Marching Toward War PDF

1 Marching Toward War MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES POWER AND AUTHORITY In Ethnic conflict in the Balkan militarism Kaiser Europe, military buildup, region, w...

1 Marching Toward War MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES POWER AND AUTHORITY In Ethnic conflict in the Balkan militarism Kaiser Europe, military buildup, region, which helped start the Triple Wilhelm II nationalistic feelings, and rival war, continued to erupt in that Alliance Triple alliances set the stage for a area in the 1990s. Entente continental war. SETTING THE STAGE At the turn of the 20th century, the nations of Europe had been largely at peace with one another for nearly 30 years. This was no acci- dent. Efforts to outlaw war and achieve a permanent peace had been gaining momentum in Europe since the middle of the 19th century. By 1900, hundreds of peace organizations were active. In addition, peace congresses convened reg- ularly between 1843 and 1907. Some Europeans believed that progress had made war a thing of the past. Yet in a little more than a decade, a massive war would engulf Europe and spread across the globe. Rising Tensions in Europe TAKING NOTES Summarizing Create a While peace and harmony characterized much of Europe at the beginning of the time line of major events 1900s, there were less visible—and darker—forces at work as well. Below the that led to the start of surface of peace and goodwill, Europe witnessed several gradual developments World War I. that would ultimately help propel the continent into war. The Rise of Nationalism One such development was the growth of national- event event one three ism, or a deep devotion to one’s nation. Nationalism can serve as a unifying force within a country. However, it also can cause intense competition among nations, event event with each seeking to overpower the other. By the turn of the 20th century, a fierce two four rivalry indeed had developed among Europe’s Great Powers. Those nations were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France. This increasing rivalry among European nations stemmed from several sources. Competition for materials and markets was one. Territorial disputes were another. France, for example, had never gotten over the loss of Alsace- Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War (1870). Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to dominate in the Balkans, a region in southeast Europe. Within the Balkans, the intense nationalism of Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and other ethnic groups led to demands for independence. Imperialism and Militarism Another force that helped set the stage for war in Europe was imperialism. As Chapter 27 explained, the nations of Europe com- peted fiercely for colonies in Africa and Asia. The quest for colonies sometimes pushed European nations to the brink of war. As European countries continued to compete for overseas empires, their sense of rivalry and mistrust of one another deepened. The Great War 841  Yet another troubling development throughout the early years of the 20th century was the rise of a dangerous European arms race. The nations of Europe believed that to be truly great, they needed to have a powerful military. By 1914, all the Great Powers except Britain had large standing armies. In addition, military experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize, or organize and move troops in case of a war. Generals in each country developed highly detailed plans for such a mobilization. The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war was known as militarism. Having a large and strong standing army made citizens feel patriotic. However, it also frightened some people. As early as 1895, Frédéric Passy, a prominent peace activist, expressed a concern that many shared: PRIMARY SOURCE The entire able-bodied population are preparing to massacre one another; though no one, it is true, wants to attack, and everybody protests his love of peace and determination to maintain it, yet the whole world feels that it only requires some unforeseen incident, some unpreventable accident, for the spark to fall in a flash... and blow all Europe sky-high. FRÉDÉRIC PASSY, quoted in Nobel: The Man and His Prizes Tangled Alliances Growing rivalries and mutual mistrust had led to the creation of several military alliances among the Great Powers as early as the 1870s. This alliance system had been designed to keep peace in Europe. But it would instead help push the continent into war. Bismarck Forges Early Pacts Between 1864 and 1871, Prussia’s blood-and-iron chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, freely