Nathan Tomlin Danny Stikeleather A.P. European History Period 1 Seminar #4: to What Extent and in What Ways Did Nationalistic Te
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Nathan Tomlin Danny Stikeleather a.k.a sexy beasts A.P. European History Period 1 Seminar #4: To what extent and in what ways did nationalistic tensions in the Balkans between 1870 and 1914 to contribute to the outbreak of the First World War? (1998, #4) Introduction: Between the years 1870 and 1914, Europe was poised for war. Thus, nation's understood it was important to prepare for the ensuing conflict. Mobilizing troops and stockpiling of ammunition and equipment were important. The most important thing of all, however, was deciding who will shoulder some ofthe load and fight alongside you. For war to occur, allies and enemies had to have a conflict. However, the countries in the pre war treaties did not ally effectively to start. It was an entanglement of what·ifs and empty promises that come to be known as the entangling of alliances. Stronger countries had made alliances with weaker countries. Nationalism played a large part, as Pan-Slavism came into existence and created much tension in the Balkans. Nationalism is the hubris for a nation's culture, nation and language. Nationalism, entangling alliances, along with the growing tension in the Balkans played a large role in the outbreak of World War I between 1870 and 1914. I. Balkans A. Ottoman Empire: Ottoman Empire had controlled the Strait of Dardanelles. Britain wanted the Dardanelles so they could control the Mediterranean. The Slavs were also controlled by the Ottomans. The Treaty of San Stefano changed this, however. Ottomans lost the Strait ofDardanelles and the Slavs to the Russians. The Slavs were now where they wanted to be. B. Russia: The Russians were trying to advance their power. Because the Austrians were also interested in the Balkans, a clash between the two countries followed. The main disagreement was who would gain the power to control the Slavs. After the Russo-Turkish War and the Treaty of San Stefano, Russian gained control of the Slavs. C. Austria: Austria turned to defense, wanting to limit the growth ofnationalism in the Slavic areas within Austria's borders and to the southeast in the Balkans. This sense ofnationalism by the Slavs threatened Austria. Due to the Treaty of San Stefano, Austria saw the Balkans go to the Russians. D. Pan-Slavism: Theory and movement intended to promote the political and cultural unity of the Slavs. Inspired by the rise of romanticism and nationalism, Pan-Slavism grew within Austria and Ottoman Empire. II. Nationalistic Tension in the Balkans A. Nationalism 1. Nationalism is the loyalty and devotion to a nation. The thinking that their country, culture and language is superior to all other nations. 2. Slavic nationalism disrupted the unity oftwo great but decaying empires at the start of the 20th century. Austria-Hungary failed to appease the Slavic separatist movement in the Habsburg Empire. Pan-Slavism encouraged the unification of the Slavic people. The Serbs, Bosnians, Slovenes, and Croats sought to be their own single individual country in Europe. B. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 1. In 1876, a revolt against Ottoman rule broke out in Bulgaria. In suppressing the revolt, the Turks slaughtered thousands. Serbia and Montenegro responded by declaring war on the Ottoman Empire. Russia went to war against Turkey in 1877 proclaiming their role as protectors ofthe Slavs. 2. Treaty of San Stefano (1878): Russia forced the Turks to accept the treaty in March 1878. In the treaty, Serbia, Montenegro, and Rumania were granted independence and granted autonomy to Bulgaria to have access to the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria, however, was under Russian control. Russia also received Batum, Kars, and other Turkish lands. 3. The Congress ofBerlin (1878): To prevent war, Bismarck invited the great powers of Europe to send representatives to a meeting in Berlin to discuss the situation. The Congress of Berlin replaced the Treaty of San Stefano with a new treaty. the Treaty of Berlin. This treaty confmned the independence of Serbia, Montenegro and Rumania, and the Russian acquisitions of Batum and Kars. Bulgaria was reduced in size and the Turks retained Macedonia. C. The First Balkan War (1912-1913) Small Balkan states began to press their demands against the Ottoman Empire. Bulgaria, Serbia. Montenegro, and Greece had formed the Balkan League. In 1912, the Balkan League went to war against Turkey. Under the terms of the Treaty of London the defeated Ottoman Empire lost all its territory in Europe except of the areas immediately adjacent to the Turkish straights. I D. The Second Balkan War (1913) Serbia demanded part of Bulgaria's share ofMacedonia as compensation for denied access to the Adriatic, Bulgaria, however, believed that because of its role in the First Balkan War entitled her to even Macedonia. Because of these disputes it resulted in the outbreak of the Second Balkan War in 1913. Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Rumania, and Turkey joined to defeat Bulgaria. The Treaty of Bucharest forced Bulgaria to give up territory to Rumania, While Serbia and Greece kept most of Macedonia. III. Causes of World War I. A. Short Term Cause 1. Assassination (June 28, 1914) a. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian Throne, was assassinated along with his wife by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. b. Princip was working for the Serbian Army Intelligence in Sarajevo, then in the capital of Bosnia. c. Austria's rulers felt the murder provided them with an opportunity to move against Serbia and end anti Austrian unrest in Balkans. Kaiser Wilhelm issued the infamous blank check. d. On July 23, 1914, the Austrian government presented Serbia with a 10-point ultimatum that required Serbia to suppress and punish all forms of anti- Austrian movement there. On July 25, 1914, Serbia accepted most ofAustria's terms, except for one. Austria wanted Serbia to prosecute all individuals they believe might have been involved with the assassination. B. Long Term Cause 1. Entangling Alliances a. Threes Emperors League (1873) -Germany, Austria, and Russia b. Dual Alliances (1879) -Gennany and Austria c. Revival to the Three Emperors League (1881) -German, Austria, and Russia d. Triple Alliance (1881) -Gennany, Austria, and Italy e. Reinsurance Treaty (1887) -Germany and Russia f. France- Russian Alliance (1894) -Russia and France g. Entente Cordial (1902) - Britain and France h. Triple Entente (1907) -Britain, France, and Russia 2. New Imperialism a. Define: The Policy of extending the rule or influence of a country over other countries or colonies. b. Many countries started to want colonies. This all got started because of England, who had colonies. Others felt that they needed to compete and so they too retrieved colonies. c. The New Imperialism was for a European nation to invest capital in a less industrialized country, to develop mines, agriculture, railroads, bridges, harbors, etc... If this was successful, the dominant power would establish more direct political control. 3. Nationalism a. Pan-Slavism, a nationalistic movement to unite all the Slavic peoples, encouraged the Serbs, Bosnians, Slovenes, and Croats to seek a single political entity in southern Europe. Conclusion: The objective ofwar is not destruction, but to emerge victorious from the clouds ofdust. To help a countries road to victory, alliances are made. Alliances are difficult to make, because terms are hard to meet and are sometimes not kept. However, ifthe alliances are agreed to, the chances of winning are greatly, increased. As if alliances weren't complicated enough, the idea of nationalism, primarily in the Balkans, complicated things further. This was because the Serbs believed themselves independent ofAustria and refused to cooperate. A reason for war was to control the Balkans, who ironically enough, separated itselfinto several small countries at the end ofthe war. The dispute over who would control the Balkans played a huge role in WWI and created tension in the Balkans. The tension would lead to a conflict the size of which the world had never seen. I .