9.1.1 The Armed Peace

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

9.1: World War 1: The Armed Peace

9. The Time of World Wars

What you will learn in 

this lesson

• Why  militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism (MAIN) are causes of WW1
  
• Why the German colonial dream led to tension with the UK
• How the Schlieffenplan needed to avoid a two-front war for Germany

Use these questions to make your own summary

Lesson 9.1.1 The Armed Peace

• The world around 1900: the Belle Epoch (the beautiful age)
• New inventions: radio, film, airplane, car

Causes of WW1

• (MAIN) Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism 
• Germany’s plan of war: the Schlieffenplan.

The Belle Époque

industrial revolution (1750-1875) 

        new inventions (car/film/radio/airplane)

This gave people an optimistic view of the future.

            the 'beautiful era', Belle Époque

But unrest was growing. World leaders were building up armies and dreamed of expanding their power…

Paris during the Belle Epoque. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1887 - '89

Film was invented in 1895.

The car (1897)

The first airplane took off in 1903.

The radio (1895)

Lesson 9.1.1 The Armed Peace

• The world around 1900: the Belle Epoch (the beautiful age)
• New inventions: radio, film, airplane, car

Causes of WW1

• (MAIN) Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism 
• Germany’s plan of war: the Schlieffenplan.

MILITARISM and powerful ALLIANCES

In order to defend their influences, the big powers in Europe build up huge arsenals. 

The leaders of each country tried to get more weapons than their enemies, 

           an ARMS RACE began. 

Soldiers got much respect and there was a great love for the military. This love is called MILITARISM.

the countries France and Russia made an alliance: they agreed to help each other if one of them was attacked by Germany. In this way, Germany could be attacked from two sides. France also signed agreements with Great Britain. these three countries formed an alliance: the Triple Entente. During the war, they were called the Allies.

cartoon in Puck, shows (clockwise) Germane, Britain, France, Japan and the US engaged in naval race in a "no limit" game (an arms race)

"the soldier is the most beautiful man in the whole state."

- Postcard 1916

The German kaiser and the Austrian emperor agreed that they would help each other in the event of war. Italy also joined this alliance which was called the Triple Alliance.

When the war broke out Italy switched sides and joined the Triple Entente (the Allies). Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire joined the Triple Alliance (the Central Powers).

(Compare the map on the right to the map on the previous slide.)

Which countries belonged to which alliance?

Triple Entente (Allies)

Triple Alliance (central)

EXERCISE

EXERCISE

Study the source.

What disadvantage 

of an alliance does 

this source illustrate?

Study the source.
What disadvantage of an alliance does this
source illustrate?

Western Europe started to build up huge arsenals to
defend themselves against Russia.

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

The big powers could increase their weapon arsenals
quickly thanks to the Industrial Revolution.

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

The military was very popular and soldiers
received a lot of respect.

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

Great Britain, France and Russia made
up the Central Powers.

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

The German and Austrian empires agreed to help each
other if a war occurred.

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

Lesson 9.1.1 The Armed Peace

• The world around 1900: the Belle Epoch (the beautiful age)
• New inventions: radio, film, airplane, car

Causes of WW1

• (MAIN)Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism 
• Germany’s plan of war: the Schlieffenplan.

IMPERIALISM: The German colonial dream

Germany had developed the strongest military force on the mainland of Europe. Still they were looking for a way to expand their power.

Emperor Wilhelm II  wanted to gain colonies, just as Britain and France. This goal was a difficult one to achieve, because France and especially Britain controlled the seas and overseas territories in Africa and Asia. .

Emperor Wilhelm II with the Navy flag, eagle, sword and crown, and a warship in the background. German postcard, dated 1910.

Colonial empire of Britain

Colonial empire of France

Colonial empire of Germany

Lesson 9.1.1 The Armed Peace

• The world around 1900: the Belle Epoch (the beautiful age)
• New inventions: radio, film, airplane, car

Causes of WW1

• (MAIN) Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism 
• Germany’s plan of war: the Schlieffenplan.

NATIONALISM

during the nineteenth century, European countries became more nationalistic.

            united the population within the

            borders of their own country, 

            it also made them feel superior

            towards other nation states. 

The strongest hatred was felt between France and Germany. 

Before 1871 Germany consisted of several German states. Of these, Prussia (Pruissen) was the biggest and most powerful.

After the war with France (1870-1871) the king of Prussia became the emperor of the united German empire.

What cause (MAIN) do you recognize from this source?
Explain your answer!

"we read here: REVENGE"
- French postcard from 1886

What cause (MAIN) do you recognize from this source?
Explain your answer!

'China, the cake for kings and queens''
- H.Meyer, 1898 (French cartoon)

What cause (MAIN) do you recognize from this source?
Explain your answer!

'shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, for God, Emperor and the
Fatherland!' - German postcard (1914-1918)

Lesson 9.1.1 The Armed Peace

• The world around 1900: the Belle Epoch (the beautiful age)
• New inventions: radio, film, airplane, car

Causes of WW1

• Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN)
• Germany’s plan of war: the Schlieffenplan.

The Schlieffen Plan

Germany would face a two-front war with France and Russia. General von Schlieffen thought of a plan:

1. By sending his troops to France first, because he expected that the Russians would need months to prepare their army.
2. and evading the strongly defended French-German border by passing through Belgium. 

He expected that the French would surrender within weeks. The German soldiers would then be put on trains towards the Eastern Front. The strategy became known as the Schlieffen Plan.

general Alfred von Schlieffen

The Schlieffenplan

Russia

Germany

France

Britain

Vlaggen zijn versleepbaar!

4th of August 1914: Germans march violently through neutral Belgium. More than a million Belgians flee to the Netherlands. 

Britain issues Germany's war.

'British cartoon from Punch (1914) with a depicture of a 'small' Belgium in front of 'big' Germany.

- Punch , 1914

'Deutschland unter alles! A victory for Germania'

- French fieldpost, 1914

The Schlieffenplan was devised mainly to

1. defend Germany
2. prevent a two-front war
3. conquer Russia
4. to win the war without the help of Austria-Hungary

Look at the source.
This source is about the Schlieffen Plan.
Do you think the maker of this source was an proponant or
an opponent of the Schlieffen Plan? Explain your answer!

Match the keywords with their definitions.

Competition betweens nations to have the most/best weapons

German strategy to win a war

Alliance between France, Britain and Russia

War in which a country had to fight battles in separate locations

Alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary

Glorifying the army and soldiers

Another name for the First World War

The Great war

Arms Race

Allies

Militarism

Schlieffen Plan

Central Powers

Two front-war

To identify the four main causes of the World War I, the word MAIN can help you.
If you break the word apart, every letter is the first letter of a main cause. Of each, explain why this was a cause of WW1.
- Militarism
- Alliances
- Imperialism
- Nationalism

Finally, here you can write down a question about
something from this lesson that you don't fully understand yet.

To work!

• What? Make a summary, mindmap, work out the learning objectives.

• How? Alone in silence (music with headphones is allowed)
  
• Help? Ask neighbour. Can't work it out together? Ask teacher for help.
  
• Time? Until the end of the lesson.

Almost done!

• What? Make a summary, mindmap, work out the learning objectives.

• How? Alone in silence (music with headphones is allowed)
  
• Help? Ask neighbour. Can't work it out together? Ask teacher for help.
  
• Time? Until the end of the lesson.