used war to unify Germany. After 1871, however, Bismarck declared Germany to be a “satisfied power.” He then turned his energies to maintaining peace in Europe. Kaiser Wilhelm II Bismarck saw France as the greatest threat to peace. He 1859–1941 believed that France still wanted revenge for its defeat in the Wilhelm II was related to the leaders Franco-Prussian War. Bismarck’s first goal, therefore, was of two nations he eventually would to isolate France. “As long as it is without allies,” Bismarck engage in war. Wilhelm, George V of stressed, “France poses no danger to us.” In 1879, Bismarck Great Britain, and Nicholas II of formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria- Russia were all cousins. Hungary. Three years later, Italy joined the two countries, The kaiser thought a great deal of himself and his place in history. forming the Triple Alliance. In 1881, Bismarck took yet Once, when a doctor told him he another possible ally away from France by making a treaty had a small cold, Wilhelm reportedly with Russia. responded, “No, it is a big cold. Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace In 1890, Germany’s Everything about me must be big.” foreign policy changed dramatically. That year, Kaiser He also could be sly and deceitful. After forcing the popular Bismarck to Wilhelm II—who two years earlier had become ruler of resign, Wilhelm pretended to be Germany—forced Bismarck to resign. A proud and stub- upset. Most people, however, born man, Wilhelm II did not wish to share power with any- including Bismarck, were not fooled. one. Besides wanting to assert his own power, the new kaiser was eager to show the world just how mighty RESEARCH LINKS For more on Germany had become. The army was his greatest pride. “I Wilhelm II, go to classzone.com and the army were born for one another,” Wilhelm declared shortly after taking power. 842 Chapter 29  Wilhelm let his nation’s treaty with Russia lapse in 1890. Russia responded by forming a defensive military alliance with France in 1892 and 1894. Such an alliance had been Bismarck’s fear. War with either Russia or France would make Germany the enemy of both. Germany would then be forced to fight a two-front war, or a war on both its eastern and western borders. Next, Wilhelm began a tremendous shipbuilding program in an effort to make the German navy equal to that of the mighty British fleet. Alarmed, Great Britain formed an entente, or alliance, with France. In 1907, Britain made another entente, this time with both France and Russia. The Triple Entente, as it was called, did not bind Britain to fight with France and Russia. However, it did almost certainly ensure that Britain would not fight against them. By 1907, two rival camps existed in Europe. On one side was the Triple Alliance—Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. On the other side was the Triple Entente—Great Britain, France, and Russia. A dispute between two rival powers could draw all the nations of Europe into war. Crisis in the Balkans Nowhere was that dispute more likely to occur than on the Balkan Peninsula. This mountainous peninsula in the southeastern corner of Europe was home to an assortment of ethnic groups. With a long history of nationalist uprisings and eth- nic clashes, the Balkans was known as the “powder keg” of Europe. A Restless Region By the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire, which included the Balkan region, was in rapid decline. While some Balkan groups struggled to free themselves from the Ottoman Turks, others already had succeeded in breaking away from their Turkish rulers. These peoples had formed new nations, including Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. Nationalism was a powerful force in these countries. Each group longed to The Balkan extend its borders. Serbia, for example, Peninsula, 1914 had a large Slavic population. It hoped to G E R MA N Y 50°N absorb all the Slavs on the Balkan Slavic groups Peninsula. Russia, itself a mostly Slavic nation, supported Serbian nationalism. RUSSIA However, Serbia’s powerful northern AU ST RO - H U N G A R I A N neighbor, Austria-Hungary, opposed such E MP I R E an effort. Austria feared that efforts to cre- ate a Slavic state would stir rebellion ROMANIA Ad BOSNIA & among its Slavic population. HERZEGOVINA Bl ack Sea ria Sarajevo tic In 1908, Austria annexed, or took over, 42°N SERBIA BULGA R IA Se a Bosnia and Herzegovina. These were two ITA LY Balkan areas with large Slavic popula- ALBANIA Constantinople MONTENEGRO IA ON tions. Serbian leaders, who had sought to CE D OTTOMA N EMPIRE A rule these provinces, were outraged. In the M Aegean GREECE Sea years that followed, tensions between Serbia and Austria steadily rose. The 0 250 Miles Mediterranean Analyzing Issues Serbs continually vowed to take Bosnia Sea 0 500 Kilometers What were the and Herzegovina away from Austria. In GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Maps 34°N 16°E 24°E reasons for the hos- 32°E tility between response, Austria-Hungary vowed to 1. Place What region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was Austria-Hungary crush any Serbian effort to undermine its located along the Adriatic Sea? and Serbia? authority in the Balkans. 