Steps Leading to World War I PDF

Kaiser Wilhelm The Second BAD LEADER WITH HORRENDOUS FOREIGN POLICY – ANGERING THE WORLD STEPS LEADING TO WORLD WAR I Belgium Declares neutrality agreed to by Britain, France, Russia, Prussia in 1839 - Stay out of all alliance systems, not permitted to make plans with...

Kaiser Wilhelm The Second BAD LEADER WITH HORRENDOUS FOREIGN POLICY – ANGERING THE WORLD STEPS LEADING TO WORLD WAR I Belgium Declares neutrality agreed to by Britain, France, Russia, Prussia in 1839 - Stay out of all alliance systems, not permitted to make plans with any other countries - Belgian army exists, but only allowed to defend Belgium – no other involvement Franco-Prussian War Alscace-Lorraine lost 1870-1871 - Shifts France's perspective on who is a threat - Instead of Britain being their number on enemy, Germany now is - Frances foreign policy is towards Germany League of Three Emperors 1881 BROKE DOWN OVER BALKANS - Put together by Bismarck - Germany/Russia/Austria – also called Dreikaiserbund (France is isolated) - Does not last because Austria and Russia cannot get along because they see the falling of the Ottoman Empire – as a result they both want the Balkans 1882 The Triple Alliance (present in WWI but main goal was making sure France was isolated) - Germany/Austria/Italy - An expansion of Dual alliance which was a breakdown of the 3 Emperors League - One major problem: No Russia 1887 Reinsurance Treaty - Germany/Russia - German attempts at reconciliation with Russia after breakdown of the 3 Emperors League - This is necessary because Bismarck knows that France cannot have any friends, especially Russia (this is later annulled) 1888 Wilhelm I Dies - His son Frederick III gains the throne with his English wife Victoria - 1888 Frederick II rules Germany for three months and then dies - Their 20 year old son Wlihelm II is not educated, young, impetuous, and hates his mother - Wilhelm II has throat cancer, but instead of using a German doctor to get rid of it, Victoria suggests a British doctor - Wilhelm blames his mother for his fathers death - WIlhelm had developmental motor issues during birth – again blames his mother  - A physical disability is a problem for a king because people think that you are mentally weak too 1890 - Bismarck Fired DROPPING THE PILOT… Germany is getting aggressive 1892-1894 Franco-Russian Alliance - Counterbalance to the Triple Alliance - Ends both French and Russian (after 3 Emperors League collapse) isolation - Designed to make German sandwich – “something wrong in Germany” 1896 - Wilhelm II announces “WELTMACHT” policy (Germany to become world power.) HORRENDOUS POLICY 1898 Fashoda Crisis - A minor border dispute in Africa between Britain and France (AGAIN) that although did not lead to anything, almost started a war 1899-1902 Boer War - Orange Free State and Transvaal and commando (Boer) - Conflict over South Africa – Dutch Farmers vs. British (wanted gold) Surprising because Britain is losing for the first half of the war against Dutch Farmers Signs of Cracks in the British Empire Battle of Spion Kop - British did not have highground – were obliterated by the Dutch BRITISH EMPIRE LOSING COLONIAL CONTROL? - British colonies around the world begin realizing maybe it's time to revolt British knows they cannot lose, so they send in 500,000 troops to build “block houses” and win the war - EXTREMELY expensive for the British Empire They introduce concentration camps and force everyone in that are not Boer soldiers (women, children, non-combatants) - Creates psychological warfare (splitting up the dutch) - The Boers couldn’t farm because they were fighting – British takes away the non combatants who had to farm in substitute - Creates visibility because now the British can see through the Boers guerrilla warfare techniques - Massive influx of British Concentration Camps and the Pill box’s - allowing them to win - Vereeniging peace settlement Kaiser Wilhelm II was supplying arms to the dutch STUPID DECISION BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T GOING TO GET SOUTH AFRICA – ALL THEY DID WAS ANGER THE BRITISH BRITISH EMPIRE NOW WANTS TO JOIN FRANCE AND RUSSIA ALLIANCE (keeps Germany power in check) Formation of Triple Entente 1902 Anglo-Japanase Alliance - Japan has a Powerful Big Brother - End of “splendid isolation” - Containment of Russia 1904 Entente Cordiale (The polite understanding) – they are now becoming closer and foreshadows the uniting to defeat Germany - France/Britain - France has Morocco - Britain has Egypts Russia is in a bad state right now - Czar Nicholas decides to start a war with a weaker country to distract Russia of their domestic problems (a good small win) RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR 1904-1905 - Russia has bigger Navy and Army Russia failed to understand that Japan had reformed their country – they westernize it - They train their armies and navies, industrialize, modernize, - this was the Maige Modernization Port Arthur - The main harbor for Russian Navy (SIMILAR TO PEARL HARBOR) - Russia loses