliances
Triple Entente – Great Britain, France, Russia
Central Powers – Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy (would later switch sides)
Imperial rivalries furthered tensions
War-hungry nationalism (jingoism) swept middle and working classes
Arms race
Distraction from domestic problems
Increased employment/profits for industrialists

3. I. Continued… Outbreak of war Balkans become center of crisis
July 1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austro-Hungarian throne) is assassinated by Serbian nationalist
Russia vows to protect Serbia, Germany supports Austro-Hungary
Alliances mobilize armies, war ensues
Most thought it would be short and sweet, sort out diplomatic mess
Wrong! Became a long, drawn out stalemate based on trench warfare
New ways of dying – machine guns, artillery, poison gas, barbed wire
Rats/Lice-infested trenches

4. II. Changes on the Homefronts
Soldiers resentful of civilians
Leaders safe from harm
Civilians overly patriotic, unrealistic about realities of war
Governments take control of society
To avoid protests/labor strikes, companies taken over by state
Newspapers censored – creation of propaganda departments
Enemies dehumanized
Weaknesses/defeats ignored – eventual defeat shocking for Germans
Societal changes sped up
Union chiefs given power to mobilize working class
But eventually labor begins protesting/uniting against war
Shortages of food/fuel lead to mass protests

5. II. Continued… Societal changes sped up (continued…) Women gain power:
Capable of working in heavy industry
Destroyed notion of “natural” gender roles
Better wages/experience/confidence sparked movement
Independence – clothing requirements relaxed, permitted to smoke in public, unchaperoned dates
After the war, many governments enacted programs designed to put women back in the home
However, gained right to vote in Britain, Germany, and U.S.
Set the stages for greater advances in decades to come

6. III. War Outside Europe Colonies used for manpower, resources/supplies
Fighting spreads to Middle East, West/East Africa, China
Only South America not really involved
Britain’s navy cut off Germany’s supply of food/raw materials from colonies
Japan allied with Britain, kicked Germany out of Shandong peninsula in China
Beginning of Japanese imperialism, takeover of China
Ottoman Empire supported Germany
Defeated by Russia, blamed Armenians – Armenian genocide kills a million, displaced thousands
U.S. becomes global power
Businesses profited from selling of weapons, materials, food

7. IV. Endgame and Aftermath
By 1918, Germany looked to be gaining the upper hand
But eventually Germany’s military collapsed – exhaustion, outmanned, outgunned by entry of U.S.
Millions died in war (see pg. 655) – afterwards, millions die of influenza
Land and economies destroyed
Would not be until after WWII that many nations fully recover
Peace process was flawed
Main powers (Britain, France, U.S.) could not completely agree on how to handle Germany
Too much power, bad (future aggression), too little power, also bad (socialism/communism)
Germany (and Austro-Hungary and Russia) was left out of peace talks
Non-white colonial holdings ignored – self-determination did not apply

8. 5-minute Response
Why was World War I so much different than previous wars and battles throughout world history?

9. Key Vocabulary – chs. 27-28 Ch. 27 Ch. 28 Rowlatt Act Holy Alliance
Decembrist uprising
Emancipation of the serfs
Zemstvoes
Intelligentsia
Anarchists
Bolsheviks
Russo-Japanese War
Zaibatsu
Sino-Japanese War
Ch. 28
Archduke Ferdinand
Western Front
Armenian Genocide
Eastern Front
Adolf Hitler
Self-determination
League of Nations
National Congress Party
Mantagu-Chelmsford reforms
Rowlatt Act
Mohandas Gandhi
Satyagraha
Zionists
Pan-African
Marcus Garvey
W.E.B. Du Bois

10. V. Nationalism in the Colonies
Around WWI, people of the colonies begin to question status quo
To aid in the war, many colonies were industrialized
India became largest industrial sector of colonized world
Colonies had foundations of independent economy
Troops and administrative leaders called home for war effort
Left native peoples to fill leadership/administrative void
Europeans made promises to colonies in return for war support – often ignored or went back on promises afterwards
Devastation of WWI cast doubt on racial superiority theory
Social/economic problems in colonies made it easier to mobilize protests

11. VI. India’s Move Towards Independence
Key themes of movement
Western-educated elite become leaders
Charismatic leaders spread message to masses
Reliance on non-violent forms of protest
National Congress party plants seeds of change
Started in 1885 with British consent– method of communication to prevent protest
Ineffective at first
Focused on elites, no support of the masses
Few, if any, full-time members, loyal to British
Gradually realized they were treated in racist manner
Poor salaries, limited opportunities for advancement

12. VI. Continued… Main problems in India
Drain of Indian resources
Indian money spent for British wars or pay for British government
Decline in food production to make cash crops for Britain
Spread of the Nationalist Struggle
India tired of supporting Britain during WWI
British promised India eventual independence if they helped war effort
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) - Indians could control issues in provinces
Rowlatt Act (1919)– restricted civil rights; fueled protests, anger

13. VI. Continued…
Gandhi
Appealed to educated and the poor masses, moderates and radicals
Indian tradition of following mystics
Western-educated lawyer from prominent family
Nonviolent but aggressive methods of protest
Peaceful boycotts, strikes, noncooperation, mass demonstrations
Satyagraha – term given to his methods, means “truth force”
Weakened British control
British could not legitimately employ superior weapons
Brought negative press to British from international community

14. VII. Rise of Nationalism in Middle East
Egypt is prime example – revolt in 1919
Egyptian peasantry decimated by WWI
Resources drained to feed soldiers protecting Suez Canal
Food shortages, starvation, confiscation of animals
Newly formed Wafd party became focus for unified action
Ignored at post-WWI peace talks
Riots began across nation
Started by university students
Women joined – some western educated, some wearing veils
Eventually Brits regain control, but foundation laid
British eventually leave between 1922 and 1936
Egypt spent next 30 years spiraling into political chaos

15. VIII. Beginning of African Liberation
Educated Africans initially loyal to British/French
WWI changed that
Rebellions due to forced recruitment/labor
Populations starved to feed soldiers
Merchants suffer from shipping shortages
Britain doesn’t come through on all promises after WWI – jobs and public honors denied to those that participated
Attempted to create pan-African movement
Leaders based outside of Africa – in U.S., Caribbean (W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey)
Failed to address all challenges, but did arouse anti-colonial sentiments
New political organizations formed, attempted to rally masses
Africa will face long road to complete independence

16. 5-minute Response
How did WWI directly influence nationalism and independence movements in the colonial world?