Impact of Colonization and the Prelude to World War I
The Consequences of Colonization
The introduction of European developments in the colonies:
The settlers introduced their progress in the colonial ports, roads, railways, and bridges, improving infrastructure. They also introduced new agricultural land and industries for their own benefit. Additionally, hygiene and the construction of hospitals were established where the natives were vaccinated. The mortality rate declined and the population increased. Europeans set up schools that taught the language, culture, and customs of the metropolis (acculturation). They helped the Indians to change and tried to impose Christianity.
The Economic Impact:
In the colonies, the economic interests of the settlers were imposed, who had the privilege. The indigenous population saw their living conditions worsen. Much land became the property of the colonizers, leading to large plantations of products that benefited the metropolis (cocoa, coffee, cotton, fruits, rubber). The natives had to buy food, leading to the emergence of a monetary economy. Local crafts were ruined by industrial products.
Social and Cultural Changes:
The social structure changed, and the increased pace of work and city life disrupted traditional social hierarchies (role of elders, family structure). Staff and settlers from the metropolis lived in luxurious houses while the local people lived in poverty (segregation). The colonists did not socially relate to the natives. Thus, the Indians lost their identity.
The Causes of World War I
Colonialism and Nationalism:
The rivalry between the colonial powers: in Morocco (1905-1911), Germany tried to impose itself on France and Britain.
Nationalist fervor: The Franco-Prussian War in Alsace was lost for Germany. Both countries wanted continental hegemony. Germany and France also had rivalry for control of shipping lanes and international trade.
The Conflict in the Balkans:
Tensions in the mid-19th century arose as the peoples under the Turkish Empire became independent: Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. Austria, a multinational empire (Hungarians, Czechs, Croats, Serbs, Italians…), wanted to dominate the region and accused Serbia of supporting the Slavs (friends of the Russians). The Serbs were Slavs, and Russia wanted to protect Serbia and all Slavic peoples (Slavism) to increase their power on the Bosphorus and gain access to the Mediterranean. In 1908, Austria occupied Bosnia.
Arms Races and Alliances:
Countries invested heavily in making weapons, building warships, and training their troops. The military powers and alliances formed in 1882 included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, which joined the Triple Alliance.
The Outbreak of War:
On 28 June 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Bosnian student. Austria declared war on Serbia, and Russia intervened to protect Serbia. Germany declared war on Russia and France. Britain declared war on Germany for invading Belgium.
The Great War
It is so named because never before had a conflict involved so many countries and so many human beings.
The War of Movement:
The Germans attacked France through Belgium and Luxembourg and, by early 1914, were only 40 KM from Paris. However, the French and English reorganized and stopped the Germans at the Battle of the Marne. The Germans advanced into Russia, initially rapidly, but the Russians reacted.
The Trench Warfare:
The fronts were immobilized. Trenches were dug from Switzerland to the North Sea, and new allies had to be sought. In 1915, Italy joined France and the UK, while Bulgaria and the Turkish Empire helped the Central Powers. In 1916, there was a German offensive at the Battle of Verdun, but the French and allies resisted.
The Crisis of 1917 and the End of the War:
In 1917, Russia experienced the Bolshevik Revolution, and the revolutionaries made peace with Germany (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk). When Russia exited the war, the U.S. entered due to the sinking of the liner Lusitania by a German submarine.
In 1918, British, French, and Italians defeated Austria and the Turks, leading to an armistice. There were riots in the German army (internal strife). The Germans sued for peace, and on 11 November 1918, the armistice was signed.
The War in the Rear:
Many resources were mobilized, engaging the entire population (military men and women in factories). National armies were created. Technical means and weapons were transported. Contestants converted their industries to manufacture arms and borrowed new techniques of propaganda to mobilize public opinion.
The Organization of Peace
In January of 1919, there was a conference in Paris to establish peace. 32 countries participated, but the highlights were the 4 winners: the U.S., France, the UK, and Italy.
The Treaty of Versailles:
This treaty made peace with Germany, and the victors imposed tough conditions: they had to pay war reparations for the destruction inflicted. Germany was almost completely disarmed and forbidden to rearm. It lost its colonial empire, which was transferred to Great Britain and France. Alsace-Lorraine went to France, and Posen and West Prussia became part of Poland, which was guaranteed access to the Baltic Sea by the Danzig Corridor, separating Western Prussia from the rest of Germany. In Germany, there was a surge of nationalist fervor and a desire for revenge.
The Society of Nations:
The League of Nations was created to guarantee peace, promote international cooperation, and monitor the implementation of treaties. It consisted of two bodies: the Assembly (all member states) and the Council (the victorious countries).
The Survival of the Baroque:
In the 18th century in Europe (especially Spain and Spanish America), the Baroque style prevailed. In architecture, there was a complication and abundance of decoration (covers and interiors), with Pedro Ribera Churriguera being a notable figure. In sculpture, the best-known artist was Francisco Salzillo. This period marked a departure from the dramatic works of 17th-century artists and embraced the rococo aesthetic.