Lesson 1: Europe 1870–1914: Causes of the First World War Phunziro 1: Ulaya 1870–1914: Zifukwa za Nkhondo Yoyamba Yapadziko Lonse
Duration: 35 minutes
The First World War (1914–1918) did not begin by accident. It was the result of forces that had been building up in Europe for more than forty years. Between 1870 and 1914 European states competed for territory, markets and military power, and Europe split into two rival armed camps.
The Unification of Germany and the Shift in the Balance of Power
In 1871 Otto von Bismarck united the German states into a single empire after defeating France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. Germany seized the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. This created a powerful new state in the centre of Europe, upset the old balance between Britain, France, Austria-Hungary and Russia, and left France with a deep desire for revenge.
The Alliance System
From the 1880s onwards European powers formed two opposing alliances. The Triple Alliance (1882) linked Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. In response France, Russia and later Britain built the Triple Entente, which was fully in place by 1907. These alliances were supposed to keep the peace, but they also meant that a small local quarrel could drag the whole continent into war.
Imperialism and Capitalism
Industrial growth pushed European states to search for colonies, cheap raw materials and markets overseas. Britain had built the largest empire in the world, while Germany, Italy and others arrived late and wanted their own share. The Scramble for Africa and rivalries in Asia created constant friction. Capitalist competition between industrial giants fed political rivalry at home.
Nationalism and European Domination of the World
Nationalism made each European people feel that their own nation was superior and should expand. The French wanted to recover Alsace and Lorraine; the Germans wanted a greater empire; the Russians claimed to protect all Slavs; and small nations in the Balkans wanted independence from Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. European states believed it was natural for them to dominate the rest of the world.
The Arms Race
All the major powers spent heavily on their armies and navies. Germany built a large modern fleet that challenged British control of the sea, and Britain replied with the powerful Dreadnought battleships from 1906. Germany, France and Russia enlarged their conscript armies and prepared detailed war plans, such as the German Schlieffen Plan for a quick attack through Belgium into France.
The Balkan Crises
The Balkans were called the "powder keg of Europe." The decline of the Ottoman Empire left many small peoples looking for freedom. Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908, angering Serbia and Russia. The Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 enlarged Serbia and made it a threat to Austria-Hungary. Russia, as protector of the Slavs, supported Serbia.
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was shot dead in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a young Bosnian Serb linked to the secret society the Black Hand. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and, backed by Germany, issued an ultimatum. When Serbia's reply was judged unsatisfactory, Austria-Hungary declared war on 28 July 1914. Within a week the alliance system pulled in Russia, Germany, France, Belgium and Britain, and the First World War had begun.
Nthawi: Mphindi 35
Nkhondo Yoyamba Yapadziko Lonse (1914–1918) sinangoyamba mwadzidzidzi. Inali zotsatira za zinthu zimene zinkakula ku Ulaya kwa zaka zoposa makumi anayi. Pakati pa 1870 ndi 1914 maiko a ku Ulaya anapikisana za nthaka, malonda ndi mphamvu zankhondo, ndipo Ulaya inagawika m'magulu awiri otsutsana okhala ndi zida.
Kuphatikizidwa kwa Germany ndi Kusintha kwa Mphamvu
Mu 1871 Otto von Bismarck anaphatikiza mayiko ang'onoang'ono a Germany kuti akhale ufumu umodzi atagonjetsa France mu Nkhondo ya Franco-Prussia (1870–1871). Germany inalanda zigawo za Alsace ndi Lorraine kuchokera ku France. Izi zinabweretsa dziko latsopano lamphamvu pakati pa Ulaya, zinasokoneza mgwirizano wakale pakati pa Britain, France, Austria-Hungary ndi Russia, ndipo a France anali ndi chikhumbo chachikulu chobwezera.
