The document provides background information on imperialism and its role in leading to World War 1. It discusses the rise of nationalism in Europe in the 19th century which created new countries like Germany and Italy. It also examines the Scramble for Africa during this period as European powers colonized the continent. Finally, it outlines the alliance systems and tensions between European powers in the early 20th century prior to the outbreak of World War 1, noting this conflict was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

1. IMPERIALISM & WW1
IES Camilo José Cela
Teacher: Rocío Bautista

2.  In order to understand the WW1 (1914-18),
it is necessary to know what was the
international situation of Europe before 1914.
What new countries had been
formed in the 1870’s?
The expansion of which ideology
favoured the unification of
these countries?
How did the Congress of Vienna (1815)
re-established European Balance after the
Napoleonic period?
What emergent ideology did they ignored?

3. REMEMBER…
European Balance had been re-established in the
Congress of Vienna…
BUT IGNORING NATIONALISTIC FEELINGS!!!!

5. REMEMBER…
 Austria was expelled from
the German Confederation
(Austro-Prussian War -
1866)  so it was an
independent country.
 French territories (Alsace &
Lorraine) had been annexed
to Germany (Franco-
Prussian War - 1870)

6.  During the 19th Century the forces of
NATIONALISM had been at work in Europe.
 By 1871 it had created two major new
countries: Germany & Italy.
 At the end of the century, Nationalism
continued to threaten the stability of
multi-national states…

7. POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
 PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS prevailed in most Western Europe, USA & Japan.
 Exceptions:
 Austro-Hungarian Empire
 Russian Empire
 Ottoman Empire
AUTOCRATIC SYSTEMS
& states formed by multiple nationalities
POLITICAL SYSTEMS

8. • Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Belgium
• Denmark
• German Empire
• Greece
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Ottoman Empire
• Portugal
• Russian Empire
• Spain
• Switzerland
• UK
• United Kingdom of
Norway and Sweden
Activity 1: Colour in & label your
map with the major states in Europe
in 1871

10. INTERNATIONAL
SITUATION
UK
Germany (outpaced
UK by the early 20th
century)
USA (outpaced UK by
the early 20th century))
France
Japan
Mediterranean
Countries
Austro-Hungarian
Empire
Russia
Ottoman Empire
Countries in Europe industrialized
at different speed.
Countries’ power was measured
by their degree of
industrialization.

11. 1871 – 1890
BISMARCK’S ALLIANCE SYSTEMS
- Secret military alliances to
isolate France (who wanted
revenge due to the loss of
Alsace & Lorraine).
1891 – 1914
PEACE THROUGH STRENGHT
EUROPEAN ALLIANCE
SYSTEMS
• European Balance broke after the Italian &
German unifications.
• 2 stages in European international relations:
 Permitted peace in Europe.
 Ended due to a confrontation between
the emperor (William I), who wanted to
create a colonial empire, and the
Chancellor (Bismarck) who opposed to it.

12. Bismarck’s Alliance systems were
military alliances between
Germany & the main European
powers (Russia, Austria, Italy &
UK) to isolate France.

13. 1871 – 1890
BISMARCK’S ALLIANCE SYSTEMS
Secret military alliances to
isolate France (who wanted
revenge due to the loss of Alsace
& Lorraine).
1891 – 1914
PEACE THROUGH STRENGHT
Growing tensions due political &
economic problems led to the
formation of 2 military blocs:
EUROPEAN ALLIANCE
SYSTEMS
• European Balance broke after the Italian &
German unifications.
• 2 stages in European international relations:
 Permitted peace in Europe.
 Ended due to a confrontation between
the emperor (William I), who wanted to
create a colonial empire, and the
Chancellor (Bismarck) who opposed to it.
TRIPLE
ALLIANCE
- Germany
- Austria
- Italy (will
change side)
TRIPLE
ENTENTE
- France
- Russia
- UK

