AP Review #7: Anxiety/Imperialism (Ch.

24) & World War I

(Ch. 25)
Modernity, Anxiety, Imperialism (1894-1914)
Belief in human progress was a cornerstone of modern society at the turn of the century.
Advances in science and technology influenced all facets of life in industry and in the home.
But that progress also gave rise to destructive forces. European powers used advances in human
thought and technology to gain control over rival nations and people, which led to protests and
eventual war as Europe exploded in a frenzy of hatred
New Imperialism
Motives
o Economic- industrialists sought new markets and access to raw materials
o Prestige- nationalist pride drove European states to compete for colonies & distract
attention from problems at home
o Militaristic- gain access to outposts and fueling stations abroad
o Moral- the white mans burden held that Europeans, as the superior culture, had an
obligation to spread their culture to those inferior to them
Scramble for Africa
o Led by GB, soon Portugal, France, Italy, Belgium claimed territory; Africans were
slaughtered as their militias were no match for European armies (Ethiopia/Liberia ONLY
exceptions)
Imperialism in Asia
o Sepoy Mutiny (1857): rebellion ensued against GB when Indian soldiers refused to use
animal fat to grease riffle cartridges; control of India shifted from BEIC to the GB govt
(Queen Victoria)
o Opium Wars: Chinese revolt against GB for their refusal to stop selling opium to their
citizens
o Open-Door Policy: China divided into spheres by Western power and free-trade was
promoted
o Boxer Rebellion (1900): attempt to force all foreigners out of China; many Westerners
killed, but foreign armies banded to crush the revolt; eventually Republic of China
created in 1912
Modern Science
Physics:
o Marie Curie: discovery of radium (1902); Max Planck: quantum theory (1900); Albert
Einstein: theory of relativity- space and time are relative to the observer, rather than
absolute (1915); combined these ideas opened the door for modern physics and new
discoveries
Philosophy:
o Nietzsche: embrace of the reason stunted human potential; through abandoning
Christianity and giving free reign to emotion/instinct, believed we could become
superhuman
o Freud: psychoanalysis- human behavior is controlled by repressed experiences that can
only be resolved through analyzing our subconscious memories
Evolution:
o Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism- the fittest prospered at the expense of the weak;
his ideas used to justify nationalist/racist agendas (esp. in Africa)
Racism
After decades of progress (ex. Jews granted full-citizenship in GR-1858, AH-1867), a new
rise in anti-Semitism occurred. States took a more dominant role in organizing racism, as
justified by Spencers theories (ex. Dreyfus Affair- FR army captain who was Jewish
 imprisoned for selling secrets; conservatives used the incident to push anti-Semitic
policies through legislation)
Zionism emerged in Palestine, led by Theodore Herzl, which focused on establishing a
Jewish state in the Middle East
World War I (1914-18)
The removal of Bismarck from office weakened the peaceful diplomatic policies that he
promoted; the decline of the Ottoman Empire upset the balance of power in the East; aggressive
nature of Wilhelm II forced the creation of the Triple Entente (Russia, GB, France); and nationalist
tensions in the Balkans created a crisis that would go unresolved. World War I drastically altered
the economic, social and political order and left disillusionment in its wake. Many problems
remained unresolved, leading to a second world war.
Causes
M- Militarism; leaders ordered the mobilization of the militaries (RUS first) in preparation
for war, showed they were eager to use their military strength if need be (made diplomacy
less attractive)
A- Alliances; lines were drawn early one; eventually a snowball effect will occur igniting
a serious war in a matter of weeks; Germanys blank-check to Austria all but sealed this
fate
I- Imperialism; the competition for colonies (mostly in Africa) fed into European rivalries
N- Nationalism; national honor was a top priority, and many countries were led by
leaders who saw no hope in diplomacy; a push for independence by minority groups set
tense events into motion
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand by Bosnian Serbs against the future king of
Austria-Hungary (and his wife) were the first shots of World War I; triggered the chain of
declarations of war as nations were forced to honor their alliances
Military/Battles war was initially celebrated and soldiers went off eager and willing to
show honor to their nation, excepting to be home by Christmas
Development of the tank led to digging of trenches, which would characterize war in the
west
Germany quickly won in the east and could concentrate on the west (Schlieffan Plan), but
frontal assaults resulted in stalemate
The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers but campaigns to encourage Arabs leaders
to revolt (led by Lawrence of Arabia) sealed their collapse
The United States entered in 1917 after Germany resumed unrestricted-submarine warfare
(warned to stop after sinking of the Lusitania in 1915); entry gave new life to Allied Powers
all while German soldiers and resources grew more war-weary
Governments used propaganda to maintain support on the home front and conscription
reached new heights; labor unions gained more power because workers were needed to
produce war materials
Women also gained status as they fulfilled jobs left vacant by men (even in heavy
industry) and were granted the right to vote at the conclusion of the war (women voters
might promote diplomatic policies that could avoid another war)
Outcomes Wilhelm II abdicated (Nov 1918) and a new German govt signed an armistice
treaty
GB and FR pursued a more harsh response to Germany than the U.S. (who was guided by
Wilsons 14 Pointsself-determination/League of Nations/freedom of the seas)
Treaty of Versailles: Paris, 1919
o German to pay 33 billion in reparations; sign a war-guilt clause; lose territory (ending
the Second German Empire); and military reduced to small police force
o Dismantling of the Ottoman Empire was replaced by a madate system (Syria &
Lebanon to GB and Jordan/Palestine to FR) and purpose was to establish those new
nations under self-rule
 o League of Nations was created but failed because U.S. and Russia did not join and it
was not granted an army to enforce its decisions (will become the United Nations after
WWII)
o United States and Great Britain reverted to isolationism after the war
Russian Revolution
Causes: 1) defeat in war with Japan (1905); 2) incompetence of Nicholas II; 3) landless
peasantry; 4) protest of involvement in WWI
March Revolution: protests forced the abdication of Nicholas II and the creation of a
provisional (temporary) government divided between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks (led by
Lenin who called for complete destruction of the capitalist system was a Marxist socialist,
peace, land, bread)
Bolsheviks seized power and made true on their promise (got out of WWI with Treaty of
Brest-Litovsk, factories were returned to workers); Bolsheviks become called the
Communists
Civil War ensued (White Army=anti-communist forces; Red Army=Bolsheviks); secret
police called on to eliminate all competition; Communists centralized power by 192; Lenin
was leader of USSR