Unit Test Review

1. Unit Test Review • Imperialism and The First World War

2. The Roots of Imperialism- II • The Industrial Revolution introduces new technologies such as the spinning mule, spinning jenny, seed drill, powered loom, and through the introduction of steam power-- the steamship, and too, the locomotive. • The new innovations lead to a population boom, an economic boom, and the creation of a powerful industrial infrastructure based on factory production and urbanization. The textile industry is the first to become mechanized, but, soon, others follow. Remember, where does all of this industrialization begin? It begins in Britain. • With the growth of industry and the economic boom in Europe, we see two different schools of economic emerge-- capitalism and socialism. Capitalism is marked by free enterprise- the ability to own your own business, make your own money and do it with little or no government interference (laissez-faire). Socialism is marked by some public ownership- the government owns some of the factories and operates some of the services needed by the people. Communism is extreme socialism- government control of all of the means of production.

3. The Roots of Imperialism- I • The Era of Exploration and Discovery begins a mercantilist policy similar to imperialism- the major powers of the day: Portugal, Spain, France and Britain claimed lands in present-day North and South America and exploited them for their resources. • Though Spain leads this early wave of exploration, after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 at the hands of the British, it begins its descent as a major world power- while Britain, on the other hand, begin to construct the world’s greatest global empire through the power of its mighty navy. • In this early era of what imperialism will look like later in Africa and Asia, the British exploit its colonies for such natural resources as timber, fish, and fertile soil for farming. • Though the British do not introduce the slave trade and the issues that come with it, slaves are imported in large numbers to work on large agricultural plantations in its colonies. The cotton and other products produced during this era will also initiate a new revolution- the Industrial Revolution.

4. The Roots of Imperialism- III • Finally, with the economic boom caused by the Industrial Revolution, power is measured by industrial growth and wealth. This leads the powers of Europe to seek new markets for their goods, places to obtain new raw materials for their factories and lands which can be used to link together their empires-- Imperialism! • Imperialism in Africa will begin with the takeover of the Congo in Central Africa by the European industrial country of Belgium. Next, the British and the French begin to exploit Africa for its wealth of natural resources and come to control much of the continent. • Some of the African nations will become part of the growing European empires as colonies. In a colony, the European empire directly governed the territory. Other areas of Africa and later Asia and Latin America too, would become protectorates. A protectorate is an area that is allowed by an empire to be able to govern itself.

5. The Reasons for Imperialism • Economic Competition- the thirst for new markets, the acquisition of raw materials for their growing factories and cities and the need for linking together their often far-flung global empires accelerate imperialism in the 1800’s. • Social Competition- racism (the belief that one group is superior to another), paternalism (the belief that one group should take care of another because it is incapable of doing so) and Social Darwinism (that because of one group’s development- that defines their superiority-- survival of the fittest). • Imperial Competition- after obtaining all of this land, the imperial powers needed to be able to link it all together with the acquisition of new territories. For example, both the British and the Americans obtain land to create canals to link together their acquired territories, and too, they obtain islands that allow their ships to able to stop and refuel.

6. Imperialism- Africa • In the 1870’s Belgium begins the African Scramble and by 1913 all of Africa except for Liberia and Ethiopia is gobbled up by European powers. Britain and France own much of the continent- almost 70% of it, by 1913. • The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 divides up Africa among the European powers without any recognition of the distinct cultures living within the regions controlled by these powers. This competition creates intense rivalries. • Medicines like quinine helped prevent diseases like malaria and yellow fever which in the past had kept Europeans from coming into Africa. However, African people were often forced to grow cash crops rather than food and many starve to death as a result. This disastrous effect of imperialism is felt throughout the globe. • New technologies- steamships and railroads allowed the Europeans to be able to navigate tough African rivers and railroads allowed them to take goods to their ports. The Suez Canal allows the British to link their empire together and Egypt is a key prize for its cotton for the textile industry. • In 1902, the Boer War introduces modern total war- including concentration camps, as the British come to control South Africa and the gold and diamond trade. • Weapons like the Maxim Gun make the conquest of Africa easy for the Europeans- whose weapons technologies lead to the death of many African people.

