2 18 13 Imperial tensions and the Global Origins of WWI When war broke out Europeans celebrated what they thought would be a short and decisive war that would be won in just a few months o In reality WWI dragged on for 4 bloody and inconclusive years and claimed millions of lives Summer of 1914 celebrating Britain s declaration of war on Germany Why were Europeans so eager to go to war in 1914 o Answer lies in late 19th century developments Great international political tension has grown us between individual states o Felt war was an inevitability and answer to problems society faced at that time Welcomed what they thought would be a quick clean conflict that would sweep away tensions and balance the problems of Europe Domestic political problems within European states o New level of economic growth opportunities and the new middle class was enjoying new opportunities to spend and make money Government was taking care of horrible living conditions in cities o Alongside political and social changes certain states were becoming politically polarized Political split between left and right worsening Unable to figure out how to overcome differences o New development in left wing politics socialist policies Emergence of trade unions By the 1870s organized socialist parties were growing in power in Germany In early 1870s these parties were looking for any opportunity to overthrow the bourgeoisie Parisian socialists proclaimed that worker s utopia was the best form of government Paris Commune governed France for a while o Many people were killed in the suppression of the commune killed or executed Following the Paris Commune socialist tactics were changed Committed to winning power through legal means Socialists in Paris Commune had already shown their subversive power By 1914 socialist party had become the second largest political party in France In Britain 3 largest unions formed a triple alliance Threatened to go on strikes to help workers and perilize British economy o If you were not a socialist there was a lot to fear from left wing socialist political parties Conservatives were dedicated to preserving the old order In the first half of 19th century wanted to restore the old order with lords that protected subjects paternalistic view of government o New conservatism still maintained social hierarchy but now saw socialism as a threat to that order New democratic commitment of socialists encouraged conservatives to move in an anti democratic direction o Militaristic application o With German unification nationalism switched to a movement of the political right conservatives Can see this in government of unified Germany German government organized to uphold power of Prussian elite while recognizing existence of new social and political conditions o Men were allowed to vote for who was in German parliament right to say didn t have a lot of political power Most power lied in hierarchy and aristocracy Maintain the power in the hands of the old elites and drew on German nationalist sentiment to win popular support o Socialist parties were banned o Drew on new racial ideologies developed in the context of imperialism Nationalists created complicated racial hierarchies Categorized different nations within Europe as races in competition with each other to compete and protect their own from degeneration o Major rise in anti Semitism Jewish were seen as a race apart that potentially threatened religious purity if intermarried as well as threatened politics of nations o Socialists upheld a commitment to international socialist cooperation Upheld ideas of international brotherhood and equality o Imperialism itself worked against democracy and equality ideology in Europe Admitting that everyone was equal threatened idea that some people in some races were superior to others Conflict between socialist left and imperial right political scandal Dreyfus Affair o Captain Alfred Dreyfus was of Jewish descent Accused of giving important French military information to Germans o French nationalism was focused on hatred of Germany and a thirst for revenge after Prussia defeated French in previous years Hatred was strong on political right Anti Semitism was also large o Army assumed that because he was Jewish Dreyfus couldn t be trusted and was working for a foreign government Also easy to pin the blame on him because people would believe it o Fabricated evidence to frame Dreyfus Sentenced to life in prison in solitary confinement o In 1896 evidence emerged that pointed to the real culprit a non Jewish Frenchman Exonerated this real culprit at first Letter was published in French paper exposing what had happened Triggered a week of riots encouraged by French church and officials and gave Dreyfus a new free and fair trial o French officials restored political order and France divided into pro and anti Dreyfus factions Left supported Dreyfus and right condemned him o In 1906 Dreyfus was reinstated into the army o Dreyfus affair shows power of right wing nationalism Right wing politicians could win support by using scapegoats which could increase racism and anti Semitism Left wing was appalled and government was unable to settle conflict caused by this War was the only way to provide a goal that everyone could work for Political polarization pushed people toward war o Happened in Germany and England as well Central and eastern Europe were a source of tension o Austria Hungary threatened to overthrow European stability o Balkans where more dangerous threat lied Led by Serbia Coming out of grip of Ottoman Empire Hoping for independence o Austria Hungary wanted control of these new states Russia also wanted to control new states because they shared languages similar to Russian Tensions between Austria Hungary and Russia led to formation of diplomatic alliance between Germany and Austria Hungary o Italy also joined Triple Alliance Triple alliance beginning of alliance system that worked to pull all of Europe into warfare in a sort of domino effect Problems with Germany o Steadily increasing power created international tensions starting with invasion of Prussians Defeat of France was a shocking signal that a new power was rising o Industrial manufacturing better weapons travelled on railroad network that was faster and more organized than other countries o Major shift in European balance of power with defeat of France Military and industrial juggernaut Added to Germany s industrial power o By taking control of