The Causes of WW1 - PITZERSCLASS.COM€¦ · The Causes of WW1 Author: nshaw Created Date: 3/29/2017 1:59:34 PM ...

The Causes of WW1

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

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Main Causes Of World War One

Imperialism All the great powers were competing for

colonies / territory.

The British feared Germany in Africa.

The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the

Balkans

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

BRITISH

EAST AFRICA

British Colonies

French Colonies

MADAGASCAR

FRENCH WEST AFRICA

ALGERIA

MOROCCOTUNIS

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 Colonies

KAMERUN

GERMAN

EAST 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.BELGIAN

CONGO

Even tiny Belgium had

an African colony.

This enraged the

German Kaiser who

was determined to get

territory for Germany

Belgian Colonies

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.

Nationalism

This is the belief that your nation is better than

all others.

It is a feeling of superiority. It often leads to

conflict with others.

Serbia’s

national

flag

The Big Three!

Tsar Nicolas II

Russia

The leaders of three of the most powerful nations on the planet are first cousins

and the grandsons of Queen Victoria of England

Kaiser Wilhelm II

GermanyKing George V

Great Britain

Militarism

Germany was competing with

Russia and France to expand

their armies1880 1914

Germany 1.3 million 5 million

France ½ million 4 million

Russia ½ million 1.2 million

Military Spending 1914

Country Money Spent

Britain 50 000 000

France 40 000 000

Germany 60 000 000

Austria-Hungary 22 500 000

Russia 15 500 000

Italy 10 000 000

-

10,000,000

20,000,000

30,000,000

40,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000

70,000,000

Britain France Germany Austria Russia Italy

Dollars Spent

Countries

Military Spending 1914

Alliances

By 1914 all the major

powers were linked by

a system of alliances.

Once war started, the

alliances made it more

likely to spread.

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

1904

Entente Cordiale

This was an agreement, but

not a formal alliance,

between France and Britain

1879

The Dual Alliance

Germany and Austria-

Hungary made an alliance

to protect themselves from

Russia

The Spark

28 June 1914

Heir to the Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.

Seal of the

Black Hand

group

The Spark 2

“Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke

Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon.

The Spark 3

Austria Hungary, supported by Germany, threatens Serbia.

Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia

Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down.

Germany declares war on Russia

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Main Causes Of World War One

Militarism: Countries building up their army and

navy

Alliances: Countries committing to support each

other

Imperialism: Powerful countries taking over

weak countries

Nationalism: Countries thinking they are better

than everyone else

Spark: Assasination of Arch Duke Franz

Ferdinand