World Wars I & IIWorld Wars I & II

Causes of World War ICauses of World War I

Six major factors are advanced as Six major factors are advanced as primary causes of WWIprimary causes of WWI

– Rise of GermanyRise of Germany– Alliance SystemAlliance System– Economic Change and CompetitionEconomic Change and Competition– NationalismNationalism– ImperialismImperialism– ““Cult of the Offensive.”Cult of the Offensive.”

Rise of GermanyRise of Germany

Germany's Germany's unification and unification and growing power growing power worried its worried its neighbors,neighbors,

– Especially France Especially France and Russia.and Russia.

At the same time, Germany felt encircled At the same time, Germany felt encircled by potential enemies.by potential enemies.

Germany's ambitious naval construction Germany's ambitious naval construction program alarmed Britain and precipitated program alarmed Britain and precipitated a naval arms race.a naval arms race.

Alliance SystemAlliance System

After 1890, After 1890, Bismarck's system of Bismarck's system of flexible alliances flexible alliances began to be began to be replaced by rigid replaced by rigid strategic alignments. strategic alignments.

– Russo-French alliance, Russo-French alliance, 18941894

– Anglo-Japanese Anglo-Japanese alliance, 1902alliance, 1902

– Anglo-French entente, Anglo-French entente, 19041904

Alliances in PlaceAlliances in Place

These alliances were designed to:These alliances were designed to:– Prevent a major war,Prevent a major war,

But their net affect was that if two of the But their net affect was that if two of the Great Powers went to war, the rest would Great Powers went to war, the rest would quickly follow.quickly follow.

Alliance SystemAlliance System

Population and Population and industrial industrial capacity grew capacity grew throughout throughout Europe in the late Europe in the late 1919thth & early 20 & early 20thth centuries,centuries,

– But some states But some states grew much faster grew much faster than others.than others.

Germany and the United States, in Germany and the United States, in particular, grew rapidly, andparticular, grew rapidly, and– Outdistanced Britain as the world's Outdistanced Britain as the world's

leading economic power.leading economic power.

Germany's economic Germany's economic growth enabled it to growth enabled it to challenge Britain for challenge Britain for political influence andpolitical influence and– Caused British grand Caused British grand

strategy to shiftstrategy to shift From containment of From containment of

Russia and FranceRussia and France To containment of To containment of

Germany.Germany.

NationalismNationalism

The continued The continued appeal of nationalist appeal of nationalist political doctrine political doctrine threatened the threatened the security, and the security, and the very existence, of very existence, of Europe's Europe's multinational multinational empiresempires

– Russia,Russia,– Austria-Hungary,Austria-Hungary,– Ottoman Empire.Ottoman Empire.

““Cult of the Offensive”Cult of the Offensive”

Germany's rapid victories in the Germany's rapid victories in the wars of German unification led wars of German unification led strategists to believe that future strategists to believe that future wars would be very short,wars would be very short,

– And that speed of mobilization would And that speed of mobilization would determine victory or defeat;determine victory or defeat;

This belief is now known as the This belief is now known as the cult cult of the offensive.of the offensive.

This belief in the This belief in the superiority of the superiority of the offensive ignored offensive ignored technological technological developmentsdevelopments– Such as the machine Such as the machine

gun andgun and– Evidence from recent Evidence from recent

warswars American Civil WarAmerican Civil War Boer WarBoer War

– Which were struggles Which were struggles of attrition.of attrition.

As a result, by As a result, by 1914, the 1914, the European powers European powers prepared grandiose prepared grandiose offensive plansoffensive plans– Especially the Especially the

Schlieffen Plan,Schlieffen Plan, Seen as Germany's Seen as Germany's

only chance to avoid only chance to avoid defeat in a two-front defeat in a two-front war with France and war with France and RussiaRussia

At the same time, At the same time, the “cult of the the “cult of the offensive” created offensive” created pressure on pressure on decision makers to decision makers to mobilize early and mobilize early and attack first.attack first.

The resulting chain of mobilizations The resulting chain of mobilizations and alliances led to war between:and alliances led to war between:– The Central PowersThe Central Powers

Germany and Austria-HungaryGermany and Austria-Hungary

– The Entente PowersThe Entente PowersRussia, France, and Serbia.Russia, France, and Serbia.

The scale of the war and new military The scale of the war and new military technology resulted in horrific technology resulted in horrific casualties.casualties.

Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution In November 1917,In November 1917,

– Continued political Continued political and economic crisis and economic crisis in Russia,in Russia,

– Combined with Combined with Russian defeats in Russian defeats in the warthe war

– And huge casualties,And huge casualties, Precipitated the Precipitated the

Bolshevik Bolshevik Revolution.Revolution.

The new The new Communist Communist government signed government signed a peace treaty with a peace treaty with Germany in 1918Germany in 1918– Treaty of Brest-Treaty of Brest-

Litovsk;Litovsk; German forces German forces

occupied much of occupied much of the former Russian the former Russian Empire.Empire.