14. TRIPLE
ENTENTE
TRIPLE
ALLIANCE
In conflict with
Germany due to its
growing economic
& colonial power
In conflict
with Germany
due to Alsace
& Lorraine
In conflict with
Austria (ally of
Germany) due
to interests in
the Balkans

15.  Which states were threaten by
nationalism?
 P. 101  exercises 4 & 5
Activity 2

16. IMPERIALISM
1870 - 1914

17. IMPERIALISM
Goal: besides the economic control, it implied
the military & political control of the European
minority over the dominated territory.
COLONIALISM
Goal: dominate the economic resources of the
colonies.
≠

18. CAUSES OF
IMPERIALISM
Allowed to control trade routes
& strategic territories
Reduced problems related to the
population growth (e.g.:
unemployment)  excess population
emigrated from the metropolis to the
colonies to relieve population
pressure
Colonies supplied raw materials,
markets to sell the metropolis’
industrial products, territories to
invest capitals & cheap labour force
Spread of the idea of the superiority of
the white race & that its mission was to
“civilise” the rest of the world (social
Darwinism).
International prestige  it was a
way of increasing a country’s
power at a time when European
Balance had been broken.

24. UK, FRANCE & other imperialist powers (BELGIUM, GERMANY,
ITALY, THE NETHERLANDS, RUSSIA…) established diverse forms
of colonial rule:
FORMS OF
COLONIAL
RULE
CONCESSION (CHINA)
Agreement by which an independent country granted
commercial advantages to imperial powers (e.g.: ports for trade)
PROTECTORATE (INDIA / EGYPT)
2 administrations coexisted:
- Indigenous government  for internal affairs
- Imperial power  controlled foreign policy, army &
exploitation of certain resources.
COLONY
It had no
indigenous
institution. It
was under the
direct
sovereignty of
the metropolis.
SETTLER COLONIES (CANADA, AUSTRALIA,
NEW ZEALAND…)  population mostly
European. Self-governed. Used to relieve
population pressure in the metropolis.
EXPLOITATION COLONIES (BELGIAN CONGO) 
population mostly indigenous. Governed by
the metropolis. Used for economic benefit of
the metropolis (it had exclusive rights to
exploit the colony’s resouces).

25. CONCESSIONS IN CHINA
UK, Germany, Russia, France & Japan
distributed the areas of influence in
China.

26. PROTECTORATES
Egypt & India became protectorates of UK

27. EXPLOITATION COLONIES
Many territories in Africa were exploited as colonies (e.g.: Belgian Congo).

28. THE SCRAMBLE OF AFRICA
(“El reparto de África”)
• Before 1870  European presence in Africa limited to the coasts.

29. Some coastal territories were
controlled by European powers…
 FRANCE (Algeria, Tunisia,
Senegal…)
 UK (Egypt, South Africa…)
 PORTUGAL (Angola,
Mozambique…)

30. • In the 1870’s  European powers began to explore the
African continent.
LIVINGSTONE (UK) – explored the Zambezi
& Nile rivers. Discovered the “Victoria
Falls”.
STANLEY (Belgium) & BRAZZA (France) –
explored the Congo basin.

32. 1884  to avoid clashes, the European
powers met in the “BERLIN
CONFERENCE” (1884) where they
established the rules for the occupation
of Africa:
1) Countries that had coastal possessions
had the right to occupy the interior,
provided that they demonstrated the
effective occupation & control of the
territory.
2) Free navigation on the Niger & Congo
rivers.
3) Free trade in Central Africa.

33. THE CONFERENCE OF BERLIN (1884)
It regulated European colonization & trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period.
It is considered the starting point of the “Scramble for Africa” (invasion, occupation,
division, colonization and annexation of African territory by European powers).
Organized by Germany.
It eliminated most existing forms of African autonomy and self-governance.

34. From 1885 onwards  occupation of Africa accelerated:
 UK  tried to form a colonial strip N-S (Egypt – South Africa)
 FRANCE  tried to form a colonial strip W-E (starting from its
colonies in Senegal, Algeria & Tunisia)
 Belgium, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain completed the occupation of Africa
COLONIAL
CONFRONTATIONS!!