7. Imperialism- India • The British East India Company begins to assert its control over India in 1757. The valuable possession will come to be called the “Jewel in the Crown” for its wealth of resources that will be exploited by the British Empire. • The Sepoy Mutiny- in 1857 after some British soldiers had sealed their cartridge boxes with meats- Indian soldiers rebel. After this clash with British soldiers, a period of total British control “The Raj” begins that will last until India gains its independence in 1947. • With the Suez Canal and British control of Egypt, too, Indian cotton also becomes a staple for the British textile industry and helps fuel the British imperial economic boom. • The people of India also often face starvation at the hands of the British who force them to grow cash crops instead of food crops. But, it is the growth of one Indian crop- opium and its extensive trade that will allow the British to also extend their power into another ancient powerhouse- China!

8. Imperialism- China • Opium War 1838-1842: The British open up China and while trading Indian opium to the Chinese, establish a chain of addiction and begin to win control through their powerful navy to control key ports in China. After winning the war, the Treaty of Nanjing gives the British control over the key port of Hong Kong and other areas of the country. • Taiping Rebellion 1850-1864: rebelling against all foreigners, the Chinese try to kick them out of the country. Unfortunately, it not only fails, but, millions of Chinese people die from utter starvation. Many Chinese people move to the United States to be able to escape from it and work on the transcontinental railroad. • Open-Door Policy 1899- The United States put forward this policy which opens up China to trade with everyone and in effect, greatly weakens it- it gives all of the European powers spheres of influence, or areas of control within this ancient and once proud, nation. • Boxer Rebellion- 1902- another rebellion against foreigners in China. It was put down by an international army, killing many, many Chinese people.

9. Imperialism- Japan • 1854- Treaty of Kanagawa- With this treaty, the United States opens up Japan to the rest of the world for trade. • 1867-1912- Meiji Era- After kicking out the Tokugawa shogunate, the new dynastic rulers of Japan begin to rapidly westernize and modernize their country. • 1894-1895- Sino-Japanese War- Japan defeats China and acquires Korea and in-roads to Manchuria- a coal-rich region of China. • 1904-1905- Japan defeats Russia easily and stops the Russian advance into Manchuria.

10. The United States and Latin America • The Monroe Doctrine kept the powers of Europe from colonizing the developing nations of Latin America and the Caribbean. Britain still kept its possessions in the Caribbean, but the US for the first time is forced to back up its police powers during the Spanish-American War. • The US wins the Philippines, Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico after defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898. • The relationship between Cuba and the US is not a great one at all, as the Platt Amendment (1900) made Cuba a protectorate, but the relationship between Cuba and the US grew uglier as the US constantly wanted to assert more control over Cuba. The US was interested primarily in Cuba for the sugar, just as it had for Hawaii which it annexed also in 1898. • The Panamanians had sort of wanted their independence from Columbia for some time, but, when the US saw the potential for the building of a canal- a project which had been started earlier by the French- President Theodore Roosevelt, begins a revolt in Panama to break it away from Columbia, supports it, and then once it was achieved- acquired the land to build it and begun the process. The canal was opened in 1914. Theodore Roosevelt using the US as a police power to enforce the Monroe Doctrine in the Americas.

11. “The Balkans: The Powder Keg of Europe” This area of Southeastern Europe had been controlled by the Ottoman Empire for centuries. By 1900, though, most of the nation-states in the area wanted their independence- but, Russia and Austria still wanted to control the area. Russia, because the people spoke a similar language and had a similar culture had more ties to the people of the region which had been in ancient times a part of the Byzantine Empire and before that, of the Old Eastern Roman Empire.

12. Serbia, a kingdom in this region wanted to unite the Slavic people in the region together. But, in 1908, Austria-Hungary seized their neighbors Bosnia and Herzegovina which angered the Serbian people. In Serbia, a militant group, the Black Hand called for the end of Austrian rule in Bosnia.

13. On June 28, 1914, the heir to the throne of Austria Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sofie, paid a visit to the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. As the couple rode through the streets in an open car, they were shot by Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year old member of the Black Hand. This event sparked the beginning of World War I.

