The Great War-World War I

Grade 11: Canadian History

Durling2014

Context to WWI1. Imperialism - a policy of extending a country's

power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

a.Regressive Imperialismb.Progressive Imperialism

2. Nationalism – a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one’s nation – requires a national identity

French Revolution and Nationalism

• French Revolution in 1789, promoting a strong identity for the nation. – Napoleon justified expansion of the nation, as it needed to

spread the ideas generated from the French Revolution. – French Revolution abandoned feudalism, looked to

democracy and nation-state. • Napoleon – great commander, eventually lost to

resistance by Russia. After loss, extreme nationalist identity begins to emerge in Europe

a. Defining borders.b. Defining what it means to be ________ nation.

1.Increasing Imperialism 2.Increasing Nationalism

• Have you seen this elsewhere in history so far? • What do you think are the political impacts of

increasing Imperialism & Nationalism?

So…

• Congress of Vienna in 1814–Goal is to restore balance of dominant

nations, so that peace can exist in the long term.–New confederated state of Germany

(Prussia) gains a lot of territory, along with Austrian Empire and Russia– France = reduced to pre-war.–Britain = not much change.

Franco-Prussian War

• 1870, Prussia (Germany), wanting to unify some of its satellite states, attacks France and wins.

• Resulted in an imbalance of power, Prussia becomes a significant power in Europe.

• The goal in the Congress of Vienna is disrupted. Other powers become nervous.

Colonialism in Africa• 1870, 10% of Africa is

controlled by European Powers.

• By the beginning of WWI, 90% is colonized.

• Africa's population under control; Britain 30%, 15% for France, 11% for Portugal, 9% for Germany, 7% for Belgium and 1% for Italy.

• Tensions rise in political powers, desperate scramble to legitimize territory in Africa.

BritainFrance

Germany

Portugal

Belgium

Britain

Alliances

• Creates a web of war pacts. If one country declares war, the countries with an alliance are also at war.

• The build-up to Alliances in WWI: –Khan Academy - Alliance to WWI

The Big Five

• 1839 – Treaty of London – Britain and Belgium• 1879 – Duel Alliance Treaty – Germany and Austria-

Hungary• 1892 – Franco-Russian Military Convention – France

and Russia• 1904 – Entente Cordial – Britain and France• 1908 – Anglo-Russian Convention - Britain and

Russia

Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance

1. France2. Britain 3. Russia

1. Germany

2. Austria-Hungary

3. Italy 4. Italy

Balkans Nationalism and the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Balkans War – Serbian counties attempting to unify and become their own state and not be absorbed into Austrian expansion for power.

• Balkans territories are annexed from Austria-Hungary control. Serbia maintains link with Russia.

• Balkans ethnicity

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand – Heir to Austrian-Hungary Empire in Sarajevo

• June 28, 1914; 19 year old nationalist, Gavrilo Princip shoots and kills Ferdinand and wife, Sophie.

• Assassination

Dominos – Alliances & War

• July 23, 1914 – Austria gives ultimatum (do this or else) to Serbia. Russia back Serbia if the state is attacked

• July 28, 1914 – Germany Backs Austria, Austria Declares War on Serbia

• July 31, 1914 – Russia mobilizes its forces• August 1, 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia; August

3 declares war on France; August 4 invades Belgium in devised plan to quickly knock-out France in Schlieffen Plan (invading neutral Belgium triggers treaty with Britain declares war)

• WWI begins…

• 47 year old nation, population of 7 million• High numbers of immigrants, many from Britain. Concerns about

Galician and Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) immigrants.

• Small fighting force – some soldiers had served in the Boer War in South Africa.

• Regular armed forces totaling 3,110• Around 65 – 70,000 others had received some militia basic training

• Very few modern rifles & equipment, shortage of officers, 1 seaworthy ship.

• However, modernization for militaristic participation was developing.

• New armories and rifles to be built; military bases; War Book – plans for governmental departments in the event of war

Canada in 1914

• War Measures Act (1914) – Gave the Federal Government the authority to do

everything it deemed “necessary for the security, defense, peace, order and welfare of Canada.”

What do you think are the implications of this act?

What do you think would include as everything “necessary”?

Canada’s politics and identity entering the Great War

Canada’s politics and identity entering the Great War cont’d

• Automatically became involved in the war when Britain declared War.– “to put forth every effort and to make every sacrifice necessary to

ensure the integrity and maintain the honour of our Empire.” – Sir Robert Borden (Prime Minister of Canada)

– “It will be seen by the world that Canada, a daughter of old England, intends to stand by her in this great conflict. When the call comes our answer goes at once, and it goes in the classical language of the British answer to the call of duty: ‘Ready, aye, ready.’” – Sir Wilfred Laurier (Leader of the Official Opposition)

What stands out in these messages? What is your perception of Canada’s Identity?

Enlistment

Enlistment & Recruitment• Over 600,000 Canadians would go overseas; 59,000 by the

end of 1914.• Recruitment strategies involved clergy (to preach during

church service), and women. • White Feathers – given by some women to young men

not in uniform, on the assumption that they were cowards.

• Posters coercing women to influence men to enlist• By October 3, 1914, the first contingent of 31,200 soldiers

left Quebec City, where they would complete their second stage training in England. First contingent would be war-ready by January 1915.

Aboriginal Enlistment• “Hostile,” “Wild,” and “Invasive” were some words that were

used in newspapers to describe Aboriginal people at the turn of the 20th century.

• 1906 Geneva Convention - Gave certain rules for warfare.• Under the common literature that depicted “Indians,” this posed a

problem as they were perceived as “wild and torturous.” Many were rejected of service at first, as Germans might refuse to engage in civilized warfare otherwise.

• Social Darwinism – “Indians” were supposedly dying out.• “make the death struggle of the primitive as soft as possible.”

• Social Hierarchy – “efficiency is compromised”• What if “the races” got a taste for killing white men?

• Intense casualties opened registration for Aboriginal volunteers – nearly 4,000 would serve in the military.

• Extremely valuable, great scouts, trackers and marksmen

• Francis Pegahmagabow (Parry Island, ON).

• Sniper and tracker.• Gassed at Ypres• Shot in leg in Battle of

the Somme

Aboriginal Enlistment