Imperialism and Empires

Imperialism and Empires

• Imperialism involves expanding a country's territory, influence, or control over weaker regions, frequently driven by economic, political, or military interests.
• This expansion is achieved through methods like colonization or military force.
• Imperialist nations seek resources, land, and markets to strengthen their power and economies, aiming ultimately to build a substantial empire.
• An example is the British Empire's control over India, which began in the 1600s, initially through the East India Company and later as a formal colony.
• The British exploited India's resources, using them for trade and to support their industrial economy.
• An empire is established through imperialism and is typically governed by a central authority.
• Empires aim to expand territories by colonizing and exert influence through military force.
• Colonies serve the empire's interests through resource extraction, land control, and military conscription.
• Notable empires during World War I included the Ottoman, British, and German Empires.

Militarism

• Militarism prioritizes military expansion and its use as a national control system.
• It is a tool for imperialists to seize power and territory.
• It promotes the belief that military strength is key to expanding influence.
• This belief leads countries to invest heavily in military development, such as the naval race between Germany and Britain before World War I.

Pan-Slavism

• Pan-Slavism aimed to unite all Slavic peoples under a common identity.
• Russia supported Pan-Slavism due to its shared Slavic heritage and Orthodox religion, positioning itself as a leader.
• Russia saw Pan-Slavism as a justification to expand its influence and territory, particularly in the Balkans, which were regions of the Ottoman Empire.

Austria-Hungary's Concerns About Pan-Slavism

• Austria-Hungary feared Pan-Slavism because it ruled over several Slavic nations, like Bosnia and Serbia.
• The movement threatened the empire's stability by encouraging independence or unification with other Slavic groups.
• Austria-Hungary worried this could lead to war with Russia or Serbia, potentially destroying the empire.

The Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire was a Turkish empire controlling much of the Middle East, Southeast Europe, and North Africa.
• It was a major Muslim empire with Constantinople as its capital.
• The Ottoman Empire was part of the Triple Alliance during World War I and collapsed in 1922, leading to its division among France, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Italy.

Nationalism in Colonized Countries

• Colonized populations experienced oppression and lacked rights and freedoms, leading to independence movements.
• Colonized people developed strong nationalist sentiments and sought to separate from their ruling nations due to restricted rights, freedoms, and resource exploitation.
• These independence movements often resulted in conflicts and revolutions.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne.
• His assassination in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, was a catalyst for World War I.
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination, issuing an ultimatum that Serbia refused, leading to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia.

Gavrilo Princip and the Black Hand

• Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife.
• He was a member of the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group.
• The Black Hand sought to create a Greater Serbia that would unite all ethnic Serbs.

The "Blank Cheque"

• Germany gave Austria-Hungary a "blank cheque," offering unconditional support in its actions against Serbia.
• This support escalated tensions and involved the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente.
• When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia mobilized, Germany supported Austria-Hungary, triggering a domino effect involving other nations.

Canada's Entry into World War I

• Canada automatically entered World War I when Britain declared war because it was part of the British Empire.
• As a British colony, Canada's resources and territories were under British Parliament control.
• Therefore, when Britain joined the war, Canada was obligated to participate as well.

Vocabulary

• Imperialism: Taking over another country by force, exploiting its resources for economic gain.
• Militarism: Using the military as a tool for power and territorial expansion.
• Triple Alliance: Military agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during World War I.
• Triple Entente: Alliance between Britain, France, and Russia during World War I.
• Nationalism: Loyalty and pride for one's own country, used to encourage people to fight for their nation.
• War Measures Act: Canadian law granting the government extra powers during war, invasion, or rebellion.
• Enemy Aliens: Residents of a country who are from a nation at war with that country, viewed as potential threats.
• Internment Camps: Government facilities where people considered threats are detained during wars.
• No Man’s Land: The battleground between opposing armies.
• Western Front: A 400-mile stretch of land in France and Belgium with trenches and barbed wire where many battles occurred.
• War of Attrition: A prolonged war where each side gradually weakens the other without a clear victor.
• Battle of Ypres: World War I battles near Ypres, Belgium, where Germany first used chemical weapons against the Allied Forces (Belgium, France, and Britain).
• Battle of the Somme: World War I battle between British and French forces against Germany along the Somme River in France, characterized by attrition with no territorial gains.
• Battle of Vimy Ridge: A World War I battle in northern France where the Canadian Corps defeated the German 6th Army, fostering Canadian national identity and independence.
• Passchendaele: Also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, fought between German forces and Allies in Flanders, Belgium; Canadians captured it but only gained a few kilometers and Germany took it back.
• Convoy: A group of ships or vehicles traveling together, protected by warships and troops.
• Victory Bonds: Bonds sold to the public during wartime to raise funds for the war effort.
• Honour Rationing: A voluntary system limiting resource consumption to save rations for troops during wartime.
• Propaganda: Exaggerated or misleading information used by the government to encourage war support and participation.
• Conscription: Mandatory military service for those able to fight.
• Khaki Election: The Canadian federal election of December 17, 1917, where Prime Minister Borden aimed to introduce mandatory conscription, granting soldiers and women related to soldiers the right to vote to ensure victory, opposed by French Canadians and farmers.
• Hundred Days Campaign: A series of Allied attacks on Germany from August 8 to November 11, 1918, which led to the defeat of the German army and the end of World War I.
• Paris Peace Conference: Meetings held from 1919 to 1920 in Paris to discuss peace terms after World War I, resulting in the Treaty of Versailles with 32 countries participating.
• Treaty of Versailles: Created at the Paris Peace Conference, imposing reparations on Germany, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and a $33 billion payment for damages.
• War Guilt Clause: A provision in the Treaty of Versailles blaming Germany for starting World War I, forcing them to sign and comply with the treaty.