The Great War and the Age of Anxiety(aka, “The War to End All Wars”, “World War I”)
First: A Note About 1914-Present
Major Shifts that Take Place Over Time
1900 Britain and France (“the
“West”) dominate the world. Biggest enemies are other European countries and the Ottomans
Smaller World: Ships, Suez and Panama canals, railroads
Diplomatic Org.: Concert of Europe
Belief Systems still dominant
Slavery abolished Urbanization and
deforestation
Overtime Power Shift: U.S. becomes the
new “West”. U.S., Germany USSR, Japan, and China all play a dominant role and become “enemies”
“Flattening” of the World: Planes, ships phones, computer
League of Nations, United Nations
Religion challenged by science, liberalism, nationalism and communism
Decolonization, Feminist and Civil Rights movements
Green Movements
Long Term Causes – The Great War
I. New Imperialism Economic and Political Imperialism cause conflicts Advances in technology and science made
colonization easy II. Militarism
Germany and the “Dreadnaughts” – Battleships built 1890-1940 similar to the ironclads
“Schliefflen Plan” – German plan for fighting a war on two fronts, Eastern Front and Western Front; essentially WWI
Mass production of weapons - ______________ III. Nationalism
Intense pride in ones nation/people Desire to dominate or at least have the right to “self-
determination”
Note: Political Tensions Back Home Add to Desire for War (war seen as a diversion) Great Britain
Ireland Labor conflicts
France Dreyfus Affair Decline of the
Catholic Church Russia
Russo-Japanese War Duma – attempts at a
constitutional monarchy Germany
Rumor of socialist revolution
Austria- Hungary Magyarzation of the
Hungarian half
Dreyfus Affair Wrongful conviction of an Alsatian Jew
selling French secrets to the Germans. Emile Zola blows the lid off of the cover
up in an open letter entitled J’Accuse Anti-Semitism
DUMA Representative body began under
Alexander III Nicholas II furthers powers of the Duma,
but allows himself and his ministers to be beyond the control of the Duma
AKA – Executive power of the Tsar is still not restricted
Immediate Cause of WWI Recall: Nationalism led many territories
to become independent (Greece, Romania, Serbia, et al)
Bosnia and Herzegovina given to Austria-Hungary @ the Berlin Conference 1878 Serbia wants B-H region and is allied with Russia
1 Shot = Millions Dead Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand by Serbian Nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, a member of the “Black Hand”
The Black Hand had ties to the Serbian government
Austrians hoped for, and got, war with Serbia
Alliances: The Dominoes Fall (and what makes this a “world war”)
Central Powers Austria-Hungary Germany Italy Add On Ottoman Empire
Allies Serbia Russia France BritainAdd On Japan Italy (?) U.S.
Course of the War July 28, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declared
war on Serbia Russia began to mobilize (recall alliance
w/ Serbia), and so did France. Germany declared war on both (recall alliance w/ Austria-Hungary) August 1, 1914
Nature of “New War” Enthusiasm was high as a short war was
anticipated, however trauma sets in by 1918 “Fronts” developed - _______________ New era of warfare on the “western front”
Barbed wire, trench warfare, “over the top” tactics Poison gas, machine guns
Massive Casualties “Lost Generation” Urbanization = Many casualties
Stalemate in the West, Checkmate in the East?