35. IMPERIALISM IN ASIA
• China  system of concessions (maintained
its sovereignty, but gave commercial rights
to imperial powers).
ASIA
UK
•India
•Burma
•Malaysia
France •Part of Indochina
Netherlands •Most of Indonesia
US •Philippines
Russia
•Siberia
•Territories towards
China & India
(Caucasus, Turkestan)

36. IMPERIALISM IN OCEANIA
OCEANIA
UK
•Australia
•New Zealand
USA •Hawaii
Netherlands
Some islands in the
Pacific ocean
France
Germany

37.  P.108 – 109  exercises 1 & 3
 What ideology supported & justified
imperialism? Explain it. Do you agree
with it?
 P.110 – 111  1b / 2 / 4
Activity 3

39. MIXED CONSEQUENCES OF
IMPERIALISM
Mostly positive:
• Political power &
self-esteem.
• Wealth (raw
materials, new
markets).
FOR THE COLONIZERS (Metropolis)
However, colonial
expansion caused
new tensions among
the powers. This
rivalry would be one
of the causes of
WW1.

40. MIXED CONSEQUENCES OF
IMPERIALISM
To some extent there
were also some
positive
consequences:
• Improvement in
health conditions
• Access to
education for the
native elite
• Construction or
infrastructures
(railways, ports…)
FOR THE DOMINATED TERRITORIES
Mostly negative:
• Economic exploitation
–Export agriculture was imposed
–Industrialisation was prevented
–Unequal trade
• Political domination
• Aggravation of internal
conflicts due to arbitrary
drawing of borders
• Foreigners became the
dominant social class
• Loss of own culture

41. WW1: “The Great War”
1914 - 1918

42. CONTENDERS
ALLIES
(Triple Entente)
• UK
• France
• Russia
• Others: Serbia, Italy, US, Japan…
CENTRAL POWERS
(Triple Alliance)
• German Empire
• Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Others: Ottoman Empire,
Bulgaria…

43. ALLIES
(Triple Entente)
• UK
• France
• Russia
• Others: Serbia, Italy, US, Japan…
CENTRAL POWERS
(Triple Alliance)
• German Empire
• Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Others: Ottoman Empire,
Bulgaria…
CONTENDERS

45. CAUSESOFWW1
The new international expansionist policy (Weltpolitik)
undertaken by the German emperor (William II) in 1890. It
broke European balance.

46. CAUSESOFWW1
Tensions due to the annexation by Germany of the French
regions of Alsace & Lorraine (Franco-Prussian War, 1870).
France wanted to recover these regions.
VS

47. CAUSESOFWW1
Economic rivalry due to the increasing economic & industrial
power of Germany, that in the early 20th Century had
outpaced UK. Tensions were intensified when Germany
started an ambitious naval program to compete against the
British Royal Navy.
VS

48. CAUSESOFWW1
Confrontations between imperial powers in the colonies (e.g.:
Moroccan crisis & Kruger Telegram)
KRUGER TELEGRAM
The German emperor
(William II) sent a
telegram to the
president of Transvaal
(Paul Kruger) to
congratulate him for
having defeated the
British.
It caused huge
indignation in Great
Britain and led to a
further deterioration in
relations between the
two countries.
VS

49. CAUSESOFWW1 1st Moroccan Crisis (1905): visit of the
German emperor (William II) to Morocco
(territory under French influence). The
Kaiser declared he had come to support the
sovereignty of the Sultan & the
independence of Morocco.
2nd Moroccan Crisis (1911): during a revolt
in Morocco, Germany sent a battleship to
the port of Agadir, under the pretext of
protecting German trade interests.
Both events were seen as provocative
challenges to French influence in Morocco.
Thus, they worsened German relations with
France, and strengthened relations between
France & UK (who supported France against
the Germans)
VS
Confrontations between imperial powers in the colonies (e.g.:
Moroccan crisis & Kruger Telegram)

