Spielvogel – Chapter 25 – “The Beginning of the Twentieth Century Crisis:
War and Revolution”
Focus Questions:
What were the long-range and immediate causes of WWI?
What did the belligerents expect at the beginning of WWI, and why did the course of the
war turn out to e so different from their expectations?
How did WWI affect the belligerents’ governmental and political institutions,
economic affairs, and social life?
What were the causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917, and why did the Bolsheviks
prevail I the civil war and gai control of Russia?
What was the relationship between WWI and the Russian Revolution?
Outline:
I.
The Road to WWI
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II.
Nationalism led to rivalries and tension
Some conservatives afraid labor groups and socialists would lead to internal rev.
Militarism was not just larger militaries, but influence of military leaders
Many saw the growing tension between Austria and Serbia
How the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand was dealth with, led to war
The War
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B.
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Most Euros enthusiastic about war – believed would be over by Christmas
Schlieffen Plan fails at First Battle of the Marne (Sept. 6-10, 1914)
Russian faced early failures on the eastern front
Trench warfare baffled military leaders
Trench warfare horrible and predictable
War became worldwide with alliances
Naval warfare between Britain and Ger. Eventually led to US entry into war
Governments extended power during war
Capitalism was shelved fr wartime economies
Ger had most success in planned economy under Walter Rathenau
Ger became military dictatorship
British created Ministry of Munitions under David Lloyd George
France had less success in strong ar govt. till G. Clemenceau in 1917
Internal opposition to war came from labor groups, liberals, and socialists
War govts. Repressed civil liberties and used propaganda
Labor benefited from the war
Women had new roles, but still had opposition and little real security
R. World War I was a social leveler
S. Economic impact of WWI was uneven
III.
War and Revolution
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J.
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The Peace Settlement
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V.
Russian govt. unprepared for total war of WWI
March Revolution begins with women’s march demanding “Peace and Bread”
Moderate provisional govt faces new forces
Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) heads the Bolsheviks
Threat by General Lavr Kornilov led to Kerensky losing control
Lenin broke the Constituent Assembly by force and instituted quick reforms
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918) pulls Russ out of war
1918-21 saw civil war in Russ
Lenin and Bolsheviks triumphed for several reasons
Ger advance into France and arrival of more US troops led to end of war
More radical social democrats in Germany were defeated by moderates
Austro-Hungarian empire broke apart
Wilson’s Fourteen Pts were idealistic
Natl interests complicated deliberations
Big Four made most of the decisions
Gers considered Treaty of Versailles harsh
New boundaries were drawn
Peace settlement soon under attack
Summary