World War One (WWI) Causes

• These are study notes on World War One (WWI).

The Main Causes of WWI

• Imperialism is when a country extends its power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.
• The British Empire controlled the largest portion of the world's territory and population in the early 1900s.
• Countries sought to expand their empires for resources, markets, strategic advantages, and national prestige.
• Imperialism created tension due to competition for territory and resources.
• Militarism refers to the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
• Intended consequences of militarism include deterrence, protection of national interests, and projecting power.
• Unintended consequences involve arms races, increased risk of war, and influence of military on policy.
• Canada was not a threat in terms of militarism in 1914 due to its relatively small military and its status as a British dominion.
• An alliance is a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.
• The main goals of an alliance include mutual defense, economic cooperation, or political support.
• An unintended consequence of an alliance can be entanglement in conflicts.
• Two major alliances in the early 1900s were the Triple Entente (France, Britain, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).
• Nationalism is identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
• Nationalism was strong in areas like the Balkans and among various ethnic groups within the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the early 1900s.
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to WWI because it triggered a series of alliances and diplomatic failures after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group.
• Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum with demands intended to be impossible to fully meet, following the assassination.
• As Serbia did not agree to all of Austria-Hungary's demands in the ultimatum, Austria-Hungary declared war, setting off a chain reaction due to existing alliances.
• Canada entered WWI because it was part of the British Empire and obligated to support Britain.
• Canada was officially at war on August 4, 1914.
• M.A.N.I.A. stands for Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Assassination.
• The main causes that led to the start of WWI are represented by this acronym.
• Canada declared war on Germany and its allies alongside Britain.
• WWI officially started on July 28, 1914, and ended on November 11, 1918.

Why Did Canada Become Involved in WWI?

• The Prime Minister of Canada at the time was Robert Borden.
• Robert Borden was of British descent.
• This influenced Canada's involvement in the war because of strong ties to Britain.
• The largest demographic in Canada at the start of the war was of British descent.
• This encouraged many to enlist initially due to loyalty to Britain.
• Sam Hughes enticed Canadian citizens to enlist through patriotic appeals.
• Key values at the time included duty, honour, and loyalty to the British Empire.
• Recruitment posters reflected these values, portraying war as a noble cause.
• A demographic that experienced racism regarding recruitment policies was Black Canadians, who were often initially turned away from enlisting.

What Challenges Did Canadian Forces Face in WWI?

• WWI was called "The Great War" due to its unprecedented scale.
• New inventions included machine guns, poison gas, tanks, and airplanes.
• Initially, the French and British did not fully embrace machine guns, as they were seen as ungentlemanly and were unsure how to properly utilize them.
• This gave the Germans an early advantage due to their more effective use of machine guns.
• Trenches were built for protection from enemy fire.
• "No Man's Land" was a dangerous area between opposing trenches.
• The Western Front in 1914 was characterized by a long line of trenches.
• Going "over the top" meant leaving the safety of a trench to attack the enemy.
• On land, Canadians faced dangers like machine guns, trench warfare, trench foot, shell shock, rats, the unreliable Ross Rifle, and tanks.
• In the air, they faced dogfights and unreliable aircraft; at sea, they combatted U-boats.
• Key battles that Canada was involved in:
  • Second Battle of Ypres (1915): Belgium, to hold the line, heavy casualties, first large-scale use of chlorine gas
  • The Battle of the Somme (1916): France, to break through German lines, very high casualties, little strategic gain
  • The Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917): France, to capture Vimy Ridge, a strategic victory, significant for Canadian identity
  • The Battle of Passchendaele (1917): Belgium, to advance on German U-boat bases, heavy casualties, muddy conditions
  • Canada’s Hundred Days (1918): France, to push back German forces, a series of successes leading to the end of the war, demonstrated Canadian capabilities
• The Battle of Vimy Ridge is considered a touchstone of Canadian nationalism because it was a significant, independent Canadian victory.
• The "Creeping Barrage" tactic involved a coordinated artillery barrage that advanced just ahead of the advancing infantry, first used at Vimy Ridge, giving Canadians an advantage and contributing to nationhood.
• WWI officially ended on November 11, 1918.
• The "Treaty of Versailles" was the peace treaty that ended WWI, Germany had to take the blame.
• Canada was granted its own seat at the Paris Conference, important to Canadian nationalism, as before they were represented by Britain.

How Did Canadians Respond at Home to the War?

• To fund the war effort, the Canadian government introduced victory bonds, victory gardens, thrift stamps, income tax, wheat exports, and honour rationing, all helped raise money and conserve resources.
• Women's roles changed on the homefront as they took on jobs previously held by men.
• The War Measures Act was introduced in 1914, allowing the government broad powers.
• "Enemy aliens" were people from enemy countries living in Canada, some were sent to internment camps.
• Despite their treatment, many Canadians of Ukrainian and German heritage enlisted in the Canadian Forces, possibly motivated by a desire to prove their loyalty.
• Conscription is mandatory military service.
• It was needed to reinforce dwindling troops.
• Supporters included those who felt it was necessary to win the war, while those against it were often from Quebec, opposing forced service.
• Conscription was divisive and caused political tensions.
• The "Military Voters Act" allowed soldiers overseas to vote, while "The Wartime Elections Act" disenfranchised some groups deemed enemy aliens.

The End and Outcomes:

• WWI is among the world's deadliest conflicts.