German Aggression in World War One

The World War started in a somewhat confusing manner.  The origin of the war is

somewhat controversial even after all the years that have passed a lot of people are still confused about the way the war started.  The Germans have were accused for the war because of their aggression however, the war started by the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.  Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and his assassination in 1914 let to a series of events and the outbreak of the war in Europe.  Ferdinand and his wife were killed by Serb Nationalist Gavrilo Prindip while on a formal visit to Sarajevo. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/harrachmemoir.htm)

(Primary Documents: Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s Assassination, 28 June 1914).

Germany offered Austria-Hungary a “Blank Cheque” in support for the aggression of Serbia.  (Primary Documents: Germany’s ‘Blank Cheque’ to Austria-Hungary, 6 July 1914).

The German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, sent a letter to the German Ambassador at Vienna with the following excerpt: “The telegram effectively offered Austria-Hungary a ‘blank cheque’ in terms of German support for whatever action

Austria-Hungary chose to take in punishing Serbia for the assassination of Archduke

Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914.”  This drew support from the Germans to the Austrian

Hungarians causing conflict between the Germans and the Serbians. Even thought the

Germans supported Austria hungry they did not want to have a war.  “Not one human

being among us dreamed of war.  We are a nation that wishes to lead a quiet and

industrious life.” Said an Imposing Committee of Leading German Statesmen,

Scholars, Bankers and Merchants, Including Prince von Bulow, Marshal von der Goltz,

Matthias Erzerberger, Herr Ballin, Count von Reventlow, and the Head of the Imperial

Bank. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germanappealtoamericans.htm Primary

Documents: Germany’s Appeal to Americans, August 1914).”Our love of peace is so

strong that it is not regarded by us in the light of a virtue, we simply know it to be

an inborn and integral portion of ourselves.  Since the foundation of the German

Empire in the year 1871, we, living in the centre of Europe, have given an example

of tranquility and peace, never once seeking to profit by any momentary difficulties

of our neighbours.” (Germany’s Appeal to Americans, August 1914). They did not want

war but because of the other countries actions they had declare war on France and Russia.

They declared war on France because” The German administrative and military

authorities have established a certain number of flagrantly hostile acts committed on

German territory by French military aviators. Several of these have openly violated

the neutrality of Belgium by flying over the territory of that country; one has

attempted to destroy buildings near Wesel; others have been seen in the district of

the Eifel; one has thrown bombs on the railway near Carlsruhe and Nuremberg.””(Primary Documents: Germany’s Declaration of War with France, 3 August 1914, http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germandeclarationofwar_france.htm).

Then they declared war on Russia when “The Imperial German Government has used every effort since the beginning of the crisis to bring about a peaceful settlement.  In compliance with a wish expressed to him by His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, the German Emperor had undertaken, in concert with Great Britain, the part of mediator between the Cabinets of Vienna and St. Petersburg; but Russia, without waiting for any result, proceeded to a general mobilization of her forces both on land and sea” “The German Government were, therefore, obliged to make representations to the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russia’s and to insist upon a cessation of the aforesaid military acts. Russia having refused to comply with this demand, and having shown by this refusal that her action was directed against Germany.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germandeclarationofwar_russia.htm Primary Documents: Germany’s Declaration of War with Russia, 1 August 1914) the Germans did not want war but peace. Some people say that the Germans tried to break Belgium’s neutrality. Yet, Germany tried to reason with Belgium. “In order to exclude any possibility of misunderstanding, the German Government make the following declaration: One: Germany has in view no act of hostility against Belgium. In the event of Belgium being prepared in the coming war to maintain an attitude of friendly neutrality towards Germany, the German Government bind them selves, at the conclusion of peace, to guarantee the possessions and independence of the Belgian Kingdom in full. Two: Germany undertakes, under the above-mentioned condition, to evacuate Belgian territory on the conclusion of peace. Three: If Belgium adopts a friendly attitude, Germany is prepared, in cooperation with the Belgian authorities, to purchase all necessaries for her troops against a cash payment, and to pay an indemnity for any damage that may have been caused by German troops. Four: Should Belgium oppose the German troops, and in particular should she throw difficulties in the way of their march by a resistance of the fortresses on the Meuse, or by destroying railways, roads, tunnels, or other similar works, Germany will, to her regret, be compelled to consider Belgium as an enemy.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/belgium_germanrequest.htm Primary Documents: German Request for Free Passage through Belgium, and the Belgian Response, 2-3 August 1914) this shows that Germany wanted to reason with Belgian instead of just trying to concur it.  Germanys aggression was not the start of the war. “Where the responsibility in this greatest of all wars lies is quite evident to us. Outwardly responsible are the men in Russia who planned and carried into effect the general mobilization of the Russian army. But in reality and truth the British Government is responsible. The London Cabinet could have made war impossible if they had unequivocally told Petersburg that England was not willing to let a continental war of the Great Powers result from the Austro-Hungarian conflict with Serbia. Such words would have compelled France to use all her energy to keep Russia away from every warlike measure. Then our good offices and mediation between Vienna and Petersburg would have been successful, and there would have been no war!”( Primary Documents: German Chancellor’s Speech to the Reichstag, 1914 http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/bethmannspeech1914.htm) In the end the Germans declared war on France and Russia causing people to believe that it was they who caused the war but it was really the assassination which made this whole war spiral out of control. in fact the Germans where trying to make less casualties. they did not like that the French where using gas bombs that killed people. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/2ndypres_germanstatement.htm Primary Documents: German Statement on the Use of Poison Gas at the Second Battle of Ypres, 25 June 1915)

