Mastering+Modern+World+History+Reading+Notes

o On August 13th, 1914, the first Belgian fort surrendered, and by August 16th, Liege was under German control. This was the first major engagement of World War I. o Europe dominated the rest of the world in 1914. o The United States of America became a world power when we produced more coal, pig-iron, and steel than Germany or Britain. o Japan was also a strong power, due to its defeat of Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
 * 1) ****The World in 1914: outbreak of the First World War**

__Governments__ o USA, Britain, and France had //democratic// government →parliament consisting of representatives elected by the people. o Germany had a parliament, but power belonged with the Chancellor and Kaiser. o Italy had a monarchy with elected parliament voted for by only the wealthy. o Russia’s tsar and Austria Hungary’s emperor were //aucratic rulers// →although parliaments existed, they could only advise the rulers. o A lot of imperialism and imperialistic goals existed. o Alliances were formed. v THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE Germany Austria- Hungary Italy

v THE TRIPLE ENTENTE Britain France Russia

__Friction due to:__ o Serbian nationalism. o French resentment at losses to the Germans. o Naval rivalry between Britain and Germany. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Russian suspicions of Austrian ambitions in the Balkans. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> German accusations of being encircles by British, Russians, and French.

o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The Moroccan Crisis (1905-1906) - German attempt to test the recently signed Anglo- French ‘Entente- Cordiale.’ o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The British agreement with Russia (1907) - Seen by Germans as another hostile movie by British. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The Bosnia Crisis (1908) - Austrians took over the Turkish province of Bosnia during Revolution of Turkey. Blow at neighboring Serbia. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The Agadir Crisis (1911) - further development of Morocco situation. This was good for the Entente Powers. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The First Balkan War (1912) - The Balkan League attacked Turkey. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The Second Balkan War (1913) - Bulgarians were dissatisfied with the peace settlement. Bulgaria attacked Serbia. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand- This assassination sparked off the war. Directly following it, countries began declaring war.
 * 2)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> ****Events leading up to the outbreak of war**

o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The alliance system or “armed camps” made war inevitable. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> There existed a colonial rivalry in Africa and the Far East. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> The naval race between Britain and Germany. At first, the growth of the German fleet did not alarm the British, as they were far ahead. The naval race was the result. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Economic rivalry between Britain and Germany. “The desire for economic mastery of the world caused German businessmen and capitalists to want war with Britain… this theory… puts the blame for the war on the capitalist system. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Russia made was more likely by backing Serbia. Serbia had a strict anti- Austrian policy, which Russia added to. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> German backing for Austria was crucially important. o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Miscalculations made by the great powers reduced the time available for conciliation.
 * 3)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> ****What caused the war, and who was to blame? (Reasons for the escalation of the War)**

Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> **German historian, Fritz Fischer said Germany should take most of the blame. *Did Germany want a major war?**