MILITARISM BEFORE WORLD WAR I
READ ABOUT IT!
Welcome to the Militarism before World War I Virtual Center. The first thing your group needs to do is read about militarism. After you read, you need to work together to complete the Militarism Center Page in your Lesson Chronicles.
What is Militarism?
Militarism is building up and maintaining a strong, well equipped military in order to defend, gain power, or achieve goals. It is doing what ever it takes to have the smartest, best trained, military with the most advanced weapons. It is feeling your military is better than all other militaries. It is praising or having a high respect for all those in the military. Nations that practice militarism raise the amount of money they spend on their military. They increase the size of their armies and navies. The military leaders have a strong influence on the government and the people. Nations who practice militarism usually prefer to use force to solve problems. Militarism was one of the main causes of the First World War.
Increasing Military Spending and Size 
In the last center you learned that nationalism was the root of all the problems that led to World War I. Nationalism created a rivalry between the nations of Europe to have the best militaries. European nations that had the largest militaries and best weapons were admired and held in high regard by the other nations. This rivalry led to great changes in the militaries of major European nations.
First, government and military leaders used nationalism to persuade their citizens to support increases in military spending and military sizes. European military spending skyrocketed between 1900 and 1914. In 1870 the combined military spending of the six great powers (Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Italy) totaled 157 million dollars. By 1914 this had quadrupled to 662 million dollars. Germany increased military spending by 73%. France’s spending increased 10% and Britain increased 13%. Russian military spending grew by more than 33%. By the 1910s, 45% of Russian government spending was on the armed forces, while just 5% went to education. The following chart shows that every major nation in Europe and some outside of Europe drastically increased their military spending from 1908 - 1913.
European nations also raced to increase the size of their militaries. The size of France and Germany's armies more than doubled between 1870 and 1914. All the countries of Europe built up their armies and navies. If one country increased its army, all the others increase their armies to keep up. The chart below shows the size of the major European nations' armies and navies.
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Important Vocabulary
arms race: a situation in which countries that are enemies each try to build or collect weapons faster than the other can
artillery: large guns that are used to shoot over a great distance or weapons that discharge missiles calibre: the width of a bullet or a gun barrel Dreadnought: the largest and most powerful battleship during World War I that was invented by the British Fleet Acts: laws passed in Germany that raised taxes in order to increase their navy and warships imperialism: when a nation takes over another nation to rule them and take their natural resources innovate: to have a new idea or way of doing something, or to improve something already invented Kaiser Wilhelm II: the ruler of Germany and the head of the German military before and during World War I militarism: building up and maintaining a strong, well equipped military in order to defend, gain power, or achieve goals nationalism: feeling loyal and proud of your nation and believing your nation is better and more important than other nations U boats: German submarines |
The Arms Race
Big Bertha was the name given to this famous German Howitzer in World War I
Military rivalry between nations also created an arms race. An arms race is a situation in which countries that are enemies each try to build or collect weapons faster than the other can. Before World War I, Nations competed to stockpile the most weapons.
The arms race was not just about the most weapons, it was also about the best weapons. Militarism inspired nations to invent new weapons technology and innovate old weapons to be more effective. Militaries all over Europe began adding new and improved battleships and submarines to their navies. Tanks and armored cars were invented for their armies. The invention of the airplane led nations to create the first air forces. There were great advancements made in the calibre, range, accuracy and portability of heavy artillery. Machine-guns, barbed wire, poison gas, torpedoes, mines, and grenades were all developed and put to military use.
The arms race was not just about the most weapons, it was also about the best weapons. Militarism inspired nations to invent new weapons technology and innovate old weapons to be more effective. Militaries all over Europe began adding new and improved battleships and submarines to their navies. Tanks and armored cars were invented for their armies. The invention of the airplane led nations to create the first air forces. There were great advancements made in the calibre, range, accuracy and portability of heavy artillery. Machine-guns, barbed wire, poison gas, torpedoes, mines, and grenades were all developed and put to military use.
British Militarism
Militarism before World War I really got its start in Great Britain. It was well known that Britain had the largest, most well trained, and equipped navy. Their navy had given them the opportunity to win 1/5 of the world as part of their vast empire. They were very well respected but they were also feared. All countries knew that if they ever had to face Britain’s navy, the chances of success would be very small. Britain worked hard to develop new technology to improve their navy and ships, research training techniques to produce the best navy soldiers, and recruit people to join the navy. Men in the navy were highly respected in Britain and abroad.