14. After the assassination, the alliance system came into play, as Russia came to aid Serbia after Austria declares war on it. Germany comes to the aid of Austria, once Russia makes it clear that it will aid Serbia. France then becomes involved to aid Russia. Soon, Britain, once Belgium is invaded and France threatened- enters the war on the side of the Allies. The Ottoman Empire, now Turkey, fights on the side of the Central Powers. Italy, which had been on the side of the Central Powers, later switches to the Allied side to regain territory it feared that Austria might want to reclaim.

15. The Schlieffen Plan: Invade France through Belgium and fight a holding action against Russia in the East. Win the Western Front quickly and then turn against Russia for the final smashing victory to win the war. This was the German plan for winning World War I.

16. Prelude The Western Front Concepts: The war in the Western Front is fought using trench warfare. The Allies were Britain, France, Russia, Italy and later the USA. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. The war in the Eastern Front is more mobilized, but, in it, the Allies face disaster as the Russians are defeated in battle after battle. New weapons are introduced into the war including: tanks, airplanes, machine guns and poison gas- all of which kill untold numbers of soldiers on both sides. The Russians were totally unprepared for the war as they had not industrialized. Their greatest strength was their large population. The Eastern Front Concepts:

17. Prelude The Western Front: Battles: Winners: Results: It ends the Schleiffen Plan and forces a stalemate in the Western Front. Marne Allies The Germans push the Allies back almost to Paris itself and end the war. Verdun Central Powers The Allies counterattack and push the German onslaught back. Somme Allies

18. Prelude The Eastern Front: Battles: The Russian army is destroyed and their offensive stopped with shocking losses. Tannenberg Central Powers Limanowa Central Powers The Russian army is destroyed and humiliated. Russia considers leaving the war. Gallipoli Central Powers Russia is isolated as the Allies lose control of the gateway to the Black Sea. Battles:

19. The US Enters the War • Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare. • The passenger ship Lusitania is torpedoed and the explosion kills 128 Americans. • The Zimmerman Note is intercepted which angers Americans as Germany proposes an alliance with Mexico to threaten the US. • The US has closer ties to the Allies- especially Britain and France- and a stream of propaganda also helps convince Americans to go to war.

20. Russia Leaves the War • Russian defeats on the frontier against Austria and Germany with staggering losses put the country into crisis. • The Russian economy was already fragile with large numbers of peasant farmers starving even before the war began. • Having been ruled by an autocratic regime for centuries, the Russian people lose faith in their leader, Tsar Nicholas II, who offers them no hope of change. • Russia had never industrialized and was not equipped or prepared to take on the modernized western powers such as Germany.

21. The Questions • The failure of an autocratic ruler to reform, the poor economic conditions, the lack of modernization and the disastrous failure of the armies in the field of battle in World War I would lead to the Russian Revolution. • Tsar Nicholas II- an autocratic ruler whose country lagged behind the major powers of Europe going into World War I. • Vladimir Lenin- a follower of the ideals of Karl Marx who was banished from Russia and later allowed to come back by the Germans. After he comes back to Russia, he initiates the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution. • The departure of the Russians from the Eastern Front during World War I was a disaster in the making for the Allies as it would allow the Germans to concentrate their massive war machine in the Western Front on the British and the French. Until the US enters the war on the side of the Allies, it appears that the Germans might have a chance to win the war. It is the entry of the US which turns the war in favor of the Allies. • The Russian Revolution installed a pure communist government which shocked the rest of the democratic world and in the process of doing so, killed millions of their own people.

22. The Timeline of the Russian Revolution • 1861- Russia free its serfs in principle, but in reality most of the serfs are still tied to the lands that are owned by wealthy nobles. Most of the peasants, the majority of the Russian people, live in a land which is slow to industrialize and very, very poor. • 1894- Nicholas II becomes Tsar and even though the steel industry grows in Russia and the massive Trans-Siberian Railway is constructed, working conditions were poor, wages were low for these poor workers, and often children were forced to work in terrible conditions. The Russian people grow angrier as their lives improve very little. • 1905- “Bloody Sunday” A large group of reform-minded average citizens appeal to the Tsar for changes and representation in the government, but are slaughtered in large numbers. Riots continue and the Tsar agrees to form a legislative body- the Duma. However, the Tsar actually pays no attention to the Duma. Remember, Russia, has also suffered a humiliating defeat to Japan at this time, too!

