Imperialism, World War I And Revolution And Nationalism Essay, Research Paper
Imperialism,World War I and Revolution and Nationalism
I) As some of us know what imperialism is, I would like to start you off with a definition
for those who may not know what it is or what it means. Imperialism is a policy that one
strong nation wants to take over or dominate other countries economic, political, and
social forces. The reason is to take over land in all parts of the globe. An example of
Imperialism would be India. The British came into India regulating the eastern side of
India. India still was in control; they had their own army, but were lead by British officers.
The reason why British cared about India, because of the resources that they had, such as
raw materials for their world s largest workshops. Remember Britain was known for good
factories, clothing and other products because they started the industrial revolution. Then
the British started to set up restrictions for India that prevented them from operating the
economy. Then they ordered for India to produce raw materials, for Britain s
manufacturing and to buy British finished goods. The British then built a railroad for the
raw materials to be shipped out, which then made India more valuable. The British started
to restrict Indian owned industries, they then felt and became second class citizens in their
own country. The Indians believed that with the British in control of their country that
they were trying to convert their religion to Christianity. The Indians were restricted many
things such as jobs, they had the same education as the British, but they didn t get the
jobs, the British did. Then came the Sepia Mutiny, when the Hidus and the Muslims then
started to fight with the British, to get back their country. Like I said the Indians felt like
they were second citizens in their own country. They reacted with war trying to fight with
the British and get back their country.
II) World War I truly was the result of building aggressions among the countries of
Europe, which was backed by the rise of nationalism. To add to the disastrous plot, there
was also imperial competition along with the fear of war prompting military alliances and
an arms race. All of these increased the escalating tensions that lead to the outbreak of a
world war. Two opposing alliances developed by the Bismarckian diplomacy after the
Franco- Prussian War was one of the major causes of the war. In order to diplomatically
isolate France, Bismarck formed the Three Emperor s League in 1872, which was an
alliance between Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary. Then in 1882 , Bismarck took
advantage of Italian resentment toward France and formed the Triple Alliance between
Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungry. In 1890 Bismarck was dismissed from his office and
France took the opportunity to gain an ally, therefore , in 1891 the Franco- Russian
Entente was formed. Then in 1904 Britain and France put aside their conflicts and formed
the Entente Cordiale. As a result , the Triple Entente, a coalition between Great Britain,
France, and Russia, countered the Triple Alliance. Now Europe was divided up into two
armed camps. Nationalism also played a major role in developing tensions in Europe; for it
had been causing dissatisfaction since the Congress of Vienna in 1815. In that settlement
the preservment of peace was chosen over nationalism, therefore, Germany and Italy were
left as divided states, though they did unify in the future. The Franco- Prussian War in
1871 resulted in the France s loss of the province of Alasce-Lorraine to Germany, and the
French looked forward to regaining their lands. Then there was Austria- Hungary which
controlled many lands that their neighbors felt belonged to them. Serbia wanted Bosnia
and Hercegovina, Italy wanted the Trentino and Trieste regions, and the Czechs and
Solvaks wanted independence from Austria- Hungrey. There was also Russia which had
problems within it s own boundaries; for Russia contained many different nationalities and
many were also seeking independence in the name of nationalism. Another major conflict
that caused the outbreak of the Great War was what is known as the arms race. With the
hostile divisions of the nations of Europe there came the expansion of armies and navies.
Furthermore, the great powers came to copy Germany s military organization and
efficiency, which called for universal registration for military duty, large reserves and
detailed planning. Efforts were made for universal disarmament, but the ” international
rivalry caused the arms race to continue to feed on itself. Imperial competition also played
a major rule in the act of increasing the ever growing tensions among the divided countries
of Europe. In Africa there were two crises in Morocco. The first time, in 1905, Germany
full heartedly supported Morocco s call for independence from France, and with the
British defending the French war was only avoided because of an international conference
which made Morocco a French protectorate. The second crisis occurred in 1911, and it
was in protest to French supremacy in Morocco. The Germans finally gave the French a
free hand in Morocco, but with a price. They demanded in exchange a portion if of the
French Congo. Around this same era there was also a Bosnian crisis, which began with
Austria-Hungary s takeover of the province of Bosnia in 1908. For this Serbia threatened
war on Austria-Hungary with the pledged backing of Russia. As they began to mobilize,
Austria- Hungary , with the alliance of Germany, threaten war on Russia. When Russia
backed down, the soon to be war was postponed, but left was a greatly strained
relationship between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. On June 28, 1914 the battle lines were
drawn with the assassinations in Sarajevo. It was believed that the crime was committed
by a Serbian nationalist, and immediately following it Germany , with its full support
pledged, pressed Austria-Hungary into declaring war on Serbia. At this same time, France
was strengthening its backing of Russia. War might have been avoided if Serbia had
excepted Austria-Hungary s harsh ultimatum, however they f
once the war fell into place. Austria declared war on July 28, 1914. The next day Russia
mobilized against Austria- Hungary, on August 1st Germany declared war on Russia, and
two days later on France. When Germany disregarded Belgium s neutrality, Britain
declared war on Germany. Finally war had begun, and unlike the predictions that had been
made the resulting war was long, indecisive, and reeked havoc on the nations of Europe.
