IMPERIALISM REARS ITS UGLY HEAD



IMPERIALISM REARS ITS UGLY HEAD

MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL TIMELINE FOR 1870-1914

1854-1856 - Crimean War in which Russia gets whupped by Britain, France and Turkey.

1869 - Suez Canal Completed. (It was celebrated by the first performance of Verdi's Aida, by the way.)

1870-1871 - Franco-Prussia War initiated to promote German unity.

France loses Alsace-Lorraine and must pay war reparations.

1871 - Danilevsky's Russia and Europe predicts war of Russia vs. Europe, plus a pan-Slav Eastern Federation. (Yugoslavia, here we come!)

1873 - The Three Emperors League formed: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia.

1877-1878 - Russo-Turkish War. Russia starts it. They clobber the Turks. They want Warm Water Ports. The Treaty of San Stefano makes Romania, Montenegro and Serbia independent. Bulgaria gets "autonomy." Turks also cede various lands to Russia.

THE PROBLEM OF WHO SHOULD CONTROL THE BALKANS (Russia, Turkey, Austria and of course all the Balkan nationalities themselves are contenders) is the EASTERN QUESTION! A BIG DEAL! Western Europe, especially England, is most afraid of Russia. So is Austria.

1878 - Berlin Congress. Solves problem of who owns former Turkish land, much to the detriment of Russia, who has to give a bunch of it back. Austria-Hungary occupies Bosnia.

1879 - German and Austria-Hungary join in defensive military alliance: The Dual Alliance. The point is to isolate France.

1881 - France seizes Tunisia, provoking Italy.

1882 - Italy joins alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.

1884-1885 - Berlin Conference on Africa. Divides Africa on principle of "effective occupation."

1885 - General Charles "Chinese" Gordon is killed at Khartoum.

1887 - Bismarck negotiates the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia to replace the expiring alliance of the Three Emperors. Russia is to be neutral unless Germany attacks France and Germany is to be neutral unless Russia attacks Austria-Hungary.

1889 - Naval Defense Act provides that the British fleet will always be as strong as the fleets of the two next strongest powers combined. It is called, obviously, the "Two Power Standard."

1890 - Bismarck is fired by Kaiser Wilhelm II, a world-class dummy and egomaniac. Wilhelm allows Bismarck's diplomatic masterpiece, the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, to lapse, leaving Russia with no allies, so Russia is forced to scurry over to the French side in desperation.

1891 – Trans-Siberain Railroad begun

1894-1895 - First Sino-Japanese War

1894 - France and Russia become allies.

1895 Cecil Rhodes attempts to provoke war with Transvaal by the Jameson Raid that leads to the Kruger Telegram of Wilhelm II to Paul Kruger president of Transvaal. Exacerbates tension between England and Germany.

1895-1896 - Ethiopian War. Italy tries to expand beyond its colony of Eritrea and loses. 3/1/96: Battle of Adowa. 25,000 Italians (with guns) vs. 100,000 Ethiopians (with spears) under Menelek. Those who were not killed were captured and held for ransom.

1898 - Spanish-American War. Spain loses.

1898 - Kitchener goes south "up the Nile" defeats the Muslims and meets the French at Fashoda. The French back down and recall their general, Marchand. Crisis averted

1898 - Germany passes 1st Naval Act, the work of Admiral Tirpitz, influenced by Alfred Thayer Mahan, to compete with Great Britain's navy.

1899-1902 - Boer War. Dutch Colonists in South Africa vs. British. Germans sympathetic to Boers, hence Kaiser Wilhelm’s famous Kruger Telegram. British win.

1899 - Rudyard Kipling writes "The White Mand's Burden" to encourage the United States to get into the Empire business.

1900 – Germany enacts Second Naval Law. The goal is to build a fleet capable of engaging the Royal Navy in battle.

1903 - J. A. Hobson's book critiquing Imperialism is published.

- Trans-Siberian Railroad completed

1904-1905 - Russo-Japanese War. Japan almost wins but Theodore Roosevelt intervenes and negotiates a face-saving settlement for the Russians. He wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The Russian economy is shot to heck.

1904 - Britain and France enter into the Entente Cordiale.

1905 - Germany challenges French "sphere of influence" in Morocco, precipitating "Tangier Crisis." Algeciras Conference reaffirms Morocco's independence but France's special interests are recognized.

1907 - The Anglo-Russia Convention settles the question of Britain's and Russia's spheres of influence in Persia. Makes England and Russia allies.

1908 - Bosnia annexed by Austria-Hungary. Russia thinks it should go to Serbia.

1908 - "Young Turks" revolt in Turkey

- Ruler of Bulgaria crowns himself king.

1910 - Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony and Natal combine to form the Union of South Africa

1911 - Italo-Turkish War. Italy wins and takes Libya from the Turks.

1911 - Agadir Crisis: Germany challenges France's converting Morocco into a protectorate and loses.

1911 - Black Hand, Serbian nationalist terrorist group, founded.