23. The Timeline of the Russian Revolution • 1914- Though the country is ill-prepared for it, it enters into World War I on the side of the Allies to help protect Serbia from the threat of Austria-Hungary, but, also to honor its alliance with France against Germany. It suffers disastrous defeat after defeat-- as the country had never industrialized as Germany and or Britain had its soldiers were so unprepared that at times they went into battle against the German war machine with no bullets for their rifles! While the army was losing in the field, many of the families of the soldiers at home were starving in the effort to keep the army going. • 1917- Russia drops out of World War I. The Tsar is deposed and his family is murdered. A provisional government is formed by Alexander Kerensky, but he wants to keep Russia in the war. The Russian soldiers refuse to fight and with the Russian people starving to death, local councils called soviets are formed. Revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin returns from his exile to Russia and begins the October Revolution of 1917 in which armed peasant workers depose Kerensky and take control of the government.

24. The Timeline of the Russian Revolution • 1918- The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk- This treaty ends the involvement of Russia in World War I. For a time, it appears that the revolution has worked, but, once the war ends, forces opposed to the communist Bolsheviks begin to gather themselves in Russia. • 1919-1921- A violent and bloody civil war begins in which the “Whites” opposed to the Bolsheviks under Lenin and the “Reds,” the followers of Lenin, fight for the control of the country. The former Allies of World War I- even the US send aid and too, troops to aid the “Whites.” After three bloody years of fighting in which 15 million Russian people perish, the “Reds” win. Russia is now renamed- The Soviet Union. • 1924- Lenin dies and a power struggle between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin begins, but after a year of back-stabbing, Stalin, wins out to become the new leader of the Soviet Union which he will lead until his death in 1953. By the late 1920’s Russia has recovered and its farms and factories are becoming more productive than ever before. It is a power on the rise to be reckoned with in the world.

25. The Tide Turns • In the spring of 1918, the Germans launch a massive offensive to try to end the war before the Americans can be put into the fighting in overwhelming numbers, but their offensive is stopped. • With the help of American troops, more than 300 tanks are massed and move forward to begin slowly pushing the German troops out of France. French troops continue the push and with the German army continuing to back down, its people turn on the Kaiser who leaves his throne. • On November 11, 1918, the war comes to an end with an armistice- an end to the fighting, but it is the highly controversial, unpopular and mistake-laden Treaty of Versailles of 1919 that will bring the war to an end. • The war cost $338 billion dollars and saw almost 30 million casualties, plus, an untold amount of destruction and the loss of a generation of Europeans. It had been a total war, which saw all of the resources of the powerful industrialized nations being used to try to win it. It also introduced new weapons: airplanes, tanks, machine guns, poison gas and submarines. Propaganda had played a heavy role throughout the war. Women obtain the ability to vote after it comes to its conclusion. Their increased abilities after the war is one of the few bright conclusions from this grisly war.

26. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 • The President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, proposed his Fourteen Points- a plan for world peace and to avoid another huge conflict, but the French who wanted solely to punish the Germans push for it to not be accepted. • The Fourteen Points included: an end to secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade,and reduced armies and navies- plus, it gave suggestions for changing borders and creating new nations, and adjusting colonial claims- all based upon self-determination. It also sought to create a League of Nations to solve international disputes. • The treaty left a bitter legacy. It blamed Germany for the war- making it completely responsible for it. Germany’s military was reduced, its overseas possessions were taken away, it was forced to give away some land, it was asked to pay reparations, and from the beginning, it was never involved in the peace process. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was split apart. The Ottoman Empire lost territory too, in the Middle East and became the nation of Turkey. Russia, who was not represented at the negotiating table also lost tremendous amounts of land. The loss of land for both Germany and Russia will eventually lead to the Second World War- just watch and see! • It also created a mandate system by which all of the territories that had been possessions of Germany in Africa and Asia were truly governed by the League of Nations through the Allies until they were ready to have their independence. • The United States- the dominant nation at the war’s end, did not even ratify the treaty as it sought to stay out of international affairs. A global economic catastrophe- a direct result of the conflict is to come!