World War I Dates: 1914-1918 Great Nations at the start of the

Great War (World War I): Great Britain (England) France

Germany Austria-Hungary Russia Italy USA Ottoman (Turkish)

Empire

MAIN long term causes Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Militarism Extreme readiness for war by building up

of arms, army and readiness (population). • Caused a buildup of military during late 1870-

1914, esp. 1890s. • By 1914 all but Britain had large army and

plans for mobilization• Germany and Britain in Naval race

Rivalries Britain vs. Germany

• Industrialization• Navy buildup (British “two power standard”,

Germany was #2) France vs. Germany

• Franco-Prussian War (1870) (Germany Won) Alsace and Lorraine

• Morocco (1905, 1911) (France Won) Austria-Hungary vs. Russia

• Balkans and ethnic disputes• Non-frozen seaport for Russia

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/FranciscoSV/ArmyexpenditureGermanyandUKgraphic.jpg

How did Militarism cause WWI?

Nations had armies ready and prepared.

Brought about new technology Caused Rivalries

Alliancespact, coalition, or friendship between two or more parties

Unification of Germany by Otto von Bismarck through wars and diplomacy from 1864-1871.

1879 – Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria Hungary (Secretly included Russia)

1882- Italy joins making the Triple Alliance 1887 – Reinsurance Treaty between Russia

and Germany after Austria Hungary breaks 1879 treaty with Russia.

1890 – Kaiser Wilhelm II forces Bismarck to Resign and lets Russian treaty expire

Alliances continued 1892 and 1894 – France and Russia

make treaties 1904 – Britain signs am entente cordiale

or friendly understanding with France 1907 – Britain signs a treaty with

Russia, completing the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia)

1908 – Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina

Imperialism the creation and/or maintenance of

an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination.

Social Darwinism Need for resources, power, prestige White Mans Burden

White Mans Burden By Rudyard Kipling

• McClure’s Magazine 12(Geb. 1899)

Questions:1. What is the “white man’s burden” ? Who carries it?2. Do you think Kipling supports colonialism or is addressing the

concerns? Explain.

How did Imperialism Cause WWI?

Rivalry over land• France and Germany• Russia, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman

Empire Want for Power, Prestige

• Great Britain• Germany• France

Nationalism Pride and devotion to one’s country

or nation Nations acted in their own self-

interest, desiring to be free from the influence of other countries and prove their ethnicity as best.• Germany, Italy become nations from small

states Germany-Otto Von Bismarck united and became

Chancellor and Kaiser William I became emperor.

Nationalism Continued Franco-Prussian Wars

• France lost border of Alasce and Lorraine Russia and Pan-slavism

• Support slavic peoples who shared common nationality

South Slav state• Serbia want South slavic state which would

take land away from Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Turkey

“Powder Keg”barrel of gunpowder that a tiny spark might cause to explode

Balkans as the “Powder Keg of Europe” Austria-Hungary and Serbia both hoped to

absorb all the Southern Slavic people into their nation.

1912- First Balkan War - Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece take remaining Balkan lands from the Ottoman Empire (Albania was created).

1913 – Second Balkan War – Bulgaria attempts to take the spoils from first war from Greece and Serbia but loses.

Bosnia still belonged to Austria-Hungary

Assassination June 28, 1914 Franz and Sophie Ferdinand visit

Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia. • Assassinated by Serbian Nationalist Gavrilo Princip (19)

of “Black Hand”• Serbian officials knew of attempt but were not involved.• Austria-Hungary asks for and receives a “blank check” promise of support from Germany to attack Serbia.

• July 23 48 hour Ultimatum made by Austria to Serbia. Serbia accepts all but one demand (Austrian-Hungarian officials into Serbia)

• July 28, 1914 Austria declares war on Serbia

Chain Reaction July 28 - Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war

lead to… July 29 - Russia mobilizing on Austria-Hungary

leading to… July 29-31 - Germany asking Russia to stop or

else leading to… August 1 – Germany declaring war on Russia

(after no response) and then… August 3 – Germany declared war on France

and marched through neutral Belgium, which lead to…

August 4 - Britain declaring war on Germany to defend Belgium.

Teams: Central Powers (Germany, Austria-

Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ottoman Empire)

Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia, Italians (switch sides, Spring 1915) and later the U.S.)• Japan sided with the Allies under Emperor

Hirohito• T.E. Lawrence of Arabia led the Arab

resistance against the Ottoman Empire

Colonies Japanese over German China and

Pacific island colonies English and French over 3 out of 4

German African colonies In India, Gandhi urged Indian support

for the War