1912-1913 - 1st Balkan War. Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Bulgaria (with tacit support of Russia) vs. Turkey. Austria intervenes, creates Albania, leaving Serbia no outlet to the sea.

1913 - 2nd Balkan War. Bulgaria vs. Turkey, Romania, Serbia and Greece. Bulgaria loses. Serbia wins more land.

1914 - Black Hand assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austro-Hungarian throne, and his corpulent wife Sophie on June 28. Trigger to World War One. (Partly Franz-Ferdinand was targeted because he was believed to favor reform (similar to Alex II of Russia.)

- Kaiser Wilhelm issues the "Blank Check" to Austria, promising backing for any action Austria might take. Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia, that it expects (and hopes) will be rejected. It is.

- Austria declares war on Serbia.

- Russia mobilized to help Serbia, scares Germany by mobilizing on German front. France “in effect” gives Blank Check to Russia. Germany declares war on Russia, but since Russia is the ally of France... well, you know what happens next.

1916 - Lenin published Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism

THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR LATE 19TH CENTURY POLITICAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY

1. Since the 1880's what efforts have Europe's rulers made to try to integrate the working class into the larger national society?

2. How was political reform achieved in nineteenth century England? Compare and contrast with similar reforms in France.

3. "Peaceful change, not armed revolution, was responsible for the growth of democracy in Britain during the nineteenth century." Assess the validity of this generalization. Cite specific references to the major legislative reforms between 1832 and 1884.

4. "The Whig interpretation of history is no longer, if it ever had been, valid." With specific reference to nineteenth century Britain, discuss this statement.

5. During most of the nineteenth century, Europeans believed firmly in science and in progress. By the end of the century, they were no longer so sure. Describe the most significant aspects of scientific and technological advances in the nineteenth century and the cause for change over time.

6. Discuss the origins of the Third Republic in France. How did the conflict between Church and State during the period 1875-1905 affect the growth of democratic institutions in France? Compare the results of this conflict in France with the Kulturkampf in Germany. Discuss any other crisis for the Third Republic during its first thirty years.

7. Analyze Europe's demographic development during the period 1850-1914. How did the Great Migration affect this development? How were these demographic changes viewed in France and Germany?

8. Explain the strange demise of classical liberalism in Britain.

9. Choose any two areas of social reform during the nineteenth century from the following list: religion, education, public health, temperance, women's rights, welfare. Describe the tensions that led to change in one of the following countries: Britain, France or Germany.

10. Discuss changes in art and literary styles during the period 1825-1885. How can changes in these fields be related to political and social changes in the larger society?

11. What is the significance of the term fin de siecle? How is it different from belle epoque? In what sense was the late 19th c. a fin de siecle in Europe?

12. Describe the private life of the middle class in late 19th c. France, Britain, Germany, or Austria.

13. Discuss the effects of the increase of mass transportation and the department store on the development of Paris, London, or any other major European city.

14. How did leisure time become a matter of concern during the late 19th c? What methods of social control were instituted to deal with the "problem" of leisure time?

15. Discuss the origins of mass political parties in France and England during the late 19th century, "from mystique to politique."

16. What economic, political and social reforms were sought by women's groups during the period of the turn of the century? Refer to specific countries and events.

17. How did the new art styles of the turn of the century reflect changing attitudes and perceptions? Refer specifically to Art Nouveau, Fauvism and Futurism.

18. How did the working class organize itself during the last decade of the 19th c. and the first decade of the 20th?

19. How did the Irish Question in Britain remain unsolved at the turn of the century?

20. "The end of the 19th c. was, on the surface, a time of peaceful progress. Not far below the surface, questions that would ultimately result in a world war were present." Discuss the validity of this statement.

21. How did the widespread popularity of the bicycle in France during the 1890's reflect changing social conditions?

22. Assess Napoleon III as a modern dictator, a reformer or a buffoon. Pay particular attention to his domestic program.

23. Identify and explain the similarities and differences between socialism and liberalism in 19th Europe.

24. To what extent and in what ways did intellectual developments in Europe in the period 1880-1920 undermine confidence in human rationality and in a well-ordered, dependable universe?

25. Describe the steps taken between 1832 and 1918 to extend the suffrage in England. What groups and movements contributed to the extension of the vote?

26. To what extent did Marx and Freud each challenge the 19th c. belief in rationality and progress?

27. Evaluate the effectiveness of collective responses by workers to industrialization in Western Europe during the course of the 19th century.

28. Assess the extent to which the unification of Germany under Bismarck led to authoritarian government there between 1871 and 1914.

29. In February 1848 the middle classes and workers in France joined to overthrow the government of Louis Philippe. By June the two groups were at odds in their political, economic and social thinking. Analyze what transpired to divide the groups and describe the consequences for French politics.

30. How and in what ways were economic and political factors responsible for intensifying European imperialist activity in Africa from the mid-19th c. to the beginning of the First World War?

31. Discuss the ways in which European Jews were affected by and responded to liberalism, nationalism and anti-Semitism in the 19th century.

