AP World HistoryAP World HistoryPOD #24 – Europe Clings to POD #24 – Europe Clings to

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Total WarTotal War

Class Discussion Class Discussion QuestionsQuestions

McKay – “The Home Front”, pp. 900-904McKay – “The Home Front”, pp. 900-904

What is the relationship between the What is the relationship between the outbreak of the Great War and the outbreak of the Great War and the Industrial Revolution?Industrial Revolution?

• The Industrial Revolution created The Industrial Revolution created new methods to mass produce goodsnew methods to mass produce goods

• The Industrial Revolution created The Industrial Revolution created cheaper products with improved cheaper products with improved qualityquality

• The Great War saw the creation of The Great War saw the creation of new methods to improve the new methods to improve the efficiency of killing (machine gun, gas efficiency of killing (machine gun, gas etc.)etc.)

What are the key events in the What are the key events in the evolution of the Great War?evolution of the Great War?

• First Battle of the Marne - the Belgians, French, and British First Battle of the Marne - the Belgians, French, and British fought bravely stifling the original efforts of the Schlieffen Plan / fought bravely stifling the original efforts of the Schlieffen Plan / it should be noted that at one point French reserves were sent to it should be noted that at one point French reserves were sent to the front in taxicabsthe front in taxicabs

• Trench Warfare - French resistance at the Marne brought about Trench Warfare - French resistance at the Marne brought about the onset of brutal trench warfare / With the start of trench the onset of brutal trench warfare / With the start of trench warfare human losses were staggering and territorial gains warfare human losses were staggering and territorial gains minimalminimal

• Russian Backwardness - they were backwards and undersupplied Russian Backwardness - they were backwards and undersupplied / the Germans were easily able to advance into Russia/ the Germans were easily able to advance into Russia

• Italian Switch (May 1915) - Italy an original member of the Triple Italian Switch (May 1915) - Italy an original member of the Triple Alliance joined the Triple Entente of Russia, France, and Great Alliance joined the Triple Entente of Russia, France, and Great BritainBritain

• Ottoman Empire (1918) - the British army smashed the Ottoman Ottoman Empire (1918) - the British army smashed the Ottoman Empire / the Ottoman Empire fell apartEmpire / the Ottoman Empire fell apart

• United States Entry (April 1917) - joined the allied powers in United States Entry (April 1917) - joined the allied powers in defense of neutral shipping rights / German U-Boats sunk defense of neutral shipping rights / German U-Boats sunk numerous vessels (Lusitania) as it attempted to blockade Great numerous vessels (Lusitania) as it attempted to blockade Great Britain forcing submission / the balance of power tipped to the Britain forcing submission / the balance of power tipped to the Triple Entente / victory was inevitableTriple Entente / victory was inevitable

What is total war?What is total war?

– August 1914- people greeted war enthusiasticallyAugust 1914- people greeted war enthusiastically– War support contributed to national unity and an energetic war effortWar support contributed to national unity and an energetic war effort– Each country experienced a desperate demand for men and womenEach country experienced a desperate demand for men and women– Each nation faced shortages as pre war Europe had depended on Each nation faced shortages as pre war Europe had depended on

foreign trade and an international division of laborforeign trade and an international division of labor– Government began to control economic and social life to meet its’ war Government began to control economic and social life to meet its’ war

needs needs – Free capitalism was temporarily abandoned and replaced by Free capitalism was temporarily abandoned and replaced by

government planning boards who prioritized war demandsgovernment planning boards who prioritized war demands– Rationing, price, and wage controls and even restrictions on workers Rationing, price, and wage controls and even restrictions on workers

freedom of movement were imposed by the governmentfreedom of movement were imposed by the government– Women went to work in factories (they were later rewarded with the Women went to work in factories (they were later rewarded with the

right to vote after the war)right to vote after the war)– Labor unions gained power and prestigeLabor unions gained power and prestige– War promoted greater social equality as class distinctions were War promoted greater social equality as class distinctions were

weakenedweakened– The aristocratic labor of skilled workers were spared as they were The aristocratic labor of skilled workers were spared as they were

needed at home to train new workers- the rest of society was destroyed needed at home to train new workers- the rest of society was destroyed in the trenches in the trenches

– Propaganda was used to increase support for the warPropaganda was used to increase support for the war

What were the strengths and What were the strengths and weaknesses each of the major weaknesses each of the major powers brought to the Great War?powers brought to the Great War?

• Great Britain – Industrial and Imperial Power Great Britain – Industrial and Imperial Power • Germany – Industrial and Imperial Power / Germany – Industrial and Imperial Power /

New Military Technology (U-Boat) / New Military Technology (U-Boat) / surrounded by enemiessurrounded by enemies

• France – Home Field Advantage / too weak France – Home Field Advantage / too weak to stop the German offensive on their ownto stop the German offensive on their own

• Russia - Russian Winter / Lack of Technology Russia - Russian Winter / Lack of Technology and Industryand Industry

• United States – New energy and Industrial United States – New energy and Industrial Power / IsolatedPower / Isolated

What is the relationship between What is the relationship between the Great War and capitalism?the Great War and capitalism?

• Capitalism was predicated on Capitalism was predicated on competition. This manifested itself competition. This manifested itself in imperialism and the competition in imperialism and the competition for world resources and markets. for world resources and markets. This competition eventually brought This competition eventually brought the European nations into direct the European nations into direct conflict and war with each other.conflict and war with each other.

What is the relationship between What is the relationship between Great War and socialism?Great War and socialism?

• Socialism allows for government control Socialism allows for government control over the economy. In order to regulate over the economy. In order to regulate the war effort governments had to the war effort governments had to employ “War Socialism” in order to employ “War Socialism” in order to ensure that the troops at the front would ensure that the troops at the front would continue to be supplied.continue to be supplied.

• Socialism was successful in providing for Socialism was successful in providing for the war effort. People were now the war effort. People were now interested in experimenting with it as a interested in experimenting with it as a means to improve and provide for their means to improve and provide for their daily life away from the war.daily life away from the war.

What were the effects of war What were the effects of war weariness on Europe and the war weariness on Europe and the war effort?effort?– began to set in by 1916began to set in by 1916– support for the war began to wanesupport for the war began to wane– ALL elements of society became ALL elements of society became

disgruntleddisgruntled