2. Location Based on the map, why might Serbia have staked a claim to Bosnia and Herzegovina?  A Shot Rings Throughout Europe Into this poisoned atmosphere of mutual dislike and mistrust stepped the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, The Armenian Massacre and his wife, Sophie. On June 28, 1914, the couple paid a C a u c RUSSIA One group in state visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. It would be Black as Caspian u Sea GEORGIA s M southeastern ts Sea their last. The royal pair was shot at point-blank range as. Europe that ARMENIA AZER. suffered they rode through the streets of Sarajevo in an open car. The TURKEY AZER. greatly for its killer was Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Serbian and mem- IRAN independence ber of the Black Hand. The Black Hand was a secret society SYRIA efforts was the committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule. IRAQ Armenians. By Because the assassin was a Serbian, Austria decided to the 1880s, the roughly 2.5 million use the murders as an excuse to punish Serbia. On July 23, Vocabulary Armenians in the Ottoman Empire had begun to demand their freedom. As a Austria presented Serbia with an ultimatum containing An ultimatum numerous demands. Serbia knew that refusing the ultimatum is a list of demands result, relations between the group that, if not met, will and its Turkish rulers grew strained. would lead to war against the more powerful Austria. There- lead to serious Throughout the 1890s, Turkish fore, Serbian leaders agreed to most of Austria’s demands. consequences. troops killed tens of thousands of They offered to have several others settled by an interna- Armenians. When World War I tional conference. erupted in 1914, the Armenians pledged their support to the Turks’ Austria, however, was in no mood to negotiate. The enemies. In response, the Turkish nation’s leaders, it seemed, had already settled on war. On government deported nearly 2 July 28, Austria rejected Serbia’s offer and declared war. That million Armenians. Along the way, same day, Russia, an ally of Serbia with its largely Slavic pop- more than 600,000 died of starvation ulation, took action. Russian leaders ordered the mobilization or were killed by Turkish soldiers. of troops toward the Austrian border. Leaders all over Europe suddenly took notice. The frag- ile European stability seemed ready to collapse into armed INTERNET ACTIVITY Create a chart or graphic about any aspect of modern conflict. The British foreign minister, the Italian govern- Armenian culture. Go to classzone.com ment, and even Kaiser Wilhelm himself urged Austria and for your research. Russia to negotiate. But it was too late. The machinery of war had been set in motion. SECTION 1 ASSESSMENT TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. militarism Triple Alliance Kaiser Wilhelm II Triple Entente USING YOUR NOTES MAIN IDEAS CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING 2. Which event do you consider 3. What were the three forces at 6. ANALYZING CAUSES Which of the forces at work in most significant? Why? work in Europe that helped set Europe played the greatest role in helping to prompt the the stage for war? outbreak of war? 4. Who were the members of the 7. ANALYZING ISSUES Was the description of the Balkans as event event one three Triple Alliance? the Triple the “powder keg” of Europe justified? Explain. Entente? 8. FORMING AND SUPPORTING OPINIONS Do you think event event 5. What single event set in motion World War I was avoidable? Use information from the text two four the start of World War I? to support your answer. 9. WRITING ACTIVITY POWER AND AUTHORITY Write a brief letter to the editor of a European newspaper expressing what your views might have been about the coming war. CONNECT TO TODAY CREATING A TIME LINE Working with a partner, use the library and other resources to create a time line of key events in the Balkans from 1914 until today. Limit your time line to the six to eight events you consider most significant. 844 Chapter 29