ArmisticeArmistice

U.S. entry into the war gave the U.S. entry into the war gave the Allies a decisive advantageAllies a decisive advantage

– In industrial capability andIn industrial capability and– Boosted Allied morale;Boosted Allied morale;

German and Austrian will to fight German and Austrian will to fight began to collapse.began to collapse.

On November 11, 1918, Germany and the On November 11, 1918, Germany and the Allies signed an armistice, ending the Allies signed an armistice, ending the fighting.fighting.

Versailles SettlementVersailles Settlement

In January 1919, leaders of France, Britain, Italy, In January 1919, leaders of France, Britain, Italy, and the United States convened a conference at and the United States convened a conference at VersaillesVersailles

– To prepare a peace settlement that would restore To prepare a peace settlement that would restore stability to Europe and prevent another major war.stability to Europe and prevent another major war.

The European powers generally The European powers generally pursued traditional pursued traditional realpolitik realpolitik goalsgoals

– Punish and weaken Germany,Punish and weaken Germany,– Divide the fallen Russian and Austro-Divide the fallen Russian and Austro-

Hungarian empires.Hungarian empires.

But U.S. President But U.S. President Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson sought to:sought to:– Create a “new Create a “new

world order”world order” Based on Based on

international law and international law and collective security.collective security.

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

The final The final document was a document was a compromise:compromise:

– Containing the Containing the worst elements of worst elements of idealism and idealism and realism.realism.

League of NationsLeague of Nations

A League of Nations was established A League of Nations was established to provide for collective security,to provide for collective security,– But it had many institutional But it had many institutional

weaknesses.weaknesses.

GermanyGermany

Germany was forced to:Germany was forced to:– Cede Alsace-Lorraine to France,Cede Alsace-Lorraine to France,– Give up territory to the re-created state Give up territory to the re-created state

of Poland,of Poland,– Demilitarize the Rhineland area of Demilitarize the Rhineland area of

Germany;Germany;– The size and armament of Germany's The size and armament of Germany's

army and navy were strictly limited,army and navy were strictly limited,– It was forbidden to have an air force.It was forbidden to have an air force.

German Territorial LossesGerman Territorial Losses

Austro-Hungarian EmpireAustro-Hungarian Empire

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was:The Austro-Hungarian Empire was:– Divided into the successor states ofDivided into the successor states of

Austria,Austria,Hungary,Hungary,Czechoslovakia,Czechoslovakia,And Yugoslavia (which included Serbia); And Yugoslavia (which included Serbia);

Austria was Austria was forbidden to unite forbidden to unite with Germany,with Germany,– The Sudetendland The Sudetendland

(a territory with a (a territory with a large German large German population) was population) was incorporated into incorporated into Czechoslovakia.Czechoslovakia.

Ottoman Empire Territorial LossesOttoman Empire Territorial Losses

Germany was forced to:Germany was forced to:– Accept primary responsibility for the warAccept primary responsibility for the war– And pay massive reparations to the And pay massive reparations to the

Allies.Allies. The new government of Germany, The new government of Germany,

the Weimar Republic, was forced to the Weimar Republic, was forced to sign the humiliating treatysign the humiliating treaty– The United States refused to sign,The United States refused to sign,

Later signing a separate peace treaty.Later signing a separate peace treaty.

The Versailles settlement angered The Versailles settlement angered many and satisfied no one.many and satisfied no one.

– Some nationalities were given self-Some nationalities were given self-determinationdetermination

Czechs, Serbs, & PolesCzechs, Serbs, & Poles

– But others were notBut others were not Arabs, & Germans.Arabs, & Germans.

A Weak LeagueA Weak League The U.S. Senate The U.S. Senate

would not ratify the would not ratify the Treaty of Versailles, Treaty of Versailles, and the United and the United States did not join States did not join the League of the League of Nations;Nations;

– The absence of the The absence of the world's largest world's largest industrial power industrial power ensured that Wilson's ensured that Wilson's vision of a collective vision of a collective security system would security system would fail.fail.

Another major Another major power, the USSR, power, the USSR, was never invited was never invited to join the League.to join the League.

The League's Security Council lacked The League's Security Council lacked effective provisions to enforce effective provisions to enforce collective security.collective security.– The European powers responded to The European powers responded to

American isolationism and instability in American isolationism and instability in Europe with Europe with realpolitik realpolitik security security measures.measures.

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

The crash of the U.S. The crash of the U.S. stock market in 1929stock market in 1929

And the contraction And the contraction of world trade of world trade following the Smoot-following the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Hawley Tariff

– Precipitated financial Precipitated financial crisis and depression crisis and depression throughout the world.throughout the world.

Germany's political and economic system Germany's political and economic system was paralyzed,was paralyzed,– Many Germans began to look toward the Many Germans began to look toward the

“strong hand” of Adolf Hitler,“strong hand” of Adolf Hitler, He became Chancellor of Germany in 1933.He became Chancellor of Germany in 1933.

