Causes of world war I

Causes of World War I- Why do you suppose world war one is called the great war?

Nationalism• In the early part of the 20th century nationalism was causing tensions

between European nations

• Alsace and Lorraine – An area located between France and Germany France lost this region in the Franco Prussian war and wanted to regain it

• Pan – Slavism – the Slavic region of Europe is located to the east and Russia felt it had a responsibility to defend all Slavic people

• Balkan Crisis – Many south eastern European nations in the region of Hungary – wanted to break away from the Austrian empire

• Serbia – was very aggressive wanting to form a south Slavic state

The Balkans- Slavic ethnic groups wanted to gain

independence from Austro-Hungarian domination

Imperialism & Economy• Imperialism & economy• Economic rivalries – caused by

imperialistic competition for new markets and raw materials

• German Factories begin to out produce British ones – the English were fearful that the German economy would surpass them

• Germany and France were competing for control of morocco – this caused England and France to form closer political ties

• Germany wanted to become the

dominate European nation completing the process started under Bismarck

Militarism • During the late 1800’s The nations of Europe started to buildup their

military

• Social Darwinism Survival of the fittest could be indicated by who had the most advanced weapons

• Arms race- the Nations of Europe completed to develop the most advanced weapons

• Naval – The British grew fearful of Germany's growing military strength especially the navy

• Military – Generals and Admirals leaders began to influence the politics of Europe

Alliances - Before world war one a series of shifting secret alliances altered the balance of power in Europe

1879 The Dual Alliance• Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from Russia

1881 Austro-Serbian Alliance• Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining control of Serbia

1882 The Triple Alliance• Germany and Austria- Hungary made an alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking sides with Russia

1914 Triple Entente (no separate peace)• Britain, Russia and France agreed not to sign for peace separately.

1894 Franco-Russian Alliance• Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-Hungary

1907 Triple Entente• This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.

1907 Anglo-Russian Entente• This was an agreement between Britain and Russia

1904Entente Cordiale• This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between France and Britain.

Alliances - Central Powers Triple Entente

• On the eve of world war one Europe was divide in two different Alliances

• Central powers ( Triple alliance )1. Germany2. Austrian – Hungary3. Italy although they changed sides4. Ottoman empire

• Triple (entente)1. France2. England3. Russia

• Due to these alliances an attack against one became an attack against your allies

• http://www.worldology.com/Europe/world_war_1_imap.htm

The road to World War One • Often considered the spark of World War one assassination of Archduke Franz

Ferdinand, heir to the Austria- Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 by Princip a member of the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist secret society.

• Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia which demanded that the assassins be brought to justice.

• Serbia had Slavic ties with Russia. Austria-Hungarian government sought assurances that Germany would come to her aid should Russia declare war on Austria-Hungary.

• Germany, itching to use its military muscle, readily agreed. Austria-Hungary, declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914. – due to Serbia refusing the ultimatum

Russia mobilized its vast army to assist Serbia.

• Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary by treaty, viewed the Russian mobilization as an act of war against Austria-Hungary, and declared war on Russia on 1 August.

• France, bound by treaty to Russia, responded by announcing war against Germany and Austria Hungary on 3 August.

• Germany promptly responded on 4 August by invading neutral Belgium to open a quick path to Paris. Britain, allied to Belgium declared war against Germany on 4 August. In just a little over a month all of Europe was at war.

Princip and the assassination of the Arch duke Franz Ferdinand

The Great War Begins

What does this political cartoon imply about the assassination at Sarajevo?

THE LAMPS• What do the lamps

represent to Sir Edward Grey?

• "The Lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime." ~Sir Edward Grey

Aggressive Militarism • In the years leading up to World War one most

European Nations built up their armaments • When the war begin the Machine gun Caused

such devastating losses that each side constructed trenches

• The modern battleship allowed Britain to continue to control the ocean – Britain also was threatened by Germanys growing naval strength

• The airplane and tank were used in warfare for the first time

• Trench warfare – old fighting tactics and modern weapons like the machine gun, grenade and cannon made the fighting more deadly

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXtsiqrhqsU• https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=g0V1yRrjMmM