WW1 Flashcards
What were the effects of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871?
Treaty of Frankfurt 1871
German Troops would remain in Germany until 200 M Euros would be paid
Alsace Lorraine was given to Germany
This caused France to hate Germany for decades to come
Why did Bismarck punish France in the way that they did?
Bismarck thought that this war would make France and Germany undisputable enemies
Therefore they decided to weaken France as much as possible
A good case could be made for Alsace because it had a large German industry
But Lorraine was used just to weaken Germany
“The Next 100 Years” George Friedman Pg 1?
“ Indeed, European interdependence due to trade and investment was so great that serious people were claiming that war had become impossible – and if not impossible, would end within weeks of beginning – because global financial markets couldn’t withstand the strain. ”
“The War that Ended Peace” Margaret Macmillan?
“The century since the end of the Napoleonic Wars had been the most peaceful era since the fall of the Roman Empire. In the first years of the Twentieth Century Europe believed it was marching to a golden, happy, and prosperous future. But instead, complex personalities and rivalries, colonialism and ethnic nationalisms, and shifting alliances helped to bring about the failure of the long peace and the outbreak of a war that transformed Europe and the world.”
What are the Criticisms of Blaming Imperialism as the cause of WW1?
Prior to WWI, there had been several conflicts between the Great Powers over colonial possessions.
However, these conflicts did not all lead to war. Britain and France were bitter rivals in North Africa and nearly went to war in 1898, but these disputes were usually settled.
Long-Term Causes of WW1 – Trade and Markets?
Throughout the C19th, Britain, France, Germany, the USA, parts of the Austrian Empire, and later, Italy and Russia, all experienced considerable growth in industry, with more and more people dependent on the production and export of manufactured goods.
Access to raw materials and the ability to sell goods overseas were important.
There is no doubt that desire for economic gain could incite war. Japan and Russia clashed over Manchuria in 1904. The Great Powers ‘scrambled’ for Africa from the 1870s and this led to the Boer War in 1899.
Long-Term Causes of WW1 – Trade and Markets?
Throughout the C19th, Britain, France, Germany, the USA, parts of the Austrian Empire, and later, Italy and Russia, all experienced considerable growth in the industry, with more and more people dependent on the production and export of manufactured goods.
Access to raw materials and the ability to sell goods overseas were important.
There is no doubt that desire for economic gain could incite war. Japan and Russia clashed over Manchuria in 1904. The Great Powers ‘scrambled’ for Africa from the 1870s and this led to the Boer War in 1899.
Militarism as Long Term Causes of WW1?
After 1870, nearly all the European powers increased the size of their armies, the sophistication of their weapons, and the technology used to wage war on land and sea. Developments in transport. Every country had ‘war plans’.
The peoples of Europe were proud of their armed forces, and the growth of mass nationalism often went hand in hand with increasing militarisation.
Alliance and Treaties as a Long Term Cause of WW1?
Imperial rivalry, economic pressure for more markets, militarism, and nationalism all led to feelings of hostility between countries and contributed to the build-up of tensions.
However, what linked all this together was the network of alliances that emerged from the late C19th
Consequences of the Morrocan Crisis 1905?
Germany was now seen as the key threat to British interests.
Germany had not gained notable concessions in North Africa, which was a failure for Weltpolitik and national pride.
Germany had not undermined the Entente Cordiale but had strengthened it. British foreign policy was now directed at supporting French interests
Consequences of the Agadir Crisis 1911?
German public opinion was hostile to the settlement and critical of their government’s handling of the crisis, which was another for the policy of Weltpolitik.
The entente between Britain and France was again strengthened. Naval negotiations between the two began in 1912 and Britain made a commitment to defend France by 1913.
There was increased tension and hostility between Germany and Britain.
Russo-Turkish War, 1877-8
Russia went to war against the Ottoman Empire in 1877, following Ottoman suppression of uprisings in Herzegovina (1875-8) and Bulgaria (1876), and war between the Ottomans and Serbia and Montenegro
Russia won a decisive victory.
The Treaty of San Stefano, signed in March 1878, recognised the independence of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and created a large Principality of Bulgaria as an autonomous vassal of the Ottoman Sultan
What was the Congress of Berlin 1878?
The Great Powers, including Austria-Hungary, Britain and France, were alarmed at Russia expanding its sphere of influence
Russia had made secret agreements with Austria-Hungary prior to entering the war, whereby the latter would get Bosnia and Herzegovina in return for neutrality, but the size of the new Principality of Bulgaria was alarming
How did the Congress of Berlin 1878 possibly lead to WW1?
Most of the participants at Berlin were not fully satisfied and problems remained
Russia was humiliated, the results of its victory in war effectively negated, and Austria-Hungary made gains instead (although this angered South Slavs and led to tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Germany had effectively allied itself more closely to Austria-Hungary than Russia, and the Three Emperors’ League, which the Congress had aimed to preserve, collapsed soon after
Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece had all made gains, but less than they felt they deserved
The Treaty of Berlin put the Great Powers’ seal on the decline of Ottoman power in the Balkans, leaving the Ottomans weakened and humiliated
The Treaty was a blow to Pan-Slavism, but it did not solve or remove the problem
The Balkans wAR (More needed)
Austria was not a nation-state but rather a collection of peoples and regions that owed allegiance to the Habsburg emperor.
This was also the case with the various other European empires, but with one crucial difference…
Another difference was that Austria had lost more of its empire in the C19th than any other of the Great Powers. In 1815, the Habsburg monarchy dominated Germany and Italy, as well as having control of much of south-east Europe.
In 1859-60, Italy was lost in a war waged against France and the northern Italian kingdom of Piedmont.