West - Schlieffen Plan: Belgium,
Britain and the U.S. Major Battles:
1914: Battle of Tanneburg First Battle of the Marne Battle of Ypres
1916: Year of Bloodletting Battle of Verdun Battle of the Somme
1917 - Three Years Later – a Turning Point
East - Russian short-lived
success is followed by loss in the Battle of Tanneberg in 1914
Ottomans v. British 1917 - Russia backs out
Turning Point - 1917 Germans decide to continue “unrestricted
submarine warfare” (they had promised to stop after the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915)
As a result of unrestricted submarine warfare and the “Zimmerman Note”, United States enters the War, but does not make an impact for another year
Germany takes Paris (again), but lacks the manpower and raw materials needed to hold it against the arriving Americans
Germany begins to retreat
Zimmermann Note FROM 2nd from London # 5747. "We intend to begin on the first of
February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN
War on the Home Front All aspects of society were mobilized by the
government, creating “total war” Economically: governments controlled natural
resources, price controls, banning strikes, and rationing
Politically: Censorship and propaganda helped ensure support for the war, some women will gain the right to vote in England and Germany
Socially: Women were employed in the factories and were rewarded for their efforts with suffrage in some countries
End of the War Prince Max von Baden contacts President
Woodrow Wilson, suing for peace The armistice will be signed on November 11,
1918 (Treaty of Versailles 1919) Economic Cost:
$338 Billion Human Cost:
> 8.5 million soldiers killed, 23 million wounded (most from France, proportionately)
Untold millions of civilians dead
Designing the Peace 3 Voices of the Peace Conference
Woodrow Wilson – voice of moderation – wanted less punitive agreement to end the war
French Premier Georges Clemenceau – wanted to satisfy the French public that was out for German blood
British Prime Minister David Lloyd-George – a voice less punitive than Clemenceau's, but still punitive
Wilson’s Fourteen Points Wanted to encourage the spread of “self-
determination” by nations and human rights
Less punitive - not accepted by allies “League of Nations” - Not accepted by
U.S. (embarrassing or what?)
League of Nations Wilson – voice of moderation 14 Points called for a council of nations
to preserve peace and establish humanitarian goals
Many joined reluctantly, EXCEPT the U.S. (why?)
Treaty of Versailles: Make the Germans Cry 1919 – extremely punitive against Germany Germany takes all the blame
War reparations (huge) 132 billion Release territory – Land taken from the Russian Empire, Alsace-
Lorraine, occupation of the Rhine to the French Downsize military to 100,000 and a small navy (no air force) Other Measures:
Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia (Serbs dream), and Romania formed Poland and Hungary independent Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland formed from Russian Empire All of the above, except Czechoslovakia, eventually become
dictatorships
*Note –How does the treatment of Germany compare to the treatment of France at the “Congress of Vienna”?
Why was Russia losing territory?
Impact of the Treaty Dream - Meant to
ensure Germany would never threaten Europe again
Reality – Caused widespread economic problems (Great Depression)
Caused resentment in Germany, Japan, many colonies and “spheres of influence” (China)
Created conditions that led to the rise of Hitler and other Fascist dictators in Europe
Sidebar – Russian Revolution 1917(note the date)
Why did it occur and what werethe results? Include the followingin your answer: Czar Nicholas Empress Alexandria Rasputin Soviets Mensheviks Vladimir Lenin Bolsheviks (later “Communists”)
Leon Trotsky Treaty of Brest Litovsk White Forces Red Army New Economic Policy
Interwar Years
Eastern Europe, Western Europe
Eastern Europe Ottoman Empire Russia New Boundaries
Ottoman Empire: Sick Man of Europe
Lost most of it’s remaining land in the Treaty of Versailles
Ataturk led a Greek attack, overthrowing the last Ottoman sultan and in 1923 became President of modern Turkey
Changed the cultural path from Islamic to Western
Other parts became “mandates”: Britain controlled Iraq and Palestine, France controlled Syria and Lebanon
Note – Armenian Massacre
Soviet Union Goes Totalitarian
Joseph Stalin – successor to Lenin More “totalitarianism” than “communism” Reforms instituted using terror, secret police, bogus
trials, labor camps, assassination (Great Purge – 1936-1938 – millions died)
“Five Year Plans” Instituted “collectivizing” of agriculture and
