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Nationalism Creates Tension
In the late 1880's European countries began reject the idea of diversity in a nation. Instead tehy promoted the idea of a nation being of all one ethnic group. This led to heightened nationalism and tension among nations. Many nations rekindled old rivalries or sought to avenge past defeats. It also destabalised old empires that included many nations. Nationalism feuled rebellion in many of empires states, who sought their independance. This created conflct, and even more tensious situations. -
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Nstionalism Feuls Imperialism
Nationalism also influenced economic goals. IN the late 1800's many nations began to search for colonies in remote parts of the world. These colonies provided increased power to previousely week countries. They also provided raw material and labor to feul the international arms race going on at the time. It also created tension as industrial nations jostled amongst themselves to find and conquer more land than the others. -
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Militarism Creates an Arms Race and Feuls Nationalism
Many European leaders were already predicting a great war in the late 1800's, and began to stockpile weapons and machinery in preperation.In 1914 Germany had the worlds largest standing army in the world and a navy large enough to challenge Britains who at the time had the strongest Navy. This created an international arms race between many of the European powers to see who could become the strongest.Not only did this grow armys, but it also grew militarism and national pride amongst the people. -
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European Countries make Alliances
Along with prepping their armies for future war, European nations also began to make alliances that would assure neighboring countries assistance if they went to war. Before 1914 two major alliances were formed. The first was between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy called the Triple Alliance. The other was betweenFrance, Russia, and Great Britain, this alliance was called the Triple Entente.These alliances would soon come into play when in July of 1914 Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assinated
On June 28, 1914 Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assinated by a Serbian nationalist while riding in his car through Sarajevo. The Austrians viewed this as an act of war and in July of 1914 they dclared ar on Serbia. Through and entanglemtn of alliances and treaties, this small conflict quickly dragged some of Europes largest powers into an all out war. This war would later become known as "The first World War." -
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World War 1
World War 1 was a massive war fought in Europe between the Allied powers (Russia, America, England, and France) and the Central powers(Germany and Austria Hungary). The war took placce between 1914 and 1918, and was one of the deadliest conflicts in history. The war left 9 million combatents and 7 million civilians dead, and many more wounded and missing. The war was ended in 1918 with teh signing fo the treaty of versailles. -
The British liner Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat.
On May 7, 1915 a German submarine sunk the British liner Lusitinia, causing the death of 1,198 of her passengers. This caused outrage among Americans who were not yet at war in Europe. These protests casued Germany to switch its rules of engagement and stated that they would not target passenger ships. But in 1917 Germany returned to a state of unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking any allied ship. This angered many Americans and drove us closer to joining the war. -
The Zimmerman Letter is Sent
At the outbreak of the war America had taken a hands off policy hoping not to get involved in the war. But in 1917 the Germans sent a telegram that changed everything. In early 1917 German Foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman attampted to send a letter to Mexican officials, but it was intercepted by English intelligence. In the letter Germany asked Mexico to join the war and fight against America. Viewing this as an act of war President Wilson and congress declared war on Germany in April 1917, -
The Ttreaty of Versailles is Signed
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty written and singed to end the war between Germany and the Allied powers. The treaty both ended the war and dictated Germany's punishment. Under teh treaty of Versailles there were four things that germany had to do. They had to accept responisiblity for starting the war, pay back all war debts, they could not have an airforce, and restrictions were put on the size of their army. These were protective measures to keep Germany from rising to power. -
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Nazi Party RIses to Power
As a result of the poverty caused by the halting of the Dawes plan, the government lost favor in the eyes of the people. The people were ready for a new gorvernment and Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party seemed promising. Hitler proposed vengance for Germany, who the people beleived was stabbed in the back by the oppresive Treaty of Versailles. This caused enough disillusionment for the Adolf Hitler through political scheming to become the legally appointed dicator of Germany. -
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Herbert Hoovers Presidency
Herbert hoover became president right before the stock market crash in October of that year. when he became president America appeared proseprouse and though he had been warned of a possible decline in the economy, he was no where near prepared for the October stock market crash. As the economy began to decline post stock crash Hoover took a hands off aproach to solving the issue. He thought that the depression was just part of the business cycle and would work itself out in the end. -
United States Stock Market Crashes
On October 29 1929 the United States stock market hit rock bottom, causing investors to lose billions overnight. This crash created a ripple effect that flowed through the banks and business crippling the economy. With the stock crash banks went out of business and people who had money in the banks lost it all. With no money people could no longer buy the goods industry produced causing many factories to go out of business. This then led to high unemployment rates and ultimately poverty. -
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The Great Depression
The great depression was a sever world wide economic depresion in the decade preceading world war two. The depressions timing varied from country to country but in most cases it began in 1930 and lasted until around 1940. It originated in the United States with the fall of stock prices in 1929, and soon spread world wide. The depression had devastating effects on bothe the rich and poor.Personal
income, tax revenue, profits and prices all dropped. Creating a state of poverty all over the world. -
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America Stops Dawes Plan
In 1924 an agreement was reached that America owuld lone money toe Germany so it could pay its war debts to Britain and France. In turn Britain and France could pay their debts to America. This operation called the Dawes planwas of course run on Amrican money. ut after the stock market crash America no longer had money to loan to Germany therefore halting the plan. This threw Germany into nation wide poverty and unemployment weakening the current government. -
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Franklin D Roosevelts Presidency
Franklin Roosevelt became president right in the middle of the depression. At the time unemployment rates were at their peak, and many Americans were without homes and food. Roosevelt took a very different approach than Hoover to bringing America out of the depression. Hoover beleived it was the job of the federal government to help provide jobs and food to impovershed Americans. Roosevelt summed up his goals in something called "The New Deal."