32. Analyze the key developments that characterized the European economy in the second half of the nineteenth century.

33. Describe the physical transformation of European cities in the second half of the nineteenth century and analyze the social consequences of this transformation.

34. Explain how, from the Age of Metternich to the beginning of World War I, democracy in England and France reached much the same place over decidedly different routes.

35. "Austria's suppression of Slavic autonomy within the Empire created more dissolution than unity." Defend or refute this statement.

36. Compare and contrast the growth and suppression of democracy in 19th century Europe.

37. Analyze the various motives for the "New Imperialism" and their relative importance.

38. Contrast and compare the Old Imperialism (colonialism) with the New Imperialism.

39. "By the end of the 19th century, European nations had divided the rest of the world among themselves." Assess the validity of this statement.

40. Contrast and compare the responses of China and Japan to Western encroachment.

41. Evaluate the New Imperialism.

42. Why did "liberalism" not develop in France?

43. Explain how from the Age of Metternich to World War I democracy in England and France reach much the same place by decidedly different routes.

44. "The single biggest factor in 19th century social, political and cultural affairs is the rise of Universal Male Suffrage." Discuss.

45. "Bismarck and his policies were Europe’s last hope to avoid World War I and subsequent catastrophe in the 20th century" Discuss.

45. Describe and assess the role of the British policy of “splendid isolation” in balance-of-power diplomacy in 19th century Europe.

46. Describe the development of democracy in Great Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries.

47. Historians speak of the “Old Imperialism” that of the period between roughly 1500 and 1750, and the “New Imperialism” of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Compare and contrast these, indicating differences and similarities that may have existed and the reasons for changes that might have occurred.

48. Assess the extent to which the overseas empires impacted upon European economic and political life from 1870-1914.

49. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the long-held concept of the fundamental rationality of man come under attack: there were those who perceived man as being driven by forces other than those of a conscious (i.e. rational) nature. Discuss the reasons for this intellectual, yet anti-rational, movement, and indicate some of its leading spokesmen.

50. Evaluate how the ideas of Charles Darwin and Sigmund Freud challenged Enlightenment assumptions about human behavior and the role of reason.

52. Man for the field and woman for the hearth:

Man for the sword and for the needle she:

Man with the head and women from the heart:

Man to command and woman to obey:

How accurately do the lines of poetry above reflect gender roles for European men and women in the late 19th century?

THEMATIC ESSAYS QUESTIONS FOR WORLD WAR I

1. Evaluate World War I as a "watershed" in politics and society in any two European countries.

2. What were the social, political and economic effects of WWI?

3. In what way did 19th century imperialism lead to WWI?

4. To what extent were the Marxists correct in their claim that WWI was a war of capitalist interest only?

5. What effect did WWI have upon the Ottoman Empire and the Hapsburgs of Austria?

6. To what extent did WWI live up to its theme of "so that small nations might live?"

7. What role did military alliances, both overt and covert, play in the outbreak of WWI?

8. To what extent did the Treaty of Versailles address the causes of WWI?

9. What effect did WWI have upon the balance of power?

10. In what way did the conclusion of WWI lead to the disillusionment of the 1920's and 1930's?

11. What reasons would explain the rejection by European powers, of President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points Program?

12. Analyze and assess the extent to which the First World War accelerated European social change in such areas as work, sex roles and government involvement in everyday life.

13. "1914-1918 marks a turning point in the intellectual and cultural history of Europe." Defend, refute, or modify this statement with reference to the generation before and the generation after the First World War.

14. Discuss: "The most general principle of the Paris settlement was to recognize the right of national self-determination, at least in Europe."

15. Discuss: "For practical purposes the treaty of Versailles, with respect to Germany was either too severe or too lenient."

16. "Each of the belligerents in Europe was responsible for the outbreak of World War I." Defend or refute this statement.

17. "After the first few months of war, the combat on the Western Front was very different from anything the strategists on either side had envisioned." Assess the validity of this statement.

18. Explain why and how the war ended the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and German Empires.

19. Contrast and compare the Fourteen Points with the peace settlements in Paris.

20. Evaluate the Treaty of Versailles in terms of its underlying principles and its long-term effects.

21. "Kaiser Wilhelm II was single handedly responsible for the fall of Germany and the rise of Nazism." Discuss.

22. To what extent and in what ways did nationalist tensions in the Balkans between 1870 and 1914 contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?

22. The peoples of Europe convinced that their nations causes were just, entered World War I in August of 1914 enthusiastically, in the belief that victory would be theirs by Christmas. What went wrong? Why did they, civilian and military alike, have such a mistaken concept of the nature of modern warfare? What changes had taken place in previous decades to so dramatically alter the nature of warfare?

23. At the Versailles Peace Conference Germany was forced to recognize its responsibility for the First World War. Discuss and analyze the causes that led to the outbreak of the war.

24. Explain how World War I led to disillusionment in society and politics. How was that disillusionment portrayed in arts and literature?

25. Trace the road to World War I through diplomacy, alliances and imperialism.

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