nationalized factories Many died from defending farms or starvation Successfully industrialized the USSR and improved
the economy
New BoundariesCzechoslovakia, Yugoslavia (Serbs
dream), and Romania formedPoland and Hungary independentLithuania, Latvia, Estonia and
Finland formed from Russian Empire (Russia not happy)
All of the above, except Czechoslovakia, eventually become dictatorships
Western Europe France
Conservative and socialists began to vie for power Great Britain
High unemployment led to the rise of the Labour Party, which moved toward socialist reform
British possessions demand independence (Ireland, India) Italy
No gains at Versailles, socialist threats and an ailing economy lead to the rise of Fascism (Mussolini)
Spain and Portugal Both countries face opposition from landowners, the church and the army Both set up republics that are overthrown in favor of dictators
Germany The new “Weimar Republic” faced
many challenges: legitimacy and the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, economic problems and challenges by socialists/Marxists
Discontent with the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression results in the rise of German Fascism (Hitler)
Marker Event: Great Depression
WWI expensive Two countries relied on American credit:
France and Germany
October 29 – Stock Market Crash
International Catastrophe Americans stopped issuing credit Germany had no way to pay reparations France therefore had no money either U.S. and Germany hit hardest – 1/3 out of
work
Early 20th Century Movements
Political Movements Women’s Suffrage
Prior to1870 “pioneering” phase, 1870-1905 “dormant” phase (reading on Women)
1905-1914 – Militant Phase National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies Women’s social and Political Union – Emmeline Pankhurst
After WWI – suffrage granted in most European countries Socialist Movements
Britain – Fabian Party – nationalize some industries (necessary for survival)
France – United Socialists Party became the largest party Germany – Social Democratic Party – “revisionist socialism”
became the largest party
One other worth mentioning: Fascism
Gained momentum as capitalist-leaning democracies failed to help the economy following WWI and the Great Depression Italy –
National Fascist Party 1919, founded by Benito Mussolini By 1922, fascist “Blackshirts” helped Mussolini become
Prime Minister Germany –
Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Party (NAZI) used propaganda to convince many the Germans must have been betrayed in WWI
Beer Hall putsch – 1923, failed attempt by Hitler to stage a coup, but gave him a courtroom (platform) from which to espouse his views
By 1923 – Hitler name Chancellor (Prime Minister) Spain – Francisco Franco, with the help of Hitler and Mussolin,
defeat the Spanish Republic by 1939
Note: France and Britain both had fascists organizations, but they remained on the political fringe
Movements in Philosophy Freidrich Nietzsche
Claimed “God is dead” Viewed reason, democracy, progress, respectability
as outworn constructs that stifle excellence Logical empiricism – rejected traditional philosophy
which wasted its time on God and happiness – philosophy should focus on thoughts
Existentialism – appealed to those who were searching for moral values in a world of uncertainty
New Science and Social Science
New Physics Appealed to those who were losing hope in
religion Max Plank – energy measured in "Quanta” Theory of Relativity – Albert Einstein Discovery of neutrons
Freudian Psychology Id, ego and superego
New Entertainment: Movies and Radio
“Jazz Age” Silent film industry Radio - Guglielmo Marconi Political Use:
Mussolini and Hitler Roosevelt and Baldwin The Triumph of the Will
Modern Art
*Functionalism (architecture)*Post-Impressionism, forerunner to:
Expressionism – shows emotional/psychological states*Abstractionism/Cubism – uses more logical analysis of
the world, therefore more shaped/geometrical patterns*Dadaism (means “hobbyhorse”)forerunner to:
Surrealism – influenced by psychoanalysis*Existentialism – appealed to those who felt alone, with
shattered beliefs about God, reason and progress (inspired by Nietsche)
FunctionalismFrank Lloyd Wright
Post-ImpressionismSunflowers, Vincent Van Gogh
CubismGuernica, Pablo PicassoWoman with Guitar, Georges Braque
DadaismMona Lisa and Fountain, Marcel DuchampCut with the Dada Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany, Hannah Hoch
SurrealismElephas Celebes, Max ErnstThe Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali
More Salvador Dali
ExistentialismStriding Man, Alberto Giacometti
$104.3 mil?