i would not like the war because i would not like to fight another worker and let my and his boss sit on there ass and see who would win.

• #2

  Opium War- Conflict between 1839 to 1842 between China and Britain that arose due to Britain’s export of opium to China.

  Treaty of Nanjing- Treaty following the Opium War in which china gave Hong Kong to Britain and opened ports to British trade.

  Taiping Rebellion- Revolt in China from 1850 to 1864, led by Hong Xiuquan who influenced by Christian teachings, declared a mission to establish a new dynasty.

• #4

  a.)Peace and urban growth contributed to the increase of trade within China’s borders. They needed merchants to supply city-dwellers with clothing, food, and other essential goods. China’s cities grew, but people still lived in the countryside. They increased the amount of land used for farming. The Chinese planted many crops.

  b.) The Chinese rulers did not want or like any foreigners in their country, they wanted them to stay away from them and they wanted to stay away from them too.

Pg.550

#1

1. Enclosure movement: The practice of fencing or enclosing common lands into individual holdings.

2. Crop rotation: Planting different crops in the fields each year.

3. Industrial revolution: An era of rapid industrial devlopment.

4. Factors of production: The favorable combinations of needed factors; land, capital, and labor.

5. Mechanization:  Automatic machinery was used to increase production.

6. Factory system: Production of goods in a factory through the use of machines and a large number of workers. 

7. Vulcanization: Process of treating rubber to make it more useful.

#2

1. Jethro Tull: A landowner that was concerned about the amount of seed wasted by hand-scattering it over fields. He invented a seed drill that made it possible to plant seeds in straight rows. He also made a horse-drawn hoe to dig up weeds between the rows and break up soil before planting.

2. Richard Arkwright: Invented a way to drive the machine made by James Haragreaves by waterpower.

3. Eli Whiteny: Invented the cotton gin. A machine that could clean much more cotton in a day than hand laborers could.

4. James Watt: He studied and improved  Newcomer’s machine.

5. Henry Bessemer: Working independently, developed what came to be known as the Bessemer process. It is a cheaper and more efficient method of making steel.

6. Robert Fulton: The first to build a profitable steamboat.

7. Samuel Morce: Sent an electric current through a wire, causing a machine at the other end to click.

pg.636 #2

1. Carbonari-  Nationalists could not work openly and had to form secret societies. The Carbonari was one group.

2.Guiseppe Mazzini- One of the most famous Carbonari.

3. Young Italy Movement- In 1831, Guiseppe Mazzini called for all Italian patriots to join his Young Italy movement. It was dedicated to spread the ideas of the resurgence.

4. King Victor Emmanuel II- King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia. He was not sympathetic to the liberals, but he wanted to expand Sardinia.

5. Camillo Benso di Cavour- King Victor Emmanuel II’s chief minister. He was a republican  and an Italian Patriot. He was the one who actually governed the kingdom of Sardinia. He wanted to lead the way in uniting and industrializing Italy. He Made Sardinia a better place.

6. Napoleon III- A French emepror who wanted to increase French influence. Worked with Camillo Benso di Carvour ton making plans against Austria.

7. Guiseppe Garibaldi- A man devoted to Italian freedom.

# 4

a. The Young Italy movement and war wit Austria.

b. The two important leaders  in the fight for italian unification were Cavour and Napoleon III.

c. The kingdom of Sardinia took the lead because they saw Austria as the greatest barrier to Italian unification.

I think that this means that they lost people.They lost crops. they killed a lot of people.But in the end they gained independence

The French Republic says that “Egypt has treated the French community basely and comptemptously and have persecuted its merchats with all manner of exortion and violence. Therefore the hour of punishment has now come”. They cant beat them but they dont want to lose aything either. The only wepons they had were crappy cannon that didnt work. The French attack the Egyptians a lot, and they have everything; weapons, gunpowder etc. They write this whole thing about God, and that god os God  and that he has no son. The French  know they can defeat Egypt. Egypt is locked in their houses and towers with no gunpowder so they cant  defend themselves. In the first part of the story it says that when the Europeans came and said that there were no French with them, but some of the Egyptians didnt believe them.