German Militarism
Militarism might have started in Britain but, militarism was strongest in Germany. Kaiser Wilhelm II was the ruler of Germany and the head of the German military. He was young and always worried about other nations taking him seriously as a leader. He was very competitive with the other rulers of Europe. He always wanted to be the best. He was jealous of the respect that Great Britain got from other nations for their mighty navy. He then became determined that the key to respect was a big military and other countries’ fear of that military. So Kaiser Wilhelm created tough training methods for his military officers. He encouraged the development of new weapons and modes of communication - and incorporated them into military strategies. He relied on a military council to help make decisions for the country and quit allowing the elected government officials a say in national affairs.
French Militarism
After losing the territories of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany in the Franco - Prussian War, France was angry with Germany. Their anger mostly came from fear. They saw Germany increasing the size of their military and investing large amounts of money in their military as well. France was worried about the Germans invading and taking even more of their land. So in October of 1910, the French Army Air Service was formed. France led the world in early aircraft design and by mid-1912 they had five squad of Army Air Servicemen. By 1914, the number of squads had grown to 132. France also doubled the amount of money it spent on its navy between 1910 and 1914.
Competition for the Best Navy
Britain and Germany were rivals for the best navy. Germany dramatically increased its navy by passing the Fleet Acts. The Fleet Acts increased the number of German cruisers from 9 to 12. In 1898, the German government ordered the construction of 17 new vessels. The Germans also pioneered the construction of military submarines: by 1914 the Kaiser’s navy had 29 operational U-boats.
In the meantime, Britain was working on its own ship building program. They had already established themselves as the best navy in the world. Now they worked to improve the technologies in their navy. The British introduced a new type of Battleship called the Dreadnought. It was larger, heavier, and faster than any other battleship and it was also lined with 12 inch guns.
In the meantime, Britain was working on its own ship building program. They had already established themselves as the best navy in the world. Now they worked to improve the technologies in their navy. The British introduced a new type of Battleship called the Dreadnought. It was larger, heavier, and faster than any other battleship and it was also lined with 12 inch guns.
Effects of Militarism
Militarism made nations feel invincible. National leaders used nationalism to promote militarism in their nations. Nations built up huge armies and navies and now they were hungry to use them. There were two major effects of militarism. Militarism allowed nations to develop the policy of imperialism. Imperialism is when a nation takes over another nation to rule them and take their natural resources. Militarism also created fear and excitement. Some nations feared war. Others wanted to go to war to prove their military power. Whether a nation feared war or wanted it, they new making friends would be the key to success. So militarism not only led to imperialism but it led nations for form alliances as well.
ANALYZE IT!
The second thing your group needs to do is to analyze what you have learned. Below, is a game. This game is not online (Sorry kids, the platform I used to use to create this game now costs money!). I will hand each table a game box. Listen to the following instructions as I read them aloud.
Building Forces Game
Today you will play a game called Building Forces to give you a better idea of militarism before World War I. In this game you will build up your military and weapons just like nations did before World War I.
Game Contents
Each game box needs to have the following contents. Check your box and make sure all the pieces are there.
1 Game Board
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1 Spinner
40 Army Tokens
40 Technology Tokens
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8 Army Men Pieces
40 Navy Tokens
40 Weapons Tokens
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70 Breaking News Cards
40 Air Force Tokens
Debt Sheet
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Game Instructions
- To begin, the world banker gives each player 1 army token, 1 navy token, 1 air force token, 1 technology token, and 1 weapons token.
- Each player chooses an Army Man moving piece.
- Each player then spins the spinner. The game will begin with the player who spins the highest number and game play will move clockwise around the group.
- The player will spin the spinner and move that number of spaces.
- The player will do whatever the game board instructs them to do. If you land on a draw a breaking news card space, do so. Read the card and follow the instructions.
- If the player goes into debt the world banker will start that players debt card.
- The first player to get 5 army tokens, 5 navy tokens, 5 air force tokens, 5 technology tokens, and 5 weapons tokens wins the game.
PROVE IT!
You just learned about militarism before World War I and you analyzed the played a game where you worked to build up your military troops and arms. Now you need to show off what you know. Complete the Center Check by clicking on the Center Check Icon below and answering the questions.
CENTER COMPLETE!
You have completed the Militarism Before World War I Center. Click on the button below to go back to the Lesson 1 - The Causes of World War I Home Page.