Lesson 22: War in Europe
World War I would change the United States, but the United States actually didn't join the war from the beginning. Just like every other large event in history, smaller events led to it. Below are six things that influenced the beginning of World War I.
1. Nationalism - The definition of nationalism is patriotism with action. Between 1880 and the beginning of World War I, individuals within countries began to be very patriotic. Immigrants were looked down on because they weren't from that country, similar to the nativist movement within the United States.
2. Colonial Rivalries - European countries were fighting over colonies in Asia and Africa. Each country was trying to gain more power for itself by ruling over natives from these continents, including South Africa and India. Smaller skirmishes in these colonies were happening, but it was only a matter of time until the supporting countries (i.e. France, Germany, Spain, Great Britain) began to officially fight in Europe.
3. Military Buildup - Before every war, there is a build up of military. Imagine if the United States heard that Canada was putting their military on alert, with no reason that we know of. The citizens of the United States would begin to get worried, so the army of the United States would get put on alert. That would cause other nations, such as Mexico, Great Britain, Russia and China. Perhaps China would get a bit worried, so they begin to develop new weapons, this would make all of the nations listed above and others worried, causing them to develop new weapons as well. Each nation would be looking for a way to come out on top, just in case war broke out. Unfortunately, all of this buildup makes it easier and easier for small events to spark everyone into war. This is what happened preceding World War I. European nations began getting worried about their neighbors, so they started building up their armies and developing new technologies. As will be pointed out later in the lesson, it would only take a tiny spark, hardly having anything to do with the European powers, which would begin the war.
4. Tangling Alliances - The military buildups caused countries to start talking to other countries to make alliances. Great Britain claimed that they were going to have two times the largest navy held by any other country. It made Germany nervous, so they made treaties with Austria-Hungary and Italy. They became known as Triple Alliance. This caused France to get nervous (particularly about Germany), so France started getting allies, such as Russia. Great Britain was a reluctant ally to France, putting stipulations on how and when they would help France. These three nations (Great Britain, France, and Russia) were known as the Triple Entente. There were additional alliances during this time, but these were the ones of most consequence.
5. Blank Check - The one thing that anyone who has a checkbook shouldn't do is only sign a check and let someone else fill it out. The signed check could be filled out for any amount if left blank. Germany gave Austria-Hungary a blank check. Austria-Hungary didn't really have much of a military and was struggling, so they wanted to make sure if war started there would be someone who had their back.
6. Archduke Francis Ferdinand - Francis Ferdinand was the nephew of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary had just taken over Serbia, in their quest to create an empire. The archduke was sent to show the face of royalty in Serbia and lower tensions. A group called the Black Hand (similar to a gang or mafia) conspired to kill the archduke. Watch this video about their attempts to kill the archduke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCTIaiiGB4o
Now, one might say, how could the death of one person spark this huge war in 1914? Well, Austria-Hungary was very upset to lose the archduke, since he was the heir to the emperor's throne. They decided that Serbia needed to be punished. Serbia, nervous about the retribution of Austria-Hungary, asked Russia for help since the people of Russia and the people of Serbia were ethnic cousins (both Slavic). Russia said they would defend the Serbians. Austria-Hungary didn't have a large enough military to fight the Russians, so they turned in their blank check to Germany, asking them to fight. Russia asked the French for help. Germany asked Italy for help. France asked Great Britain to help. The only country to refuse to help their ally was Great Britain who said that the fight was not theirs. Suddenly Germany (the only large army in the Triple Alliance) was up against the Russians and French.
It is not sound military technique to fight a war on two sides (Germany being sandwiched between France and Russia). A German general, named Schlieffen, came up with a plan that would ensure the Germans would only have to fight on one side of the country at a time. Read about the Schlieffen Plan here: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-one/causes-of-world-war-one/the-schlieffen-plan/
One of the problems the Germans would also run into is that the Schlieffen Plan took the German army through Belgium, who had declared themselves neutral. Great Britain, upset that Germany would violate Belgium's neutrality, joined the war on France and Russia's side. This was the beginning of World War I.
1. Nationalism - The definition of nationalism is patriotism with action. Between 1880 and the beginning of World War I, individuals within countries began to be very patriotic. Immigrants were looked down on because they weren't from that country, similar to the nativist movement within the United States.
