INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN AN AGE OF IMPERIALISM (18711918) Theme 1 Review
THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
Causes of the Scramble ◦ Commerce and Trade: Industrial revolutions requiring new sources of raw materials and markets ◦ Strategy: Importance of securing Britain’s trade routes to India ◦ Political: Enhancing a country’s prestige and international standing ◦ Medical: New treatments for malaria; enabling exploration of African interior ◦ Transport: Railways and steamships enabling more effective transportation of people and goods ◦ Exploration: Opening up the African interior ◦ Moral: Bringing civilization to the African people
Conflicts during the Scramble for Africa ◦ Treaty of Berlin: ◦ Date: 1885 ◦ Reason: to prevent conflict between European nations in Africa ◦ Outcome: Africa was divided without consulting the African people
◦ The Fashoda Incident ◦ Date: 1898 ◦ Reason: rivalry between France and Britain over Sudan ◦ Outcome: France recognized British control of Egypt and Sudan; British acknowledged French presence in Morocco
Conflicts during the Scramble for Africa cont. ◦ The First Boer War ◦ Date: 1880-81 ◦ Reason: dispute over ownership of the Transvaal and Orange Free State ◦ Outcome: British loose, Transvaal and Orange Free State were given self-governing status under British oversight
◦ The Second Boer War ◦ Date: 1899 ◦ Reason: Paul Kruger wanted the withdrawal of British troops, Britain refused ◦ Outcome: British won, but at a price – huge expenses to the British tax payers and army, and Britain was condemned by the international community for use of scorched earth policy and the treatment of refugees
◦ Increased Tension between European Rivals: Especially after Germany entered the “scramble” after 1890. By then, most of the profitable areas of Africa had already been taken by other nations. Germany’s colonies in East Africa cost the country more than they were worth.
Impact on Africa ◦ Benefits ◦ Efficient government and administration ◦ Improved education ◦ Improved transport and communication ◦ Improved health (e.g. water and sanitation) ◦ Improved farming methods
Impact on Africa cont. ◦ Disadvantages ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
__Africans ___ ruled by ___Europeans________ Loss of ___traditional__________ African ___culture_________ Exploitation of African _resources____________ Africa ___prevented___________ from developing its own __industries_______ New __boundaries_________ Taking no account of __local_______ and _____tribal_______ groupings
THE EMERGENCE OF THE USA AS A WORLD POWER
Before 1871 ◦ Isolationism: avoiding involvement in foreign affairs. Preoccupied with domestic issues – increasing territory through westward expansion and the American Civil War ◦ Monroe Doctrine1823: attempt to keep European nations out of the Americas. Any attempt by European powers to intervene in the Americas would be viewed as an act of aggression and dealt with accordingly.
After 1871 ◦ Economic Growth: danger of over reliance on the domestic market. Since Europeans practiced protectionism, Americans needed to find other markets abroad to sell their goods. ◦ Importance of China: to provide a market for American goods. ◦ Importance of Strong Navy: to carry out trade and protect US shipping; need for overseas naval bases ◦ Political Debate: many politicians in the US supported the expansionist view, some argued that maintaining the traditional policy of isolationism was the best way to protect US interests
US IMPERIALISM
The Spanish-American War What caused the US to declare war on Spain?
â—Ś Cuba was fighting for its independence from Spain. The US battleship Maine was in Havana Harbor. When the ship exploded the American press blamed the Spanish, swaying the opinion of the American people and forcing the US government to declare war on Spain.
What lands did the US gain because of their victory?
â—Ś The US was in effective control of a nominally independent Cuba and gained control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909 ◦ Panama Canal: Ensured US control of building and operating the Canal. Allows ships to pass between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without having to sail around Cape Horn at the tip of South America. Added to the US’s global influence ◦ Platt Amendment: The US was able to dictate Cuba’s foreign policy and all of its commercial activities. Also granted rights over key land on the island, including the naval base at Guantanamo Bay. ◦ Roosevelt Corollary: Stated that the US could intervene if any Caribbean state was threatened by internal or external factors.
Conflict â—Ś US met with stern opposition for trading rights in China: Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and Japan; however, the US emerged as prosperous with a growing influence over world financial markets.
THE EMERGENCE OF JAPAN AS A WORLD POWER
Before 1871 ◌ Underdeveloped: rigid class structure with Samurai and shogun. Farming, transportation, and industry had changed little for centuries, economy was based on bartering ◌ Under threat from USA and European Nations: threat posed by foreigners wanting to exploit Japan’s resources and market. Japanese demanded the return of an emperor as head of the government
After 1871 ◦ Rapid Industrialization and modernization: development of education, transportation, industry, mines, and other factories. Railways and telegraph lines were laid to support industrial development ◦ Military Development: increasing prosperity used to fund military strength; conscription; naval development – by 1894 Japan possessed 28 modern warships
JAPANESE EXPANSION
War with China 1894-1895 What caused the Japanese to go to war with China?
â—Ś Disputes over who should control Korea. The Japanese army quickly overran Korea, Manchuria, and parts of China
Treaty of Shimonoseki â—Ś China surrendered. Japan gained Formosa and Port Arthur. Korea was declared independent of China
Triple Intervention What countries were involved? â—Ś France, Russia, and Germany
Outcome â—Ś Forced Japan to hand over control of Port Arthur to Russia. This caused resentment and Japan to build more warships for revenge.
Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902 Why did Japan want this alliance? ◦ Britain would recognize Japan’s rights in Korea and would establish Japan’s emergence on the global stage
What were the implications of the alliance?
◦ Japan felt strong enough to seek a settlement with Russia.
Russo-Japanese War Causes of War
Outcome/Implications
◦ Russians refused to negotiate to give Japan rights in Korea. Japan attacked Russian ships docked in Port Arthur.
◦ Russian fleet was denied access to the Suez Canal by Britain. Russian ships could not compete with modern Japanese ships. Treaty of Portsmouth gave Japan rights in Korea, Russian control of Manchuria ended. Western powers grew concerned over Japan’s expansion.
THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM IN EUROPE
Unification of Germany 1871 ◦ Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 ◦ Germany defeated France. In the Treaty of Frankfurt took the provinces of Alsace Lorraine and forced France to pay vast amounts of money in compensation.
◦ Germany’s Vulnerable geographic location ◦ Located in the heart of Europe open to attack on three sides: ◦ France from the west, ◦ Russia from the east, ◦ Austria-Hungary from the south
Bismarck’s Foreign Policy Aims ◌ To ensure the security of the newly united Germany
BISMARCK’S ALLIANCES
Dreikaiserbund (Three Emperors’ League) ◦ Date: 1873 ◦ Countries Involved: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia ◦ Reason for alliance: Isolate France and to reduce disputes between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Balkans ◦ Outcome: weak due to the disputes between Austria-Hungary and Russia, collapsed by 1879
The Dual Alliance ◦ Date: 1879 ◦ Countries Involved: Germany and Austria-Hungary ◦ Reason for alliance: Each country would come to the aid of the other in case of an attack by Russia, but remain neutral if attacked by another nation
The Triple Alliance ◦ Date:1882 ◦ Countries Involved: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy ◦ Reason for alliance: mutual support in the event of an attack by any of the other great powers
The Reinsurance Treaty ◦ Date:1887 ◦ Countries Involved: Germany and Russia ◦ Reason for alliance: Neutrality in any war as long as Germany did not attack France, or Russia attack Austria-Hungary
Implications of Secrecy of treaties â—Ś They were intended to preserve peace, but made Britain and France suspicious
KAISER WILHELM II
Dismissal of Bismarck leads to changes in German policy ◦ Adopts more __aggressive ______ foreign Policy ◦ ___imperial____________ expansion ◦ Naval __development_____________ ◦ ____ending______ of __Reinsurance___ Treaty ◦ Kruger Telegram: A telegram from Kaiser Wilhelm to Paul Kruger (South African Republic) congratulating him on repelling the Jameson Raid. The telegram aroused hostility against Germany in Britain, pre-WWI.
UNITING AGAINST GERMANY
Franco-Russian Alliance ◦ Date:1894 ◦ Countries Involved: France and Russia ◦ Reason for alliance: Seeking security; fear of Triple Alliance
Anglo-Japanese Alliance ◦ Date: 1902 ◦ Countries Involved: Britain and Japan ◦ Reason for alliance: Protection of British holdings in the Far East
The Entente Cordiale ◦ Date: 1904 ◦ Countries Involved: Britain and France ◦ Reason for alliance: Britain feared being isolated; made France feel more secure
Then Anglo-Russian Entente ◦ Date: 1907 ◦ Countries Involved: Britain and Russia ◦ Reason for alliance: Britain saw Germany as a threat in the Far East; Russia feared the Triple Alliance
The Triple Entente ◦ Date: 1907 ◦ Countries Involved: France, Britain, and Russia ◦ Implication: Agreed to support each other in case of an attack, Now all of Europe's great powers are entangeled in alliances
THE ROAD TO WAR
RIVAL ALLIANCES
Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente â—Ś Existence of rival alliances led to increased tensions
Arms Race ◦ _naval_ rivalry between _Germany _ and _Britain_ ◦ __conscription__ in France
Development of War Plans â—Ś Schlieffen Plan â—Ś based on the assumption that because of its size, Russia would take longer to mobilize the France. The plan was to defeat France first, then focus on Russia.
LONG-TERM CAUSES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
M â—Ś Militarism â—Ś a policy of glorifying war and readying the armed forces for conflict; urged a constant buildup of weapons and troops
A â—Ś Alliances â—Ś association of nations or other groups, formed to advance common interests or causes ;By 1914 all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances; The alliances made it more likely that a war would start & likely to spread
I ◦ Imperialism ◦ The policy of extending a nation’s power by gaining political and economic control over more territory; the Crisis in the Balkans
N â—Ś Nationalism â—Ś At this time nations wanted to assert their power & independence; In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule
**Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand â—Ś An __immediate___________ cause of the war
THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
Outbreak of War ◦ __Austria-Hungary__ declares war on __Serbia__ ◦ __Russia__ declares war on __Austria-Hungary__ ◦ Other countries dragged in
Japan and USA Enter War ◦ Japan entered war in _1914_ (gained from the war) ◦ USA entered in __1917__ ◦ Due to German U-Boat attacks and Zimmerman note