badly on land (Three wave attack on Russian naval fleet) Tshima Straits - Russia loses badly at sea over in Japanese empire (entire fleet destroyed) Japan dominates – they not only win the war, but also every single battle - Despite Japan winning the war, European leaders denied them of their winnings because they feared that giving an Asian power the power of a Western European nation, countries would begin to question the power dynamic of Europeans. - This makes Japan angry Czar nicholas’s mistake of poorly running the country and picking a losing war (and then not taking responsibility) leads him to be killed 1905 THE MOROCCAN CRISIS - Kaiser Wilhem II continues to demand colonial power (Africa Colonies). Although he thinks he has won by gaining more colonies, this only strengthens the Entente to fight against Prussia - Algeciras Conference 1906 strengthens the Entente 1906 HMS Dreadnought launched - Initially considered so good that it was believed that one ship alone could take out half the French navy - BIG MISTAKE - In response Kaiser Wilhelm II builds the Westfalen which is almost a direct copy of Dreadnought (NOW TO DEFEAT BRITISH NAVY JUST USE THEIR OWN SHIPS AGAINST THEM) 1907 Anglo-Russian Agreement - Russians wanted to resolve tensions regarding Afghanistan, Perisa and Tibet - British want assurances of Indian frontier - Precursor to triple Entente 1907 TRIPLE ENTENTE IS OFFICIALLY FORMED (BRITAIN/FRANCE/RUSSIA) QUICK BALKAN RECAP - Russia wants Balkan peninsula because of the access to a warm water port for trade (They are industrializing but need to globalize their industry – Russia’s northern waters are too cold) - Balkans want independence as the Ottoman empire is falling apart - They will call it Yugoslavia - Austria Hungary Cannot have Balkan independence because if the southern Slavs gain independence then the northern Slavs will follow suit – Their empire will completely collapse 1908 Bosnia/Herzegovina annexed by Austria Austria is no longer afraid of Russia – they were previously afraid of moving into the balkans because of Russia, but now that they see they are weak they make a move. 1911 Black Hand Founded (PAN-SLAVISM AND PIG WAR) 1911 Agadir Crisis - German ship Panther in “Gunboat diplomacy” (Germany gets French Congo) - Yes he wins a colony but now everyone sees Germany as an aggressor 1912-1913 Balkan Wars  - Growing power of Serbia - Pan-Slavism and Yugoslavia Internal causes/ motivations of WWI - Short victorious war would draw attention from calls for socialism - Civil war with Irelands (england) - Income tax and military service (France) - Unpopularity of the Tsar (Russia) Franze Ferdiand and Kaiser WIlhelm II are very close despite past conflicts (people do not like Franz ferdinand) Franz Ferdinand is not Franz Joseph’s son – he is his nephew who he hates Franze Joseph son killed himself - Franz Ferdinand fell in love with Sophie (he refused to marry anybody else) and Sophie did not have enough royal blood to be considered marriageable Cavalcade - Sarajevo Bosnia The Celebration of Bosnia’s takeover (in 1914) – Bosnia did not participate and were furious – they wanted to kill Franz Ferdinand - Cabrinovik Hurls Bomb Carbinokic throws a bomb; takes poison, jumps off into the river. Lives… arrested - Franz Joseph does not respond to Franz Ferdinand's request for more security in Bosnia (he set this whole thing up) - On top of this, Bosnia police forces are not there – not enough security to do the parade - Franze does not want to be seen as weak (he represents Austria-Hungary) so he decides to continue the parade anyway - Because of Austria-Hungary's poor planning, Gabriel Princip (member of the black hand) shoots Ferdinand and Sophie at point blank range - Princip then tries to kill himself - However, he failed and was arrested, question, and then eventually gives up the other conspirators who had escaped to Serbia Franz Ferdinand is assassinated June 28 1914 Now Franz Joseph (who acted surprised) has the opportunity he needs to take over Serbia to destroy the idea Slavic independence. He can now attack Serbia Germany gives Austria her “Blank Cheque” - if you go after Serbia Germany will back you up 1914 July 23 - Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia 1914 July 25 Pashich (Serbian Premier) capitulates on all but two points. Austria breaks off relations. Serbia mobilizes - This was set up so that Serbia could not comply to Austria (giving Austria reason for war) 1914 July 26 - Austria orders a partial mobilization (one part of the country is mobilized – on southern border to keep it local hoping that Russia does not interfere) Czar Nicolas does not believe that Austria only wants a local war so he mobilizes the entire Russian army (This threatens Germany too) 1914 July 31 Germany issues Russia an ultimatum to stop mobilizing but Russia declines 1914 August 1 - Kaiser orders mobilization and declares war on Russia. France Mobilizes 1914 August 3 - Germany declares war on France. Italy declares her neutrality and leaves the triple Alliance WORLD WAR 1 BEGINS