The World in 1914The World in 1914

Setting the stage for warSetting the stage for war

Don’t write this!!!!!Don’t write this!!!!!

This note is written in sentences but your notes This note is written in sentences but your notes do not have to be.do not have to be.

As you see this note, practice writing only the As you see this note, practice writing only the essential bits for each pointessential bits for each point

Also, as I blab about these topics, try to add Also, as I blab about these topics, try to add one extra bit of information for each page one extra bit of information for each page (more, if I am particularly interesting that (more, if I am particularly interesting that day!)day!)

IndustryIndustry The world was a very different place in 1914 The world was a very different place in 1914

than it would be just a few years later. Rapid than it would be just a few years later. Rapid industrializationindustrialization was changing how people was changing how people worked and lived. worked and lived.

It was also changing how countries saw It was also changing how countries saw themselves and how they related to each other. themselves and how they related to each other.

More and more More and more foreign policy foreign policy was dictated by was dictated by the needs of a country’s industry. the needs of a country’s industry.

Factories needed Factories needed raw materialsraw materials, so the European , so the European nations continued to seek out and hold on to nations continued to seek out and hold on to their their coloniescolonies that supplied those materials. that supplied those materials.

The best way to move those materials was by The best way to move those materials was by ship. ship.

Therefore, the movement of these goods had Therefore, the movement of these goods had to be protected on the seas and oceans by to be protected on the seas and oceans by powerful navies. powerful navies.

In 1914, a strong navy represented industrial In 1914, a strong navy represented industrial and military power.and military power.

Arms RaceArms Race Industry meant power. If a country had a well Industry meant power. If a country had a well

developed industry they had more money and developed industry they had more money and more military strength. more military strength.

The two most The two most industrialized industrialized nations in Europe nations in Europe at the time were (and still are) Germany and at the time were (and still are) Germany and Britain. Britain.

Shortly after the turn of the century these two Shortly after the turn of the century these two countries began building their navies at an countries began building their navies at an alarming rate. alarming rate.

Each wanted better, faster, bigger and more Each wanted better, faster, bigger and more ships than the other.ships than the other.

Each of them wanted to have the advantage so Each of them wanted to have the advantage so that they could feel safe. that they could feel safe.

This This arms race arms race also made each of them scared also made each of them scared and suspicious of the other. and suspicious of the other.

In hindsight, we can now see that a war was In hindsight, we can now see that a war was almost certainly going to be the final outcome almost certainly going to be the final outcome of this race.of this race.

PoliticsPolitics The political structure of Europe was also very The political structure of Europe was also very

different in 1914. Many countries were still different in 1914. Many countries were still ruled by ruled by hereditary monarchshereditary monarchs. .

In Germany there was a Kaiser, In Germany there was a Kaiser, in Britain there was a King, in Britain there was a King, in Russia there was Czar (Tsar), in Russia there was Czar (Tsar), and in Austria-Hungary an Emperor. and in Austria-Hungary an Emperor. In these countries (with the exception of In these countries (with the exception of

Britain) many of the important political Britain) many of the important political decisions were made by the monarch rather decisions were made by the monarch rather than elected officials.than elected officials.

This situation does not always lead to This situation does not always lead to thoughtful consideration of thoughtful consideration of policypolicy and its and its consequences. consequences.

In some cases these rulers liked to show off In some cases these rulers liked to show off their power by making threatening speeches their power by making threatening speeches and demonstrating their military might. and demonstrating their military might.

Other countries found this behaviour alarming.Other countries found this behaviour alarming.

InventionsInventions

Between 1900 and 1914 the world also saw Between 1900 and 1914 the world also saw the development of new inventions that would the development of new inventions that would change how people lived and waged war. change how people lived and waged war.

The automobile, the airplane and the machine The automobile, the airplane and the machine gun (to name just a few) were all created and gun (to name just a few) were all created and improved in this era. improved in this era.

Few people understood the effect that these Few people understood the effect that these would have on warfare.would have on warfare.

WarWar

Despite these changes most people thought Despite these changes most people thought that the war would be like wars in the past. that the war would be like wars in the past.

They also believed that it would be short. They also believed that it would be short. Many still saw war as a noble and glorious Many still saw war as a noble and glorious

adventure … they were wrong.adventure … they were wrong.