World War I/Lesson 1 - Introduction

First World War Back Course Overview · Lesson 1 - Introduction · Lesson 2 - "Europe explodes" - The crisis which lead to World War I · Lesson 3 - 1914 - The alliances and their agenda · Lesson 4 - The "Schlieffen Plan" - First weeks of war · Lesson 5 - The Eastern Front · Lesson 6 - Inventions during World War I and their effects · Lesson 7 - War at Sea · Lesson 8 - The United States in World War I · Lesson 9 - The Russian Revolution · Lesson 10 - 1918 - The end of war · Lesson 11 - The Treaty of Versailles · Lesson 12 - The importance of World War I in the History of the 20th Century · Lesson 13 - Conclusion · Lesson 14 - U.S. Foreign Policy after WWI Next

Introduction

With this lesson starts the course 'World War I'. For the first two weeks everyone who wants to participate can post his/her expectations of this course. Maybe we can develop some main question for the timespan between 1914-1918 which can be answered during the course or in the last lesson.

Before the outbreak of World War I, tensions between many of the European countries were building up. This Lesson will try to discuss many of the events that occurred before World War I, that have been seen as contributing factors.

Content

Historical Approaches to Worr. Besides looking at the origins of the War they also focus on the Treaty of Versailles, and how this treaty reflected the mindset of the countries that were pivotal in its creation.

• The second approach is to view World War I as a war, just like any other war. There were many wars before World War I, and they see the 'Great War' (another name for World War I), as similar to the ones before it. Historians following this approach tend to place great emphasis on nationalism, imperialism and militarism. They see these factors as the great causes that link all the actions of the countries involved in the war.

Problems Leading Up to the War

Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

• In the early 20th Century Britain was an imperial power. All its colonial holdings that provided them with wealth were located overseas. This caused Britain to focus on these colonial holdings and disregard the European continent.
• In 1899-1902 Britain faced the crisis of the Boer War in South Africa. The British concern was that other European states might intervene on the side of the Boers. European states did not help out the Boers and in the end British won the war, but they realized that a conflict away from Europe drastically spread their forces thin.
• Along with South African colonies, Britain also controlled India. It was considered the 'Jewel in the Crown' for Britain's colonial holdings. By the end of the 19th Century it was the largest market for British goods. In the 20th Century, however, Russia started advancing itself as an imperial power. Russia began to move into Asia and Afghanistan. This aggressive movement by Russia was seen as a great threat to Asia.
• The Franco-Russian Alliance was also seen as a great threat. Russia had tried to strike an alliance with Germany, but Germany refused. The Franco-Russian alliance was purely defensive. This meant that if Germany or Austria-Hungary mobilised against Russia, France would also mobilise. If Germany or Austria-Hungary mobilised against France, then Russia would mobilise.
• To create a balancing effect in Asia, Britain and Japan entered into an alliance, in 1902. |The Anglo-Japanese Alliance stipulated that if Japan and Russia went to war, Britain would remain neutral. However, if France became involved Brtain would also mobilise.
• In 1904, France and Britain entered into an alliance. This alliance was called the |Entente Cordiale and settled outstanding colonial issues between the two countries. This included fishing rights off the coast of |Newfoundland. The alliance's main intention was to maintain peace and to avoid a major war between European countries.

Your Expectations