Why was WWI considered the Great War or the War to end al wars?

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WWI: Causes, Effects and Unresolved Issues

Document one illustrates the growing tensions amongst the between France and Prussia over territories like Alsace and Lorraine in addition to other European tensions and growing alliances

A.the iron rich Alsace-Loraine was lost to Germany in the Franco-Prussian war leading to tensions between the newly formed German and France

Document 2 is a secret treaty between Austria-Hungary and Germany as a cautionary measure to protect them against a potential attack against Russia fearing a two front war

Document 2: The Dual Alliance

Between Austria-Hungary and Germany - October 7, 1879

ARTICLE 1.Should, contrary to their hope, and

against the loyal desire of the two High Contracting Parties, one of the

two Empires be attacked by Russia the High Contracting Parties are bound to

come to the assistance one ofthe other with the whole war strength of

their Empires, and accordingly only to conclude peace together and

upon mutual agreement.

P. This treaty was kept secret from France and their allies to surreptitiously prepare for a military conflict after Germany will annex Alsace-Lorraine making them a legitimate industrial and imperial power through Bismarck’s Blood and iron campaign inspiring German Nationalism

Document 3 illustrates that both sides prior to WWI are spending vast sums of money to fortify their navies with dreadnoughts in anticipation of conflict

L Militarism was an important competitive practice amongst imperial nations and the development of the dreadnought illustrated a command of the world’s oceans leading to the fear of the U-boat

In Document 4 satirist Mark Twain identifies the nationalism amongst 19 groups within the Austro-Hungarian Empire which, while unified, could possibly be stirred into dissent

Document 4: "Stirring Times in Austria" by Mark Twain

[This article first appeared in Harper's New Monthly Magazine for March, 1898 (Volume 96),

pp. 530-40.]I. THE GOVERNMENT IN THE FRYING-PAN

Here in Vienna in these closing days of 1897 one's blood gets no chance to stagnate. The atmosphere

isbrimful of political electricity. All conversation is

political; every man is a battery, with brushes over-worn,

and gives out blue sparks when you set him going on the common topic. Everybody has an opinion,

and letsyou have it frank and hot, and out of this multitude

of counsel you get merely confusion and despair. For no

one really understands this political situation, or can tell you what is going to be the outcome of it.

I. nationalism within the Austro-Hungarian Empire led to many new alliances like that of the Pan-Slav group black hand who would look toward Russia for independence against Austro-Hungary

Document 5 illustrates the alliances of the allied and central powers poised to mobilize forces in the event of a “spark

F. The assassination of, heir to the Austrian throne, arch Duke Franz Ferdinand served as the spark which created a series of declarations of war across Europe

American Exports in document 6 seem to suggest leanings to UK and France from 1910-1915 with 1915 being the most pronounced

E. American business interests in Europe seemed to favor the triple entente(FRE) and, therefore, created animosity amongst the triple alliance(GAI)

Photographs in doc 7 of new military technologies like tanks, trench warfare, dreadnoughts and machine guns suggest WWI would be a different kind of war

R. The scientific application of the weapons of war contributed to 20 million casualties and a lost generation.

Document 8 illustrates the total war where the battlefield was not the only opportunity for citizens to participate in the war effort.

O. This YMCA poster urges women to join the industrial work force to help build the weapons of war for the boys overseas in support

Documents 9 juxtaposes the years of stalemate in Dulcet Et Decorum Est. with the vitality of the United States readiness for was in over there

Document 9: Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen and “Over There” by

George M. CohanDulce Et Decorum Est

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we

cursed through sludge,Till on the haunting flares we turned our

backsAnd towards our distant rest began to

trudge.Men marched asleep. Many had lost their

bootsBut limped on, blood-shod. All went lame;

all blind;Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of five-nines that dropped behind.

C. These two poems/songs serve to both illustrate the nationalism involved in placing your country first as well as the sacrifices soldiers had to make during WWI

The Zimmerman Telegram in document 10 suggests an alliance between Mexico and Germany in the event the United States does not remain neutral. In return, Mexico will receive lands lost and allied potentially with Japan.

K. The secret alliances continued as Germany’s fear of U.S .involvement in the war might break the stalemate and encouraged an old foe to attack if the United States becomes involved with Japan as a surprise allied.

In Document 11 in a letter to Lord Rothschild, Arthur Balfour promises lands in Palestine to the nationalist Jews known as the Zionist federation who were looking for an independent homeland

B. Zionism was a form of Jewish nationalism formed to unify against anti-Semitism prevalent in Europe and ,with the promise of Arthur Belfour, would provide a reason for Jews to fight in WWI

The Sykes-Picot agreement in document 12 illustrates an alliance between the British and French governments to control oil rich Arab territories both directly and indirectly

G. the secret Sykes-Picot agreement gave the Pan-Arab national movement a reason to join the British and French to encourage their motivation to fight against Ottoman forces

The Versailles treaty in Document 13 illustrate the dissolution of the Ottoman territories, redistribution of German territories and a guilt clause punishing Germany for losses incurred during WWI

M. The treaty which ended WWI took place for 6 months in the Paris Peace conference and lead to the splintering of Ottoman, German and Austro-Hungarian forces as well as demanding German pay reparations creating new tensions

Document 14 is American President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points brought about to congress a way to prevent future wars including demilitarize, opening up of trade barriers, and popular sovereignty for former colonies.

H. Wilsons proposal to Congress appealed to prevent any future American incursions which were not passed due to the overwhelming need by congressmen to remain isolated

The political cartoon in document 15 illustrates Wilson’s inability to carry out his 14 points to a league of nations without approval of congress.

D. With congresses failure to pass Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points, the League of Nations (Wilson’s idea) were on their own to carry out these difficult measures.

Document 16 illustrates the father of Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) in evaluating the primitive nature of humankind and their ability to murder regardless of being civilized.

Document 16: “Thoughts for the Times on War and Death”, Sigmund Freud, 1915

“We had expected the great ruling powers among the white nations upon whom the

leadership of the humanspecies has fallen…to whose creative powers

were due our technical advances in the direction of dominating

nature, as well as the artistic and scientific acquisitions of the mind--peoples such as

these we had expected tosucceed in discovering another way of settling

misunderstandings and conflicts of interest.”“And so, if we are to be judged by the wishes

in our unconscious, we are, like primitive men, simply a gang of

murderers.”

J. The psychological scars of war were studied by Freud which illustrated the human need to refrain from any future wars while also illustrating the murderous nature of mankind

The response to the terrors of poison gases in document 17 utilized in WWI was a reaction to preventing these horrors and atrocities from ever happening again.

Q. The technologies of war like gas were finally done away with in the Geneva accords to prevent the future crimes and tragedies which befell so many.

Document 18 documents the unintended consequence of war which was the Spanish Influenza and the toll it took on lives and minds

N. With so many casualties and massive mobility of so many nations (both colonies and imperializes) the Spanish influenza left its mark on the lost generation contributing to the already painful memories of the war to end all wars