​​​​William McAllister​

Document A1

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/frrumil.asp

 

The Franco-Russian Alliance Military Convention - August 18, 1892

 

France and Russia, being animated by a common desire to preserve peace, and having no other object than to meet the necessities of a defensive war, provoked by an attack of the forces of the Triple Alliance against either of them, have agreed upon the following provisions:

1. If France is attacked by Germany, or by Italy supported by Germany, Russia shall employ all her available forces to attack Germany.

If Russia is attacked by Germany, or by Austria supported by Germany, France shall employ all her available forces to attack Germany.

2. In case the forces of the Triple Alliance, or of any one of the Powers belonging to it, should be mobilized, France and Russia, at the first news of this event and without previous agreement being necessary, shall mobilize immediately and simultaneously the whole of their forces, and shall transport them as far as possible to their frontiers.

3. The available forces to be employed against Germany shall be, on the part of France, 1,300,000 men, on the part of Russia, 700,000 or 800,000 men.

These forces shall engage to the full with such speed that Germany will have to fight simultaneously on the East and on the West.

4. The General Staffs of the Armies of the two countries shall cooperate with each other at all times in the preparation and facilitation of the execution of the measures mentioned above.

They shall communicate with each other, while there is still peace, all information relative to the armies of the Triple Alliance which is already in their possession or shall come into their possession.

Ways and means of corresponding in time of war shall be studied and worked out in advance.

5. France and Russia shall not conclude peace separately.

6. The present Convention shall have the same duration as the Triple Alliance.

7. All the clauses enumerated above shall be kept absolutely secret.

Signature of the Minister:

Signature of the Minister:

General Aide-de-Camp

General of Division,

Chief of the General Staff

Councillor of State

Signed: OBRUCHEFF Sub-Chief of the General Staff of the Army

Signed: BOISDEFFRE

 

 

Questions:

1. What are the goal of this document?

 

2. What, if any, countries are being pitted against each other according to this document?

 

3. What are the conditions that would lead any of the countries to war?

 

Document B2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1914-06-29_-_Aftermath_of_attacks_against_Serbs_in_Sarajevo.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aftermath of attacks against the Serbs in Sarajevo

 

 

 

Hours after the assassination Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, riots broke out in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo. Encouraged by the authorities, people took part in ethnically focused violence against Serbs and their property. The violence did not stay contained, soon spreading to other major cities around Sarajevo.

 

 

Questions:

 

1. What are the people in this image doing? What makes you think that is what thy are doing?

 

2. How are the people in the photograph dressed? What do you think that says about them?

 

3. Do you see any police or soldiers in this photograph? (Hint: look for the tall hats!) What do you think that their role in the photograph is?

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Document C3

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/causes2_01.shtml

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance/Entente Map

 

An alliance was formed between Russia and France in 1894. By 1904 Britain began talks with Russia and decided that it should come out of its 'splendid isolation', joining the Entente Cordiale ('Friendly Agreement'). By 1907, Foreign Minister Sir Edward Grey negotiated Britain into the Triple Entente, and united three old enemies. In contrast to the Triple Alliance (Central Powers), the terms of the Entente did not require each country to go to war on behalf of the others, but stated that they had a 'moral obligation' to support each other.

 

 

Questions:

 

1. What do you notice about the borders of the Alliance and Entente countries? How do you think the borders affected the forthcoming war?

 

2.Compare the sizes and locations of the Alliance and Entente counties. What advantages and disadvantages do you see for both sides?

 

3.Why do you think it was important for three old enemies such as Britain, France, and Russia to come together in the Triple Entente? Why didn't their pledge to each other include the promise to go to war on each others behalf?

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Document D4

http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Paris_Declaration_Respecting_Maritime_Law

 

 

Paris Declaration Respecting Mritime Law

The Plenipotentiaries who signed the Treaty of Paris of the thirtieth of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, assembled in Conference, --

Considering:
That maritime law, in time of war, has long been the subject of deplorable disputes;
That the uncertainty of the law and of the duties in such a matter, gives rise to differences of opinion between neutrals and belligerents which may occasion serious difficulties, and even conflicts;
That it is consequently advantageous to establish a uniform doctrine on so important a point;
That the Plenipotentiaries assembled in Congress at Paris cannot better respond to the intentions by which their Governments are animated, than by seeking to introduce into international relations fixed principles in this respect;

The above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized, resolved to concert among themselves as to the means of attaining this object; and, having come to an agreement, have adopted the following solemn Declaration:

1. Privateering is, and remains, abolished;
2. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war;
3. Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under enemy's flag;
4. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective, that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy.

The Governments of the undersigned Plenipotentiaries engage to bring the present Declaration to the knowledge of the States which have not taken part in the Congress of Paris, and to invite them to accede to it.
Convinced that the maxims which they now proclaim cannot but be received with gratitude by the whole world, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries doubt not that the efforts of their Governments to obtain the general adoption thereof, will be crowned with full success.
The present Declaration is not and shall not be binding, except between those Powers who have acceded, or shall accede, to it.

