Causes of World War I

“The Great War”

Allied soldiers climbing over trenches on first day of the costly Battle of the Somme (July 1, 1916).

What causes people and/or nations to go to war?

What factors influence a nations decision?

“The Great War”

Easy Way to Remember the Causes of

World War I?

Use the Acronym:

M. A. I. N.

MilitarismA policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war.

Militarists hold the view that security is the highest social priority, and claim that the development and maintenance of the military ensures that security.“Deterrence”

Imperialism

Domination by a strong country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or

region.

Takeover of a weak country by a stronger one.

or

BRITISH IMPERIALISM

How Does Imperialism Cause a War?

Increased Competition = Tension

Fight for land - establishing boundaries

More land = More Power “Empire”

Raw Materials = $$$

Imperialism: Good or Bad?

Pros:

Cons:

AFRICA

NationalismA feeling of pride and devotion to ones country

Bonds That Create Nationalism

TerritoryTerritory that belongs to an ethnic group

CultureShared way of life (food, Dress, Behavior, Ideals)

Language“National Language” shared by the majority

ReligionReligion shared by all or most of its people

NationalityBelief in common ethnic ancestry that may or may not be true

HistoryCommon past, common experiences

Positive and Negative Results of Nationalism

Positive Negative• People in a nation overcoming their differences for a common good

• Forced assimilation of minority cultures into a nations majority culture

• The overthrow of colonial rule

• Ethnic cleansing (Holocaust, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1990’s)

• Democracy in nations throughout the world

• The rise of extreme nationalistic movements, such as Nazism

• Competition between nations spurring scientific and technological advances

• Competition between nations leading to warfare

Alliance Systems

“Collective Security”

Increased tensions and suspicions led nations to form alliances.

Nations agreed to defend each other in case of attack.

World War I Alliances

The Players:

Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Italy

The “Powder Keg” of Europe

Why is this area so strategic?

Why is it called the “Powder Keg” ? Tension created by nationalism and the composition of many different cultures, religions, and languages in one region.

The Bosporus Strait

Taken from the International Space Station in 2004

Black Sea

Sea of Marmara

Turkey

Aegean Sea

Ottoman Empire/Turkey

<--Dardanelles

Sea. of Marmara

Gallipoli Pen.-->

Strategic Waterways

“The Spark”

• Many groups in Balkans win independence during early 1900s• New nation of Serbia made up largely of Slavs• Austria-Hungary annexes Slavic region Bosnia and Herzegovina (1908)• Serbia outraged, sees itself as rightful ruler of these Slavic lands

A Shot Rings Throughout Europe

• Serbian rebel assassinates Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914• Austria declares war on Serbia; Russia comes to aid of Serbia

Memoir of Count Franz von Harrach

As the car quickly reversed, a thin stream of blood spurted from His Highness's mouth onto my right check.  As I was pulling out my handkerchief to wipe the blood away from his mouth, the Duchess cried out to him, "For God's sake!  What has happened to you?"At that she slid off the seat and lay on the floor of the car, with her face between his knees.I had no idea that she too was hit and thought she had simply fainted with fright.  Then I heard His Imperial Highness say, "Sophie, Sophie, don't die.  Stay alive for the children!"At that, I seized the Archduke by the collar of his uniform, to stop his head dropping forward and asked him if he was in great pain.  He answered me quite distinctly, "It is nothing!"His face began to twist somewhat but he went on repeating, six or seven times, ever more faintly as he gradually lost consciousness, "It's nothing!"Then came a brief pause followed by a convulsive rattle in his throat, caused by a loss of blood.  This ceased on arrival at the governor's residence.The two unconscious bodies were carried into the building where their death was soon established

From the June 2004 Regents in Global Hist. and Geography

With your partner and using the paper from the beginning of class, create Two Multiple Choice questions from today’s material. Please put your names on the paper.

“Ticket Out the Door”

*Note: They may be used on a future quiz and/or test.