Mgwirizano wa Ma Alliance
Kuyambira m'ma 1880 maiko akuluakulu a ku Ulaya anapanga mgwirizano wawiri wotsutsana. Triple Alliance (1882) inagwirizanitsa Germany, Austria-Hungary ndi Italy. Potsutsa izi, France, Russia ndipo pambuyo pake Britain anapanga Triple Entente, umene unakhala wokwanira mu 1907. Mgwirizano umenewu unkayenera kusunga mtendere, koma unapangitsanso kuti mkangano wawung'ono ukhoza kukoka Ulaya yonse kupita ku nkhondo.
Ukatswamunda ndi Chuma cha Capitalism
Kukula kwa mafakitale kunakankhira maiko a ku Ulaya kuti afunefune madera atsamunda, zopangira zotsika mtengo ndi misika kunja. Britain anali ndi ufumu waukulu kwambiri padziko lapansi, pamene Germany, Italy ndi ena anafika mochedwa ndipo ankafuna gawo lawo. Kulimbirana Africa ndi mpikisano ku Asia zinabweretsa mikangano yosalekeza. Mpikisano wa chuma pakati pa mayiko otukuka unakulitsa kutsutsana mu ndale.
Nationalism ndi Kulamulira Dziko Lapansi
Nationalism inapangitsa anthu a mtundu uliwonse kumva kuti dziko lawo ndi lapamwamba kuposa ena ndipo liyenera kukula. A France ankafuna kubweza Alsace ndi Lorraine; a Germany ankafuna ufumu waukulu; a Russia ankadzinenera kuti ndi oteteza Asilavo onse; ndipo anthu a mitundu yaing'ono mu Balkans ankafuna ufulu kuchokera ku Austria-Hungary ndi ufumu wa Ottoman. Maiko a ku Ulaya ankakhulupirira kuti nkwachilengedwe kuti iwo alamulire mbali zonse za dziko lapansi.
Mpikisano wa Zida (Arms Race)
Maiko onse akuluakulu anagwiritsa ntchito ndalama zambiri pa asilikali ndi sitima zapamadzi. Germany anamanga sitima zapamadzi zazikulu zamakono zimene zinatsutsana ndi mphamvu ya Britain pa nyanja, ndipo Britain anayankha ndi sitima zamphamvu za Dreadnought kuyambira 1906. Germany, France ndi Russia anakulitsa asilikali awo ndipo anakonza mapulani a nkhondo monga Schlieffen Plan ya Germany yokhudza kuukira France mofulumira kudutsa Belgium.
Mavuto a ku Balkans
Balkans ankatchedwa "thumba la mfuti la Ulaya." Kugwa kwa ufumu wa Ottoman kunasiya anthu a mitundu ing'onoing'ono akufuna ufulu. Austria-Hungary anatenga Bosnia-Herzegovina mu 1908, zomwe zinakwiyitsa Serbia ndi Russia. Nkhondo za Balkan za 1912 ndi 1913 zinakulitsa Serbia ndipo linakhala vuto kwa Austria-Hungary. Russia, ngati woteteza Asilavo, anathandiza Serbia.
Kuphedwa kwa Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Pa 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, wolowa m'malo mwa mfumu ya Austria-Hungary, anaphedwa ku Sarajevo ndi Gavrilo Princip, mnyamata wa Chiserb wochokera ku Bosnia ndipo anali ndi mgwirizano ndi gulu lachinsinsi la Black Hand. Austria-Hungary anaimba mlandu Serbia ndipo, mothandizidwa ndi Germany, anapereka chenjezo. Yankho la Serbia litaoneka lopanda phindu, Austria-Hungary analengeza nkhondo pa 28 July 1914. Mkati mwa mlungu umodzi, mgwirizano wa alliance unakoka Russia, Germany, France, Belgium ndi Britain, ndipo Nkhondo Yoyamba Yapadziko Lonse inayamba.
Exercise RequiredMasewera Ofunikira
You must pass this exercise to complete the lesson. Questions are randomly selected each attempt. Muyenera kupambana masewera awa kuti mumaliza phunziro. Mafunso amasankhidwa mwachisawawa nthawi iliyonse.