Descent into the Abyss

1. Descent into the Abyss World War I and the Crisis of the European Global Order by: Rachel Levy, Emma Derstine, Caitlin Bickel

2. The Coming of the Great War

3. Outbreak of the War • Balkan Crisis • Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand • Heightened Austrio-Hungarian/Serbian tensions- War declared • Dysfunctional Diplomacy-Communication between Wilhem (Ger) and Nicholas II (Rus) • Germany strikes first • Avoid a war on two fronts- Schlieffen Plan

4. The Long March to War • Fear of Germany • Kaiser Wilhelm II • Triple Entente • Early 1900’s • Britain, France, & Russia • Central Powers • Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy • Italy not necessarily loyal • Headed towards war • Imperialist rivalries • Jingoism • Scramble for territory • Naval Rivalry • Domestic tensions • Labor unrest, strikes, socialist parties

5. A World at War

6. I. The War in Europe • Leads to stalemate due to Germany’s failed “quick strike” • France regroups and British supports • Trench warfare • New ways to die: Machine guns, improved artillery,poison gas and barbed wire • Rats and lice lived in trenches • Uncivilized lifestyle in trenches • Most war generals used outdated war strategies

7. II. The War in the East and Italy • Russia generally had the largest amounts of deaths • Peasants were illiterate and poorly trained • No meritocracy (aristocratic rulers) • Weapons controlled my upper Russian class • Austro-Hungarians • Required to battle the emperor • General idea • Uneducated leaders and politicians • Annoyed citizens

8. III. The Home Fronts in Europe • Soldiers slowly became frustrated with citizens • Leaders protected from harm • The government takes control • Companies take over to avoid protest • Propaganda departments • Changes within society • Union chiefs able to mobilize the working class • Protests against war • Shortages of goods • Women given more power

9. IV. The War Outside Europe • All of Europe had colonies(except for Austria-Hungary)​ • Colonies used for manpower and resources • War spreads to West/East Africa, China & Middle East • South America wasn't really involved • The war in Britain • Britain navy took control of trans-Atlantic cable lines along with cutting off supplies from Germany ​ • Allied with Japan in 1902 • Germany kicked out of Shandong peninsula • The war in Germany • Young Turks enter war in 1915 • US slowly becomes global power

10. V. Endgame: The Return of the Offensive Warfare • Germany's success in early 1918​ • Later Hitler would claim Germany • Many generals surrender • Fear of army collapsing and rebellion • Costs of the war • Millions died • Many died after the war as well due to illness

11. Failed Peace

12. I. Different Perspectives • French want their losses avenged • Georges Clemenceau • Peace conference working against Germany • Americans want peace • Woodrow Wilson • League of nations • Self determination • British want to mediate • David Lloyd George • Tries to balance Clemenceau and Wilson

13. II. Peace of Paris • Diktat • “An order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent” • Dictated nation • Germany must comply • Breaking of the Austro-Hungarian Empire • Germanic Austria cut off • New nations begin to receive parts of Germany

14. III. Problems • Wartime promises made to Arabs were ignored • Led to the division of Empires • China left to defend itself • Ho Chi Minh • Vietnamese ruler • Responded to Woodrow Wilson’s treaty that ended WWI • League of Nations • Vetoed by the US congress • Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, etc. all withdrew from the league

15. World War I and the Nationalist Assault on the European Colonial Order

16. I. India • Under British Raj • Industrialized→ beneficial for WWI • War showed weakness • Questioned Racial Superiority • Themes in Independence Movements: • Western Education • Charismatic Leaders • Peaceful Protesting • Indian National Congress Party- 1885 • initially ineffective • minimal membership • loyal to British, not India • Created a Common Indian Identity • barriers- ethnic diversity • solution- common enemy

17. II. Social Foundations of a Mass Movement • Beginnings of a Protest: • Better treatment for British investors • Indian resources-depleted • Poverty rates increasing • British = Enemy

18. III. The Rise of Militant Nationalism • BG Tilak • Restoration of Hinduism • Reverse Womens Suffrage • Meetings at “Festivals” • Militant Hinduism (ironic) • British imprisoned him, exiled to Burma • Bengalis- terrorist communities • bomb British buildings, etc • Morley-Minto Reforms 1909

19. IV. Emergence of Gandhi • India very helpful with war efforts • Were promised independence by the British • 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms • Rowlatt Act • Mohandas Gandhi • nonviolent protest • Satyagraha • Weakens British • Hindu

20. V. Egypt and the Rise of Nationalism in the Middle East • Lord Cromer • attempts at reform • economic-Khedives in debt • Ayan-retain wealth • Middle Class-Effendi • opened a newspaper • Congress Party- 1890 • Dinshawi Incident • British shot Prayer Leader’s wife • 1913- Constitution for Wealthy class to be gov’t • British intervened, took over

21. VI. War and Nationalist Movements in the Middle East • Ottoman Empire- No mas! • Turkey up for grabs • Mustafa Kemal • British/French withdrew promised independence for the Middle East • McMahon-Hussein • Undermined Hussein’s authority • Problem with Palestine • Pogroms in Russia forced Jews out- Diaspora- no where to go • British/French promised this land to the Jewish people (Balfour Declaration) • Displaced Jews and Arabs with nowhere to go

22. VII. Revolt in Egypt 1919 • Peasant unrest • Waf’d Party- Nationalist Liberal Party • Student Riots • Women involved • Independence in 1922 Flag of the Waf’d Party

23. VIII. The Beginnings of the Liberation Struggle in Africa • Prior to WWI- Loyalty to British/French • Relationship during war turned hostile • forced labor • starvation • economic suffering • pan-African Movement • Negritude Literary Movement • Political Organization • Representative Gov’t • Newspaper

24. Global Connections • Effects of WWI in Europe • hurt economy • growing European powers • increased political tensions • Labor Parties on the prowl • Effects of WWI Worldwide • Breakthrough in Women's Suffrage • Scientific Theory • Nationalism > Imperialism • Racial Supremacy Theory • Russia, US, Japan- want Western Europe to decline