Done at Paris, the sixteenth of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.

(Here follow signatures)

 

Questions:

 

1.What is the purpose of this document?

 

2. Think about the nations that did not border water. What is their interest in a document like this?

 

• Think back to Document C. Of those nations shown on the map, which bordered water? Why is this document important to them?

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Document E5

http://mentalfloss.com/article/49253/wwi-centennial-arms-race-shifts-high-gear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military Spending Chart

 

 

Green Countries are Entente, Red are Alliance, and Yellow are neutral.

 

Questions:

 

1. Look at the military budget for each country. Which “side” spent more during the years before the war, the Alliance or the Entente?

 

2. How do you think a country felt seeing its neighboring countries spend more and more money on their military? What might be their reaction? Does this document support your idea?

 

3. Come back to this question after you've done Document F. Do you see a connection between how many imperialist territories a country held and their military budget?

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Document F6

http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/imperialism/

 

The world shared

 

By the start of the 20th century, a number of nations possessed empires of some description:

 

The British Empire took in India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, parts of north Africa, islands in the Pacific and Caribbean and concessions in China.

Russia ruled modern-day Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Ukraine, Georgia and several regions in central Asia, such as Kazakhstan.

France was the imperial power in modern-day Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, areas of West Africa and India, small colonies in South America, islands in the Pacific and Caribbean.

Germany had seized control of modern-day Tanzania, Namibia and the Cameroon in Africa, German New Guinea and concessions in China.

Spain was left with tiny colonial territories in South America and north-west Africa.

America was a relative newcomer to imperialism, but nevertheless controlled the Philippines, Guam, American Samoa and Puerto Rico.

The Ottomans clung to the heart of their centuries-old empire: modern-day Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Armenia and Macedonia.

Portugal was the imperial ruler of modern-day Angola and Mozambique in Africa, Goa in India and East Timor.

Belgium had one notable colony: the Belgian Congo in central Africa.

Holland had small possessions in Dutch Guyana (South America) and modern-day Indonesia.

Italy had moved into northern Africa, taking modern-day Libya, Somalia and Eritrea.

 

 

“If it were necessary to give the briefest possible definition of imperialism, we should have to say that imperialism is the monopoly stage of capitalism… They are fighting a war for the purpose of retaining the colonies they have grabbed and robbed.”
Vladimir Lenin, Russian socialist

 

Questions:

 

1. Look at the nations listed. Do you see any territories that are held by multiple countries? Are these countries on the same “side” in World War I? How might that have affected the war?

 

2. America was a newcomer on the Imperialist scene. How might that have affected their decision to join in the war?

 

3. Lenin's quote points to imperialism as the primary factor for the war, though Russia held many territories itself. How might Lenin's words reflect different views of the people of Russia, and of the world?

 

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Document G7

http://www.glogster.com/bigredhead97/mwh-nationalism-imperialism-/g-6lnfdhvs643d7g8l0g8rta0

 

Propaganda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions:

 

1. Nationalism is important to understand when talking about country's identities. How do you see nationalism portrayed in these posters?

 

2. Propaganda plays an important part in all wars on either side. What are the similarities that you see between these three posters? What are the differences? Why might each country choose their respective poster?

 

3. America used Lady Columbia and England used John Bull on their poster. Germany however, decided to use a nameless soldier on their poster. Why do you think that is? The German on the poster reads, “Your Fatherland is in danger, Enlist.” Does that change your view of what it is trying to represent?

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Document H8

http://digitalhistory.edublogs.org/2010/03/08/schenck-v-us-1919/

 

The Sinking of the Lusitania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions:

 

1. At the time the Lusitania was sunk, America had not yet formally entered the war. Do you think the sinking of the Lusitania influenced America's decision to enter the war on the side of the Entente?

 

2.The headline makes no mention of the arms and munitions being sent to the Entente powers on the . Think back to Document G, could this be a form of propaganda? If so, what is it trying to accomplish?

 

3. Assuming the German submarines that sank the Lusitania had no knowledge of weapons or munitions aboard it. What might have lead the German submarines to engage the Lusitania? Why might they have felt the need to do so? (Hint: Look back to the background)

 

 

 

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1NCSS Themes: Power, Authority, Governance & Global Connections.

 

2NCSS Themes: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions & Global Connections.

 

3NCSS Themes: Global Connections & Power, Authority, and Governance.

 

4NCSS Themes: Global Connections & Power, Authority, and Governance.

 

5NCSS Themes: GLOBAL CONNECTIONS &POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE

 

6NCSS Themes: POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE &INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS & INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY

 

7NCSS Themes: INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS & INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY & CULTURE & CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES

 

8People, Places, and Environments & Individual Development and Identity & Individuals, Groups, and Institutions & Power, Authority, and Governance & Culture.