50. CAUSESOFWW1
Confrontations between Austria & Russia for the hegemony in
the Balkans (former territories of the Ottoman Empire), and
tensions between Austria (who had annexed Bosnia) & Serbia
(ally of Russia) due to Slav nationalism.
VS

51. CAUSESOFWW1
The creation of a military alliance system & the arms race
(“Peace Through Strength”), which could turn any incident
into a war of enormous proportions.
TRIPLE ENTENTE
TRIPLE ALLIANCE

52. THESPARKOFTHEWAR VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbwH1ZBnYds

53. THESPARKOFTHEWAR The war finally broke out when Archduke Franz Ferdinand
(heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary) was murdered in
Sarajevo (Bosnia) on JUNE 28th 1914 by a Serbian
nationalist.
Austria blamed Serbia and issued an ultimatum to allow
Austrian forces to go to Serbia to investigate the murder.
Serbia rejected this demand, so Austria declared the war
on Serbia. From then on, the Alliance System created a
domino effect pulling everyone into war!!!

56. Telegram by
which Austria
declared the
War to Serbia
(July 28th 1914)

57. THESPARKOFTHEWAR

59. ALLIES & CENTRALPOWERS IN THE WORLD

60. a) List 4 new weapons that were used in WW1.
b) What was propaganda used for in WW1?
c) Why did Russia left WW1?
d) What was the main turning point in WW1?
e) Why did Germany felt humiliated in the Paris
Peace Conference? What consequence did this
brought?
f) Indicate at least 7 territorial changes in the
map of Europe after WW1.
Activity 4: copy & answer as we go.

61. WW1:CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics
of WW1
NEW WEAPONS:
- Machine guns
- Flamethrowers
- Toxic gases
- Mines
- Airplanes
- Submarines
- Tanks
- Hand grenades
New defence
system:
TRENCHES.
PHYCOLOGICAL
WARFARE AS A NEW
FORM OF COMBAT.
Propaganda was used to
influence people during
the war (persuade people
to enlist, strengthen the
soldiers’ will to resist,
demoralize the enemy…)SOCIETY SUFFERED MANY ADVERSITIES
(food shortage & rationing,
malnutrition, bombings, …)
WOMEN JOINED
THE WORKFORCE
(to replace the
men, who were
fighting at the
front)
VAST TERRITORIAL
EXPANSION  it was
known as the “Great
War”

62. Hand grenades
Machine guns
Very heavy, needed several people to
operate them. Fired up to 600
bullets per minute.
Airplanes
Tanks
Toxic gases &
gas masks
Flamethrowerrs

63. Soldier with moderate burns after a
mustard gas attack during WW1
“GASSED” (John Singer Sargent;
1919) painting of the aftermath of a
mustard gas attack during WW1

64. http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zs666sg

65. WW1 TRENCHES

66. WW1 TRENCHES

67. WW1 TRENCHES
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0
ww1/25626530

69. PHYCOLOGICAL WARFARE: use of propaganda to influence
people during the war (demoralize the enemy, strengthen the
soldiers & their will to resist…)
http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resour
ces/first-world-war-recruitment-posters

70. ALLIES’
RECRUITMENT
POSTERS FOR WW1
http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resour
ces/first-world-war-recruitment-posters

71. ALLIES’ POSTERS
POSTERS FOR WW1
Represented Germans as demons &
uncivilized people:
- happy for having killed babies,
children, women…
- Toasting with a glass full of
bload

72. CENTRAL POWERS’
RECRUITMENT
POSTERS FOR WW1
http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/11-
incredible-german-first-world-war-posters

73. FOOD SHORTAGE &
RATIONING
DURING WW1
WWI SUGAR RATION CARD
Front: shows the name of the
person the card belonged to and
the retailer where their ration
could be purchased.
Reverse: shows the terms and
conditions of the issue of rations

74. The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was in charge of carrying
out a large number of non-combatant tasks in France, freeing up more
men for service in the front line. Eventually, 9,000 women served with
the unit in France.
Women were committed to the war by
joining the workforce to replace the men
who were at the front.

