Read pages 12 through 16 in Mastering Modern World History. Summarize / Bulletpoint the suggested causes of the war, which are discussed in A - H.
What Caused World War I, and Who Was to Blame?
A: Alliance System
-Started with 1984 alliance with France and Russia
-This started suspicions among the other European countries, which lead to alliances where the countries could not get themselves out of and war seemed to be the only option.
-There was nothing binding about these alliances, for example:
-When Russia was at war with Japan, France did not help.
-Also France didn't support Russia when they protested the Austrian annexation of Bosnia.
-Austria was not support to Germany when they tried to prevent France from taking over Morocco.
-Also, Italy, although it was part of the triple alliance, it wasn't against France or Britain, and in 1915 entered the war against Germany.
B: Colonial Rivalry
-Germany not happy with imperial gains, always settled without war though
C: Naval Race
-Germany wanted to have a bigger and better navy to oppose the best in the world- Britain
-At first Germany's naval growth didn't worry Britain because they were still way ahead
-Britain made the Dreadnought, which made other battleships obsolete
-Germany makes Dreadnought class ships
-Britain worried that Germany is preparing for war against them
-According to Winston Churchill, this was not a source of tension because he was so confident that they would not be defeated.
D: Economic Rivalry
-Theory that Germany businessmen and capitalists wanted war with Britain because they owned half the worlds tonnage of merchant ships in 1914
-But Germany was already heading towards economic victory
E: Russia Supported Serbia
-Serbia was more reckless towards Austria, knowing that Russia had their back
-Russia was the first to mobilize their troops, which provoked Germany to mobilize theirs
-Russia worried about Balkans: Bulgaria and Turkey under German influence.
-Russia worried about Germany and Austria controlling Dardanelles strait-Russia's main trade route
-When Austria declared war on Serbia, Russia had to back the slavs.
F: Germany Backing Austria at Crucial
-In 1914, the Kaiser authorized Austria to attack Serbia and promised to back them without any condition attached
-Germany felt encircled and felt like the other countries were closing in on them
G: Mobilization Plans
-Germany "Schlieffen Plan"
-Failed
H: A "Tragedy of Miscalculation"
-Austrians thought Russia would not support Serbia
-Germany's mistake of supporting Austria with no conditions attached
-Russia and Germany's thoughts of mobilization not necessarily leading to war
-Generals sticking to their plans and thinking they would bring a quick victory
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Churchill Criticizes the German Fleet
Please read the speech given by Winston Churchill and answer the following questions.
1. Explain in your own words what Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and the British fleets.
Churchill thinks that the British Navy is a necessity and it is essentially defensive. He thinks that the Germany navy is a luxury. They were a great power before they had their navy, whereas Britain is a great power because of its navy.
2. Look carefully at the language Churchill uses in describing the German fleet. What impression of the German fleet does his choice of language give?
His choice of words makes the German fleet seem unnecessary and extra for Germany. Churchill explains that "Germany was a great power, respected and honored all over the world, before she had a single ship..."
3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
He means that since the navy is the reason Britain is a great power, they must make sure they have a strong navy. Also, if Germany or any other great power starts to expand and strengthen their navy, Britain will keep up and always be stronger.
4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
Churchill is threatening Germany by saying that they are going to keep building their navy up and have a naval race. He says that their navy is going to be so strong that other naval powers shouldn't even bother to try and fight them.
5. This speech was studied very carefully by the German government (as Churchill knew it would be). Which parts of it might give the German government grounds to complain to the British government? What do you think was the effect Churchill intended this speech to have in Germany?
Germany probably paid attention to how Churchill portrays Britain's navy as opposed to Germany's navy. Churchill threatens Germany with the fact that Britain is going to build up their army so that they will be so strong that no one will want to fight them. I think that the effect Churchill intended was for Germany to feel scared of Britain and feel threatened so they will not attempt to fight them.
1. Explain in your own words what Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and the British fleets.
Churchill thinks that the British Navy is a necessity and it is essentially defensive. He thinks that the Germany navy is a luxury. They were a great power before they had their navy, whereas Britain is a great power because of its navy.
2. Look carefully at the language Churchill uses in describing the German fleet. What impression of the German fleet does his choice of language give?
His choice of words makes the German fleet seem unnecessary and extra for Germany. Churchill explains that "Germany was a great power, respected and honored all over the world, before she had a single ship..."
3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
He means that since the navy is the reason Britain is a great power, they must make sure they have a strong navy. Also, if Germany or any other great power starts to expand and strengthen their navy, Britain will keep up and always be stronger.
4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
Churchill is threatening Germany by saying that they are going to keep building their navy up and have a naval race. He says that their navy is going to be so strong that other naval powers shouldn't even bother to try and fight them.
5. This speech was studied very carefully by the German government (as Churchill knew it would be). Which parts of it might give the German government grounds to complain to the British government? What do you think was the effect Churchill intended this speech to have in Germany?
Germany probably paid attention to how Churchill portrays Britain's navy as opposed to Germany's navy. Churchill threatens Germany with the fact that Britain is going to build up their army so that they will be so strong that no one will want to fight them. I think that the effect Churchill intended was for Germany to feel scared of Britain and feel threatened so they will not attempt to fight them.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Bismarck & Europe 1871- 1878
1. What were Otto von Bismarck's aims in foreign policy following Germany's victory over France in 1871?
Otto von Bismark wanted to secure the German Empire after it's victory over France in 1871. To do this, he wanted European peace. Bismark wanted to try to isolate France and reduce friction between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Balkans. He wanted to make the other Great Powers in Europe feel dependent on Germany so they wouldn't oppose them.
Also, Bismark wanted to have a good reputation, and wanted to be seen as a man of peace. In October 1873, after meetings with the German Kaiser, the Habsburg Emperor and the Tsar of Russia, The Three Emperors' League was made. This was an agreement for the countries to stand together and to reduce the risks of war arising from Austro-Russian differences.
2. Why did events between the years 1875-78 in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers?
In general, the bigger countries want to support different people in the Balkans, and for this reason they end up opposing each other. Russia encouraged slav (Serbia) nationalism in balkans. Austria-Hungary was afraid that Russia would help the slavs if they were too heavily oppressed because it threatened the multi-ethnic Habsburg empire. Great Britain supported the Turks when Russia was supporting Serbia. This increased conflict between the Great Powers.
Otto von Bismark wanted to secure the German Empire after it's victory over France in 1871. To do this, he wanted European peace. Bismark wanted to try to isolate France and reduce friction between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Balkans. He wanted to make the other Great Powers in Europe feel dependent on Germany so they wouldn't oppose them.
Also, Bismark wanted to have a good reputation, and wanted to be seen as a man of peace. In October 1873, after meetings with the German Kaiser, the Habsburg Emperor and the Tsar of Russia, The Three Emperors' League was made. This was an agreement for the countries to stand together and to reduce the risks of war arising from Austro-Russian differences.
2. Why did events between the years 1875-78 in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers?
In general, the bigger countries want to support different people in the Balkans, and for this reason they end up opposing each other. Russia encouraged slav (Serbia) nationalism in balkans. Austria-Hungary was afraid that Russia would help the slavs if they were too heavily oppressed because it threatened the multi-ethnic Habsburg empire. Great Britain supported the Turks when Russia was supporting Serbia. This increased conflict between the Great Powers.
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