The Second Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on Colonialism and World War I

Posted on Nov 28, 2024 in History

The Second Industrial Revolution and Imperialism

Causes of Imperialism

  • Europe’s search for new markets
  • Excess population leading to emigration
  • Spread of nationalism and the belief in the superiority of certain nations

Types of Colonies

  • Colonies of Exploitation: Exploited by Europeans for economic gain
  • Colonies of Settlement: Received white populations from Europe (e.g., Canada, Australia)
  • Protectorates: Territories with their own government but under European control

Social Structure of Colonies

  • Dominant European bourgeoisie
  • National bourgeoisie
  • Peasants
  • Minor proletariat

Imperialism in Africa

  • Total European domination, except for Liberia and Ethiopia
  • Berlin Conference (1885) to resolve conflicts between rival powers

Imperialism in Asia

  • British conquest of India, Burma, and Malaysia
  • Russian expansion into Afghanistan
  • French focus on Indochina
  • Opium Wars forced China to open trade

The British Empire

  • Aim: Control maritime trade routes
  • India acquired by the East India Company
  • Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India (1876)

United States Expansion

  • Expansion into the Pacific and Caribbean
  • Expulsion of Spain from the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico

Japan’s Meiji Era

  • Abolition of feudalism
  • Economic modernization
  • End of isolationism
  • Adoption of Western political, social, and economic ideas

Consequences of Colonization

  • Infrastructure improvements
  • New industries and farmland
  • Hygienic measures and hospitals
  • Schools and missionary efforts
  • Large plantations
  • Monetary economy and market
  • Loss of indigenous cultural identity

World War I

Causes

  • Rivalry between colonial powers
  • Nationalist exaltation
  • Balkan conflict
  • Arms race and troop training

Alliances

  • Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
  • Triple Entente: France, Russia, Britain

Outbreak of War

  • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914)
  • Austria declared war on Serbia
  • Germany supported Austria, Russia supported Serbia
  • Britain declared war on Germany after invasion of Belgium

Course of the War

  • German attack on France stopped at the Battle of the Marne
  • Russian advance into Austria-Hungary
  • Trench warfare on the Western Front
  • Italy joined the Allies, Bulgaria joined the Central Powers
  • German attack on Verdun (1916)
  • Bolshevik Revolution in Russia (1917)
  • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Russia ceded territory to Germany
  • United States entered the war after the sinking of the Lusitania
  • Allied victory in 1918

Treaty of Versailles

  • Germany declared solely responsible for the war
  • Reparations imposed on Germany
  • German army disbanded
  • German colonies lost
  • Conquered territories returned to their countries

New Map of Europe

  • Russian Empire lands ceded to Poland
  • Turkish Empire reduced to Turkey
  • Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated

League of Nations

  • Proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson
  • Aim: Secure peace and promote international cooperation