Political Upheavals: Late 19th & Early 20th Centuries
Political Upheavals: Late 19th & Early 20th Centuries
Germany’s Rise and Bismarck’s Influence
After unification, Germany gained prominence through Bismarck’s network of alliances. Tensions arose concerning naval power (Armistice of Rethondes). Colonial imperialism led to conquests by major powers in Africa and Asia, exacerbating global economic disparities. The Russian Revolution in 1917 established the first communist regime.
Bismarck and the Armed Peace
Following unification, Chancellor Bismarck focused on creating international alliances (Bismarckian system) to isolate France and maintain German stability. This system involved Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary, later joined by Italy. The rivalry between Russia and Austria-Hungary over the Balkans played a crucial role. The system collapsed with Emperor Wilhelm II’s ascension, forcing Bismarck’s resignation in 1890. Germany’s subsequent actions led to anti-German alliances like the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia). Conflicts in North Africa and the Balkans ensued. The period between 1871 and 1914, known as the Armed Peace, saw military development despite the absence of major European wars. Colonial disputes ultimately shattered hopes for lasting peace.
Colonial Imperialism
Causes
The Second Industrial Revolution drove industrialized nations to seek resources and investment opportunities. European powers, the United States, and Japan colonized much of Africa, Asia, and Oceania for economic exploitation.
- Demographic and Social: European population growth and unemployment due to mechanization spurred emigration.
- Political: International tensions prompted governments to control strategic territories for prestige.
- Scientific: The desire to explore new lands.
- Cultural: Belief in white racial superiority and the mission to spread European civilization and Christianity.
Advancements in transportation, such as the Suez Canal, facilitated colonial expansion.
Colonial Empires
Great Britain and France led the colonization efforts.
- United Kingdom: By the early 20th century, the UK was the dominant maritime power with the largest empire.
- France: France held the second-largest colonial empire.
Other colonizers included Italy (Libya), the Netherlands (Indonesia), Germany (Africa), Portugal (Angola and Mozambique), Belgium (Congo), and Spain (Northern Sahara).
Consequences
- Economic: Colonies were exploited for resources and forced into single-crop economies, dependent on the colonizers’ products.
- Demographic and Social: Colonial populations increased due to immigration and decreased indigenous mortality. Racial segregation enforced European dominance.
- Political: Colonial settlements became tools in international rivalries.
- Cultural: Western culture was imposed, supplanting indigenous beliefs and traditions.
World War I (1914-1918)
Causes
- Territorial Disputes: Russia and Austria-Hungary clashed over the Balkans; France and Germany disputed Alsace-Lorraine.
- Economic Rivalry: Germany’s industrial growth challenged Britain’s competitiveness.
- Colonial Interests: Competition for colonies fueled localized conflicts.
- Alliance Systems: The Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, UK, Russia) solidified opposing blocs.
Belligerents
- Central Powers: Triple Alliance plus the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
- Allied Powers (Entente): Triple Entente plus Serbia, Romania, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Japan, and the United States. Colonial troops also fought on behalf of their metropoles.
The Central Powers possessed a strong military and economy, while the Allies had greater combined resources and manpower.
Art
Architecture
- Iron Architecture: Gustave Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
- Art Nouveau: Hector Guimard (Paris Metro entrances)
Sculpture
- Impressionist Sculpture: Auguste Rodin (The Thinker, The Kiss, Balzac)
Painting
- Realism: Millet (The Angelus, The Gleaners), Courbet (A Burial At Ornans), Daumier (The Third-Class Carriage)
- Impressionism: Manet (Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe), Monet (Impression, Sunrise, Gare Saint-Lazare, Rouen Cathedral series), Renoir (Bal du moulin de la Galette), Degas (ballerina series)
- Post-Impressionism: Van Gogh (The Starry Night, Sunflowers), Gauguin (Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?), Cézanne (The Card Players)
- Avant-Garde: Munch (The Scream, Expressionism), Matisse (Harmony in Red, Fauvism), Picasso, Braque, Gris (Cubism), Marinetti (Futurism), Kandinsky (Abstract)
Features of the Conflict
. The First World War was a battle unlike those who had prodcido to entonces.Características: * New weapons and defensive systems (machine guns, poison gas ..) used new technical developments (telephone and telegraph), and other control systems, sea blockade and the destruction of bridges and industries. * He caused the massive incorporation into employment of women in positions of men who went to fight. Primordial work in factories for food, clothing, medicine and armamentos.Condujeron manufactured and packed trucks and guns and ammunition peligrosas.Realizaron important work as nurses. * The economy is focused on the war and its sole purpose was the production of armamento.El money was scarce, the population suffered rationing and increased state intervention in the economy. * Propaganda izo an important role in addressing maintain the morale of the population with campaigns that emphasized the wins and minimizeddefeats. 4.La war. In 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, whom he blamed for collaboration in the attack in Sarajevo, was assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. European nations take sides between the two sides. # Phases of conflict. * The war of movement (1914). Germany carried out the Schlieffen Plan, a fast acanve in the west and the occupation of northern France, after attacking in the east to stop the Russian army. * The war of position (1915-1916). When new weapons used prevented the advance, steadied the fronts and widespread attacks trincheras.Se used in submarines and battles concentrated at one point. * Events decisive (1917). There were two key events: the victory of the Russian Revolution, which led to the withdrawal of this country of the world war and conflict from entering the U.S. side of the Allies. * The end of the war (1918). There was the victorious offensive of the allies, reinforced with weaponry and U.S. trpas. The Germans signed the armistice (ceasefire) on 11 November he succeeded these 1918.Tras peace treaties with the defeated countries, known collectively as the Paris Peace.