75. Ww1:MAINFRONTS
WW1 was fought mainly in Europe:
 Western front (frontier France – Germany)
 Eastern front (frontier Germany – Russia)
Other fronts:
- Balkans
- At Sea (next to UK)
- In the colonies (Middle East, Asia, Africa, Oceania…) FRONT = the place where
combat operations are
carried on

76. Ww1:PHASES
1914  WAR OF MOVEMENTS (“Guerra de Movimientos”)
This plan failed because…
- The Allies resisted the quick German attack at the Battle of the Marne.
- Russia mobilized its troops quicker than it was expected by the Germans,
and advanced rapidly through Prussia.
Germany attempted a plan (Schlieffen
Plan) which was based on:
1) Rapid victory on France, attacking
it through neutral Belgium.
2) After defeating France, turn east
to defeat Russia (Germans thought
that, given its huge size, it would
need a long time to mobilize its
troops).

77. Ww1:PHASES
The failure of the quick war planned by Germany & the absence of a decisive
victory made the war turn into a long-term conflict.
The Western & Easter fronts were settled. Lines of trenches were dug in
the frontiers with Germany (specially in the Western front). It was the
beginning of the “Trench Warfare”.
1914  WAR OF MOVEMENTS (“Guerra de Movimientos”)

78. Ww1:PHASES
In absence of a decisive victory, the fronts were stabilised along an
extensive lines of trenches protected by machine guns & barbed wire.
1915 – 1916  TRENCH WARFARE (“Guerra de Trincheras”)

79. The unoccupied area between two enemy trench systems was known as
“No man's land”.
N O
M A N ’ S
L A N D
This area was heavily defended by riflemen &
machine guns on both sides. It was a
devastated area, covered with barbed wire,
land mines, corpses and wounded soldiers
who were not able to make it across the
explosions and fire.
In order to advance, soldiers were forced to
cross it, but open fire from the opposing
trenches made any attempted advance very
difficult and slow.

80. During this period new weapons were
used:
• Machine guns
• Grenades
• Toxic gases
• Flamethrowers…
Exhausting offensives were launched from the trenches. The strategy consisted
in wearing out the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in
personnel & material.
Ww1:PHASES
1915 – 1916  TRENCH WARFARE (“Guerra de Trincheras”)

81. Ww1:PHASES
1917: Russia withdrew from WW1 (treaty of Brest-Litovsk) due to their
internal Communist Revolution. This allowed Germany to take more troops
to the Western front.
1917 – 1918  END OF THE WAR

82. Ww1:PHASES
1917: US joined the war on the side of the Allies. This marked a major
turning point in the war.
1917 – 1918  END OF THE WAR

83. Ww1:PHASES
1918: the Allies launched a series of offensives on the Western Front,
causing the surrender of the Central Powers.
1917 – 1918  END OF THE WAR

84. Ww1:PEACETREATIES
 The LEAGUE OF NATIONS (“Sociedad de Naciones”) was created 
international organization for promoting peace.
 Several treaties were signed:
 The Central Powers had to:
 Reduce their armies
 Pay war reparations
 Make territorial concessions, from which new states emerged (Poland,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Finland...)
 Germany (Treaty of Versailles):
 Was blamed for the war
 Gave Alsace & Lorraine back to France
 Lost all its colonies
1919 – 1920  PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Felt humiliated  wanted
revenge

85. Ww1:PEACETREATIES
1919 – 1920  PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

87. Ww1:CONSEQUENCES
CONSEQUENCES
OF WW1
Terrible human losses:
- 9 million people died
- Many injured & disabled
- Widows & orphans
Huge economic
losses (industries,
fields, buildings…)
Favoured the work
of women &
female suffrage
Increased German nationalism
& its desire for revenge  it
will lead to fascism & WW2US became the leading
power in the world. Europe
was set aside.

88.  Define the following concepts:
 Trenches
 No man’s land
 Paris Peace Conference
 Devise a diagram about the characteristics,
phases & consequences of WW1.
Activity 5