The Great War officially ended in January of 1919 with a peace conference in Paris which
represented twenty- seven triumphant nations. However almost immediately the great
powers, United States, Great Britain, and France, were at odds with each other. President
Wilson, the representative of the United States, was insist on first and foremost dealing
with the creation of the League of Nations; while France and Britain on punishing
Germany. In the long run France gave up on having a buffer zone between itself and
Germany for a defensive alliance with the United States and Britain, and Wilson got the
formation of the League of Nations. These developments were not the key items at the
conference, rather it was the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty was made between the Allies
and Germany, and it began to re-establish order. In the treaty, all of Germany s colonies
were divided among the nations, thought it sustained minor losses of territory within
Europe. Its standing army was reduced to 100,00 men, and they could not have forts in
the Rhineland. The clause that angered most people was the one that made Germany claim
responsibility for the war, and imposed reparations. Thought Germany s new republican
government found the treaty to be harsh, they signed it and their discontent set the stage
for the Second World War. Germany was not the only country to suffer because of the
war; the world had been wiped clean of millions of people, and there was also extensive
damage throughout Europe. However, these were not the only sufferings for the
generation of the post- war era. The era followed with great many economic difficulties
throughout the world. The many industries that had been based on the war effort were no
longer needed, thereby unemployment was on the rise, and the government had secured
many debts to succeed in the war. These dictatorships involved a new form of tyranny and
were most evident in Stalin Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. With hardships rising, people
became more willing to put up with leaders like Stalin and Hitler. It is believed by many
that Hitler would never have came to power if it had not been for the German peoples
feelings of nationalism, and their discontent with the economy and the restrictions from the
Treaty of Versailles. Hitler played on the people s emotions, and he officially won the
game when he legally took over as the dictator of Germany. World War II was the last
major effect of the First World War. The war solved no problem. Its effects, both
immediate and indirect, were either negative or disastrous. Morally subversive,
economically destructive, socially degrading. Confused in its causes, devious in its course,
futile in its result, it is the outstanding example of European history of meaningless
conflict. These words of C.V Wedgwood are the perfect description of the Great War.
World War I had many complex causes, rather than one simple which is what is believed
by many people. Furthermore, the effects were widespread throughout generations all
over the world.
III) Lenin introduced a new econmic policy in Russia. The NEP introduced a small scale
version of capitalism to the tradional Russia. Before the NEP, Lenin distributed farmland
to peasats and workers in the factories. Then this allowed the pesants to sell their surplus
crops, instead of turning them into the government like they were always told. Lenin then
started the political reform, by organzing Russia into several governing rebulics.
Stalin then was in control, he was sort of a Hitler. He wanted to take total control over
Russia, and every aspect of the peoples lives, he then was a totaltarism leader. He then
started to make Russia into a communism country. He was in command of the econmy,
which pretty much says a government system which makes all of the decisions. He then
outlined plans for the Soviet Union, to promote rapid industrial growth, to strengthen the
nation.
A lot happend with the developments of the people and the country of China. To start off
the Qing Dynasty was overthrown. Sun Yixian took over and was forced to Kumintang
(Nationalist Pary). Which he succeeded over throwing the last emperor of the Dynasty.
Mao Zedong was a school teacher and while this was all going on, his students protested
because of the change and the beliefs of Sun Yixian s Western democracy.
Demonstrations of the protester s soon called it the May Fourth Movement. All based on
and in favor of Lenin s brand of Soviet communism. The two separate groups with their
different beliefs would fight with each other for who is right and what is best for the
Dynasty. Until Japan entered, the two groups temporay joined together to fight off Japan.
The Great March, which was a long journy of 6,000 miles.
After World War I, Indian soliders, returned home hoping for a change with Britain under
control of India. Self government was promised. leaders India hoped after the war the
promise would be fullfilled, but they were treated as second-class citizens. To protest all
of the promises that were broken, about 10,000 Muslims anad Hidus gathered at Amritsar,
the capital of Punjab. It was a peaceful event until the soliders of the British troops were
ordered to fire on the crowd. Lastiing ten minutes, would 1200 and killing 400. The
commmander thought the group as acting in a manner that alarmed the British thibking
this was big. After this big event this set the stage for Gandhi. His strategy for defending
injustice was religiously. He brought in religions such as Hinduism, Islam and Christianily.
With the massacre the British failed to punish the officers, so Gandhi urged the Indian
National Congress to follow present.
375