The Causes of WW1 M ilitarism M ilitarism A lliances A lliances I mperialism I mperialism N ationalism N ationalism MAINMAIN MAIN CAUSES.

The Causes of The Causes of WW1WW1

MMilitarismilitarism

AAllianceslliances

IImperialismmperialism

NNationalismationalism

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MAIN CAUSES

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Main Causes Of World War One

Militarism 1.Militarism 1.

Germany was competing Germany was competing with the UK to build with the UK to build battleships.battleships.

The British feared an attack The British feared an attack on their on their Empire

Militarism 2. Germany was competing with Germany was competing with

Russia and France to expand Russia and France to expand their armiestheir armies

18801880 19141914

GermanyGermany 1.3 million 1.3 million 5 million5 million FranceFrance ½ million ½ million 4 million4 million RussiaRussia ½ million½ million 1.2 million1.2 million

Military Spending 1914Military Spending 1914

Country Money Spent Britain 50 000 000

France 40 000 000

Germany 60 000 000Austria-Hungary

22 500 000

Russia 15 500 000

Italy 10 000 000

AlliancesAlliances

By 1914 all the major By 1914 all the major powers were linked by powers were linked by a system of alliances.a system of alliances.

Once war started, the Once war started, the alliances made it more alliances made it more likely to spread.likely to spread.

A German cartoon of the time shows their belief that France is like Britain’s prostitute.

ImperialismImperialism All the great powers were competing for All the great powers were competing for

colonies / territory.colonies / territory. The British feared Germany in Africa.The British feared Germany in Africa. The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the

BalkansBalkans

One of the major reasons for bad relations amongst the nations of Europe in the years before 1914 was that they were engaged in a struggle to obtain overseas colonies. (Imperialism)

Many nations took part in what became Many nations took part in what became known as the “Scramble for Africa”.known as the “Scramble for Africa”.

This map shows Africa in 1914 and shows how much land the major nations had taken over.

BRITAIN FRANCE GERMANY ITALY BELGIUM NEXT PAGE

British Colonies

Britain had managed to get some of the most valuable land in Africa.

The most important gain was Egypt because of the Suez Canal.

This provided a much quicker and safer route to India – the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire.

EGYPT

SUDAN

SOUTH AFRICA

BECHUANALAND

RHODESIA

NIGERIA

BRITISHEAST AFRICA

British Colonies

French ColoniesFrench Colonies

MADAGASCAR

FRENCH WEST AFRICA

ALGERIA

MOROCCO TUNIS

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA

France had also built up a large colonial empire, mostly in the north west of Africa.

This had caused problems and there had been serious arguments over colonies such as Morocco and Tunis.

Arguments over colonies caused bad feeling between Britain and France.

French Colonies

German ColoniesGerman Colonies

KAMERUN

GERMANEAST AFRICA

GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA

Germany did not enter the race for colonies until very late and, as a result, much of the land gained was not very valuable.

Despite this, Kaiser William II was determined that Germany should have a major empire.

Germany entered the race for colonies late and did not have much territory of value.

Kaiser Wilhelm II was determined that Germany should have a powerful empire.

German Colonies

Belgian Colonies

Even tiny Belgium had an African colony – the Belgian Congo.

This was one of the reasons that Kaiser William II of Germany decided that his country must also have colonies.

BELGIANCONGO

Even tiny Belgium had an African colony.

This enraged the German Kaiser who was determined to get territory for Germany

Belgian Colonies

Tiny BelgiumTiny Belgium

Colonial Disputes

During the late 1800s, relations between Britain and France were strained by a series of disputes over African colonies.

Both nations hoped to control Egypt and Morocco and this caused many bitter arguments.

NationalismNationalism

This is the belief that your nation is better than This is the belief that your nation is better than all others.all others.

It is a feeling of superiority. It often leads to It is a feeling of superiority. It often leads to conflict with others. conflict with others.

Serbia’s national flag

The Big Three! The Big Three!

Tsar Nicolas II Russia

The leaders of three of the most powerful nations on the planet are first cousinsand the grandsons of Queen Victoria of England

Kaiser Wilhelm II Germany

King George V Great Britain

The Spark The Spark 28 June 191428 June 1914

Heir to the Austrian Heir to the Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.visits Sarajevo.

Seal of the Black Hand group

The Spark 2The Spark 2 ““Black Hand” terrorists Black Hand” terrorists

attack the Arch Dukeattack the Arch Duke

Gavrilo Princip shoots Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the Archduke and wife in the afternoon.afternoon.

The Spark The Spark 33

Austria Hungary, supported by Germany, threatens Austria Hungary, supported by Germany, threatens Serbia. Serbia.

Russia mobilises her troops to support SerbiaRussia mobilises her troops to support Serbia

Germany demands that Russia stands her armies Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down.down.

Germany declares war on RussiaGermany declares war on Russia

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Main Causes Of World War One

Russia GermanyRussia Germany

Britain Serbia Austria-HungaryBritain Serbia Austria-Hungary

France ItalyFrance Italy

Because Canada is a colony of Britain we are automatically at war!

Declaration of War 1914

Why did Canada get Why did Canada get involved?involved?

Canada is a colony Canada is a colony of Great Britain. of Great Britain.

All British colonies All British colonies including Australia, including Australia, India and Canada India and Canada must support their must support their mother country.mother country.

When Britain When Britain declares war Canada declares war Canada is automatically at is automatically at war!war!

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Main Causes Of World War One

Militarism: Countries building up their Militarism: Countries building up their army and navyarmy and navy

Alliances: Countries committing to support Alliances: Countries committing to support each othereach other

Imperialism: Powerful countries taking Imperialism: Powerful countries taking over weak countriesover weak countries

Nationalism: Countries thinking they are Nationalism: Countries thinking they are better than everyone elsebetter than everyone else

Spark: Assasination of Arch Duke Franz Spark: Assasination of Arch Duke Franz FerdinandFerdinand