Modern EuropeConflict and Change in Europe to the 21st century

WORLD WAR I

“The Great War” – 1914 to 1918

How did European imperialism in Africa and Asia lead to WWI?

Countries had built up resentments towards each other.

Conflict over the same landsWanted the same resources

Developed strong militaries to protect their colonies.

Military presence in colonies to maintain order

Felt FIERCE pride in their countries and possessions.

What were the causes of World War I?Imperialism:

A country controlling the government & economy of another country

Rivalries developed as countries tried to grab colonies.Conflicts occurred over colonies in Africa and Asia.European countries resented and distrusted each other.

Nationalism: A FIERCE pride in one’s country

Many countries wanted to be free from the control of other nations.

Militarism: Having the MOST POWERFUL military

Tensions built up as countries increased their militaries.

Alliances: Countries protected themselves and their colonies by forming alliances with other countries

• Summarization

What event led to the outbreak of WWI?Problems began between Serbia and Austria-Hungary

Assassination of A-H’s Archduke Francis Ferdinand – heir to the throne – in 1914 was the immediate cause of WWI.

Killed by a Serbian nationalist who wanted to free Bosnia from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and unite it with Serbia.

A-H was allied with GermanySerbia was allied with Russia

Germany declared war on Russia 4 days after the assassination – domino effect started. (America’s Got Talent example)

Summarizing Activity – Write It Down

If Europe had not divided itself into alliances, do you think WWI would have spread to as many countries?

Explain.

How did empire building affect each of the following:

NationalismMilitarism

Major Results of WWIEurope suffered major destruction

Almost 22 million soldiers and civilians died.

Results of the conflict . . .Economic CrisisRadical changes in governmentDecline in power of many European countries

What was the Treaty of Versailles?Treaty that ended WWI – signed in Versailles, France in 1919.

It made Germany take full blame for the war . . . and had to . . .

Give up 1 million square miles of land after the war.Most of the land lost was rich in natural resources that could have been used to generate income.

• (Some land had been acquired during the war.)

Accept full responsibility for causing the war and pay reparations to other countries for their losses and damages.

$35 billion in reparationsDifficult because Germany had to also rebuild its own economy and country.

Limit its armed forces and stop production of nearly all war materials.

Also, could NOT unite with Austria.

How did having to pay for the war impact Germany?

Germany was very bitter and angry about the terms of the treaty.

Factories closed, people lost their jobs, and economically Germany suffered greatly.

People started to rise up and protest as economic conditions worsened.

Germany became isolated from and distrusted by other countries.

Did the Treaty of Versailles do anything else?Created the League of Nations

A group of nations that vowed to work together to ensure a world war wouldn’t happen again.

USA Senate didn’t ratify the treaty – never became a member of the League of Nations.

Turned out to be weak because it had no power to enforce their decisions.

Summarizing Activity – Think, Pair, Share

List 4 restrictions that the Treaty of Versailles put on Germany.

How did Germany feel about this treaty?

Why did Russia drop out of WWI in 1917?WWI exposed Russia’s weaknesses…troops were poorly equipped and their leaders weren’t that good

Fought with the Allies in WWISuffered terrible lossesFood shortages, coal shortages, troops exhausted

After 2 ½ years of war, 9 million Russian troops were killed, wounded, or missing.

Russian people were unhappy & blamed the government

In 1917, Russian Revolution began and the government was overthrown

Workers united and overthrew the monarchy – Tsar Nicholas IIMajor cause of Russian Revolution was the differences between the social and economic classes in Russia.

Russian RevolutionFebruary 1917

Russian (Bolshevik) Revolution begins – communist partyLoss of land and heavy casualties reason for pullout of WWI and start of revolution

3 Parts of the Russian RevolutionFebruary Revolution – resulted in the overthrow of the czar

People were upset over their involvement in WWI and how the czar was running the country

October Revolution – marked the first communist revolution of the 20th century

Led by Vladimir Lenin Based on the ideas of Karl MarxMore violent than the first revolution

Civil War – third phaseLast more than 2 yearsBolsheviks retained control

Czarist Russia EndsMarch 2, 1917

Nicholas II abdicates and flees with his familyRevolts spring up from war shortagesTroops join in revolts – weak government followed

1918Vladimir Lenin becomes dictatorSpreads revolutionary ideas of a better life and fairness for all under communism

July 1918 Nicholas II and family executedRumors that daughter Anastasia survivedRomanov family was the last royal family of Russia

Ended 300 years of Romanov rule and 400 years of czarist rule

November 1918 World War I ends

Formation of Soviet Union1922

U.S.S.R. declared by LeninRussia and 15 smaller republics under one control

Summarizing Activity – True or FalseRussian citizens were happy and wealthy under Tsar Nicholas II.

Russia suffered terrible losses after WWI and the people were tired of being hungry, cold, and ravaged by war.

Russian monarchy was overthrown in the Russian Revolution.

The Bolshevik, or Communist Party, took over after the Russian Revolution.

What happens next???

Worldwide DepressionWorld’s economy slumped into a worldwide depression after WWI.

Suffered great loss of life and property damage. Borrowed $$$ to pay for war costs – no $$$ to repay debts.Industry, shipping and trade affected. MASSIVE Inflation

Inflation – prices rise and money loses valueCan’t buy as much tomorrow as you did today with the same amount of $$$

Worldwide depression affected the USA too . . .

Suffered from the Great Depression beginning in October 1929 and lasted into the 1930’s.

Longest period of unemployment and low economic activity in modern times.

By 1932, 1 in 4 Americans did not have a job. That’s 25% of people.

Review . . . List 4 reasons for the worldwide depression after WWI.Why is massive unemployment such a serious problem in any country?

The Rise of NazismAfter WWI, Weimar Republic (democratic) is in charge of Germany.

Faced major problems . . . Worldwide depression, unemployment, riots in the streets.

The people did not believe that their leaders could improve the situation.

They had lost all hope!

An angry, humiliated, bitter, and desperate Germany will appoint Adolf Hitler chancellor in 1933.

He will give hope to the German people by promising them jobs, food, money, etc.

Hitler was leader of the Nazi party.Nazis believed in fascism . . . Where a strong central government is controlled by the military and run by a dictator.

Wrote a book, Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which described his ideas on how to strengthen Germany.

Only after becoming leader legitimately, he will make himself “Fuhrer” and turn into a cruel and vicious dictator.

Believed that the Aryans (Germans) were the “master race”.Racist feelings against Jews, Slavs, gypsies and blacks.

Why did the Nazis grow in power?Offered cures for Germany’s economic problems.

Appealed to German nationalism by calling for an increase in armed forces and expansion of German territory.

Violations of the Treaty of Versailles.

United Germans against Jews by blaming the Jews for Germany’s problems.

Convinced Germans that the Nazi could protect them from potential enemies like Russia.

Organized private, armed groups to terrorize anyone who opposed them.

Few people spoke out against them inside or outside Germany.

Summarizing Activity – Think, Pair, Share

Germany’s form of government after WWI . . .

Leader of the Nazi party . . .

Define fascism . . .

Book that defined Hitler’s solutions . . .

Racist feelings of 4 groups . . .

3 reasons why the Nazis gained power . . .