2. Colonial Rivalries - European countries were fighting over colonies in Asia and Africa. Each country was trying to gain more power for itself by ruling over natives from these continents, including South Africa and India. Smaller skirmishes in these colonies were happening, but it was only a matter of time until the supporting countries (i.e. France, Germany, Spain, Great Britain) began to officially fight in Europe.
3. Military Buildup - Before every war, there is a build up of military. Imagine if the United States heard that Canada was putting their military on alert, with no reason that we know of. The citizens of the United States would begin to get worried, so the army of the United States would get put on alert. That would cause other nations, such as Mexico, Great Britain, Russia and China. Perhaps China would get a bit worried, so they begin to develop new weapons, this would make all of the nations listed above and others worried, causing them to develop new weapons as well. Each nation would be looking for a way to come out on top, just in case war broke out. Unfortunately, all of this buildup makes it easier and easier for small events to spark everyone into war. This is what happened preceding World War I. European nations began getting worried about their neighbors, so they started building up their armies and developing new technologies. As will be pointed out later in the lesson, it would only take a tiny spark, hardly having anything to do with the European powers, which would begin the war.
4. Tangling Alliances - The military buildups caused countries to start talking to other countries to make alliances. Great Britain claimed that they were going to have two times the largest navy held by any other country. It made Germany nervous, so they made treaties with Austria-Hungary and Italy. They became known as Triple Alliance. This caused France to get nervous (particularly about Germany), so France started getting allies, such as Russia. Great Britain was a reluctant ally to France, putting stipulations on how and when they would help France. These three nations (Great Britain, France, and Russia) were known as the Triple Entente. There were additional alliances during this time, but these were the ones of most consequence.
5. Blank Check - The one thing that anyone who has a checkbook shouldn't do is only sign a check and let someone else fill it out. The signed check could be filled out for any amount if left blank. Germany gave Austria-Hungary a blank check. Austria-Hungary didn't really have much of a military and was struggling, so they wanted to make sure if war started there would be someone who had their back.
6. Archduke Francis Ferdinand - Francis Ferdinand was the nephew of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary had just taken over Serbia, in their quest to create an empire. The archduke was sent to show the face of royalty in Serbia and lower tensions. A group called the Black Hand (similar to a gang or mafia) conspired to kill the archduke. Watch this video about their attempts to kill the archduke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCTIaiiGB4o
Now, one might say, how could the death of one person spark this huge war in 1914? Well, Austria-Hungary was very upset to lose the archduke, since he was the heir to the emperor's throne. They decided that Serbia needed to be punished. Serbia, nervous about the retribution of Austria-Hungary, asked Russia for help since the people of Russia and the people of Serbia were ethnic cousins (both Slavic). Russia said they would defend the Serbians. Austria-Hungary didn't have a large enough military to fight the Russians, so they turned in their blank check to Germany, asking them to fight. Russia asked the French for help. Germany asked Italy for help. France asked Great Britain to help. The only country to refuse to help their ally was Great Britain who said that the fight was not theirs. Suddenly Germany (the only large army in the Triple Alliance) was up against the Russians and French.
It is not sound military technique to fight a war on two sides (Germany being sandwiched between France and Russia). A German general, named Schlieffen, came up with a plan that would ensure the Germans would only have to fight on one side of the country at a time. Read about the Schlieffen Plan here: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-one/causes-of-world-war-one/the-schlieffen-plan/
One of the problems the Germans would also run into is that the Schlieffen Plan took the German army through Belgium, who had declared themselves neutral. Great Britain, upset that Germany would violate Belgium's neutrality, joined the war on France and Russia's side. This was the beginning of World War I.
Assignment #7
1. Give the names of the countries in the Triple Entente.
2. Describe the Schlieffen Plan.
3. Why is a blank check (in foreign relations) so dangerous?
4. Which of the 6 steps that led to WWI was the biggest issue? Why? Defend your position.
5. What is nationalism? Give an example of nationalism.
6. How did tangling alliances contribute to the beginning of WWI?
7. How could World War I have been prevented? Explain your answer.
8. Why did the Russians ally themselves with the Serbians?
2. Describe the Schlieffen Plan.
3. Why is a blank check (in foreign relations) so dangerous?
4. Which of the 6 steps that led to WWI was the biggest issue? Why? Defend your position.
5. What is nationalism? Give an example of nationalism.
6. How did tangling alliances contribute to the beginning of WWI?
7. How could World War I have been prevented? Explain your answer.
8. Why did the Russians ally themselves with the Serbians?