Paris Peace 5.La. (1918-1919) In 1918, President Thomas W. Wilson made peace that call > in order to reach a just peace, to which >. The Paris peace treaty consisted of five: * Treaty of Versailles-> the most important, Germany lost almost all their colonies. * Treaty of Saint Germain. * Treaty of Trianon. * Treaty of Neuilly. * Treaty of Sèvres. The conditions were very hard, and who suffered losses teritoriale, desarmadosy were required to repair (that Germany should pay reparations to the victors, pos damage in the war). Germany felt humiliated and developed a desire for revenge. These treaties gave rise to a new map of Europe. 6.The effects of war. Principal consequences of the First World War. * Major loss of life humanas.Principalmente men. and a large number of injured, disabled and orphans. * Social Transformations. The incorporation of women into the workforce, impoverishing the middle classes and the ex-combatant, with trouble adapting to civilian life. * Changes authorities. The birth of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lituanoa, Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and the return of terriotorios as Alsace and Lorraine, were handed over to France and Germany lost all its colonies. * Economic disaster for Europe, not only for als high material losses, but because he was indebted to several countries, especially the United States. Europe losing its economic hegemony and the United States became the first world power.
The Russian Revolution. 1.Caída of imperial Russia and October Revolution 1917.Bajo autocratic rule of the czars were made some reforms, such as the liberation of the serfs, qe mseria not end with the peasants. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, there was a rapid process of industrialization with foreign capital and technology leading to an urban proletariat.
Russia suffered a severe crisis because if military defeat against Japan, in social and economic consequences 1905.Las ignited protests (Revolution of 1905) that fuereron repressed, but was forced to reform the system imperial.El Tsar Nicholas II authorized the formation of a Duma (parliament), then tried to do without. The military disasters during the First World War and the sufferings of the Russian people contributed to ending the Tsarist regime.
1917se In February there was a revolution that overthrew Tsar Nicholas II, restored the Duma and established a government provicionla, formadopor socialist and leading figure was liberales.Su Alexander F. Kerensky. The Bolsheviks led by Lenin and Trotsky took power dirante the October Revolution. Organized into soviets (revolutionary assemblies d workers, peasants and soldiers, under the direction Bolsheviks), stormed the Winter Palace, and established a new government, called the Council of People’s Commissars. The Bolsheviks adopted the name Communist Party and founded the Third International.
2.Guerra civil and consolidation of the USSR. In 1918, Russia signed the Peace of Brest Litovsky, withdrew from the First World War. He had already begun a civil war (1918-1920) among whites, supporters of the Tsarist regime and the revolutionary Red Army. The whites were defeated. In 1922, there was a new political organization, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which approved a constitution in 1924 based on the following principles: * A federal state consisting of the republics, Russia and dominant republic. * The consentracion power in the hands of the Communist Party. * A central committee or the Supreme Soviet, Parliament as a representative body of popular sovereignty. * A Congress of Soviets, a representative body of the territories of the USSR, who chose the government.
Took steps to replace capitalism with Marxist socialism. However, the situation that had caused the civil war made between 1921 and 1928, was set in motion the New Economic Policy (NEP) partially restored and temporarily capitalist economic forms to stimulate private enterprise and boost productivity: the peasants sold production on the open market and were promoted to the small artisan and cooperatives. Was achieved some economic stability.