The Will to Make War

Focusing Question

•How far did Europeansociety accept war asnatural and inevitable?

Literature

• The idea and stories of war were oftentreated as a normal and romantic notion.

• War was a quick and decisive diplomaticproblem solver. You had winners, losersand a settlement that reflective it.

• War novels featuring a leading man inuniform was a popular trend.

Literature

• Alongside novels, were accounts of a history anddestiny of nations.

• These works often spoke to a country's idealsand traditions.

• In Germany, Treitschke preached Germangreatness was based off her army and war wasan “institution ordained by God”.

• Bernhardi, saw the option of peace as “immoraland inhuman”. Germany’s role was either “Worldpower or destruction.

The Press

• By the end of the 19th century mass-circulation press was common. Bad newssold better than good and this caused therise of sensationalism. Nationalisticfeelings were often played upon.

• The idea of the yellow press, and theirexaggerated nature helped to prepare thecountries for war. From 1905, the dailymail was prophesising a war betweenBritain and Germany.

Patriotic Education

• As the nature of schooling changed intobeing readily available, more childrenwere taught about their nations history.

• French children were taught about howGermany had robbed them of Alsace andLorraine. Germans were taught about theirprecarious situation of being surround byenemies. Russians were taught aboutinvasions their nations had suffered.

War and Society: Britain

• These all lead to a continued rise ofpatriotism throughout these nations.New groups, such as British boyscouts, formed as the futureprotectors of their nation.

• These patriotic felling's give rise theJingoism in Britain and the placementof the armed forces as the greatheroes of the Empire.

War and Society

• The pan-German league promoted the idea that the areas would one day be united and form one large German state, which would dominate the world.

• In Russia, a similar idea of a pan-Slav movement existed.

• In France, they remained looking towards the areas of Alsace and Lorraine.

War and Society

• The rise of militant nationalism alsopromoted the idea of social Darwinism.

• Only the fittest nations would survive inthe world struggle. In order to do so oneneeded armaments, solders and publicbacking.

• By 1914, the powers of Europe greetedwar with optimism and enthusiasm, seeingit as the way to answer the new worldsquestions.

M.A.I.N Points

• Militarism

• Societies welcomed the increase in armaments as an crucial part of preparing a nation

• Alliances

• Imperialism

• Pan-German and pan-Slavic ideals arise

• The British empire must remain strong through strength both at home and overseas.

• Nationalism

• The populace are taught about their history and pride of their nation.

• Nationalistic feelings, such as British Jingoism, become more common and seen as a good reflection of the nation.

Activities

•Complete resources A, C and F