The terms of the Versailles Treaty The terms of the Versailles Treaty were harsh and regarded as were harsh and regarded as humiliating by many Germans.humiliating by many Germans.

– The provisions were poorly enforced by The provisions were poorly enforced by the feeble League of Nations.the feeble League of Nations.

Growing military and economic Growing military and economic strength of Germany, Japan, and the strength of Germany, Japan, and the USSRUSSR– Altered the global balance of power.Altered the global balance of power.

Germany, Italy, Germany, Italy, and Japan pursued and Japan pursued expansionist expansionist policiespolicies– To resolve or avoid To resolve or avoid

domestic political domestic political problems.problems.

The rise of fascism The rise of fascism in many European in many European states and states and militarism in Japan militarism in Japan contributed to contributed to aggressive policies aggressive policies and destroyed and destroyed many fledgling many fledgling democracies.democracies.

Rise of the Third ReichRise of the Third Reich

Hitler's Two Phases Hitler's Two Phases of Rule over Nazi of Rule over Nazi Germany before Germany before WWIIWWII

– From 1933 to 1935, From 1933 to 1935, Hitler avoided Hitler avoided provoking the provoking the Western powers Western powers directly directly

Concentrated on Concentrated on building Germany's building Germany's economic strength. economic strength.

After 1935, Hitler began to openly After 1935, Hitler began to openly defy the Versailles Treaty.defy the Versailles Treaty.– Remilitarization of the RhinelandRemilitarization of the Rhineland– German military buildupGerman military buildup– Demands for union of Germany with Demands for union of Germany with

AustriaAustria

Uneasy AllianceUneasy Alliance

The Allies that The Allies that united to defeat united to defeat Germany, developed Germany, developed differences of differences of opinion over the opinion over the future of postwar future of postwar Europe.Europe.

– Churchill, Roosevelt, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin (the “Big and Stalin (the “Big Three” Allied leaders) Three” Allied leaders) met several times met several times during the war.during the war.

At their final At their final meeting, Yalta, meeting, Yalta, Stalin agreed to Stalin agreed to elections in the elections in the liberated nations of liberated nations of Eastern Europe,Eastern Europe,– But did not take the But did not take the

issue seriously.issue seriously.

In July 1945, after In July 1945, after Germany's defeat, Germany's defeat, Harry Truman , Harry Truman , Churchill (replaced in Churchill (replaced in mid-meeting by mid-meeting by Clement Atlee) and Clement Atlee) and Stalin met at Postdam;Stalin met at Postdam;– Germany was divided Germany was divided

into four Allied into four Allied occupation zones, and occupation zones, and Truman informed Stalin Truman informed Stalin that the United States that the United States had developed an had developed an atomic bomb.atomic bomb.

Atomic BombAtomic Bomb

The United States The United States feared that an feared that an invasion of Japan invasion of Japan would result in more would result in more than a million U.S. than a million U.S. casualtiescasualties

– The Western Allies The Western Allies also feared that the also feared that the USSR would try to USSR would try to establish lasting establish lasting control over any control over any territories it might territories it might liberate from Japan.liberate from Japan.

Fearing that German Fearing that German scientists would try to scientists would try to build an atomic build an atomic weapon, the United weapon, the United States launched the States launched the Manhattan Project Manhattan Project in in 1942;1942;– In July 1945, the project In July 1945, the project

finally succeeded in finally succeeded in developing an atomic developing an atomic bomb.bomb.

Truman decided to use the new Truman decided to use the new weapon in an attempt to persuade weapon in an attempt to persuade Japan to surrender without an Allied Japan to surrender without an Allied invasion of the home islands.invasion of the home islands.– An atomic bomb was dropped on An atomic bomb was dropped on

Hiroshima on August 6, 1945; a second Hiroshima on August 6, 1945; a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9 (the USSR declared war on August 9 (the USSR declared war on Japan and attacked Japanese forces in Japan and attacked Japanese forces in Manchuria on August 8).Manchuria on August 8).

The war ended the era of European The war ended the era of European domination, but what would come domination, but what would come next was not immediately clear.next was not immediately clear.

The European powers and Japan were The European powers and Japan were devastated, but the United States had devastated, but the United States had suffered little damage and far fewer suffered little damage and far fewer casualties.casualties.– After the war, only the United States and the After the war, only the United States and the

Soviet Union possessed the resources Soviet Union possessed the resources necessary to compete for global leadership; necessary to compete for global leadership; the USSR fielded huge ground forces, while the the USSR fielded huge ground forces, while the United States had a large army and navy and United States had a large army and navy and the atomic bomb.the atomic bomb.

The United Nations The United Nations was created;was created;– The U.S., USSR, The U.S., USSR,

Britain, France, and Britain, France, and China were made China were made permanent permanent members of its members of its Security Council.Security Council.

It was not certain It was not certain that the U.S. and that the U.S. and the USSR would be the USSR would be adversaries;adversaries;– They possessed They possessed

radically different radically different political and political and economic systems economic systems and distrusted each and distrusted each other deeply.other deeply.