Causes of WWICauses of WWI

War was caused by MANIA:War was caused by MANIA:

MilitarismMilitarism AlliancesAlliances NationalismNationalism ImperialismImperialism AssassinationAssassination

Note: Gigantic lion’s Note: Gigantic lion’s “mains”…lions are “mains”…lions are ferocious, just like war…ferocious, just like war…

MilitarismMilitarism

MilitarismMilitarism

Glorification of armed strengthGlorification of armed strength

Civilians loved it, it was a source of pride!Civilians loved it, it was a source of pride!

War was the purest form of patriotismWar was the purest form of patriotism

Europeans forgot how awful war could beEuropeans forgot how awful war could be

Militarism’s effect on WarMilitarism’s effect on WarWar was imminent, many saw it coming War was imminent, many saw it coming

soon – large standing armiessoon – large standing armies

Countries didn’t believe it would last long Countries didn’t believe it would last long due to the high level of weaponsdue to the high level of weapons

Weapons allowed countries to threaten Weapons allowed countries to threaten and back up their threats moreand back up their threats more

Otto Von Bismarck’s Alliances and Otto Von Bismarck’s Alliances and WWIWWI

Bismarck entered into the “Dual Alliance”Bismarck entered into the “Dual Alliance”Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary

and later, Italyand later, Italy Triple AllianceTriple Alliance Russia joins laterRussia joins later What does this mean?What does this mean?

Bismarck gets the bootBismarck gets the boot

Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm II kicked Bismarck out kicked Bismarck out of power, so he could of power, so he could actually be ruleractually be ruler

He let the relationship He let the relationship with Russia with Russia deterioratedeteriorate

Effects of the Broken Russo-Effects of the Broken Russo-German relationshipGerman relationship

France befriends Russia in Germany’s absenceFrance befriends Russia in Germany’s absence

France and Russia will come to the other’s aid in France and Russia will come to the other’s aid in time of wartime of war

Germany will not just accept this defeat…they Germany will not just accept this defeat…they do what any logical country would do…challenge do what any logical country would do…challenge another superpower’s authorityanother superpower’s authority

German – British AffairsGerman – British Affairs

Germany challenges BritainGermany challenges BritainIn building shipsIn building ships

NAVAL ARMS RACE!NAVAL ARMS RACE!

ColonizationColonization

AlliancesAlliances

Britain signs agreement with Britain signs agreement with France, then RussiaFrance, then Russia

Treaties were ententes, not Treaties were ententes, not alliancesalliances

Ententes were friendly Ententes were friendly understandings, there was no understandings, there was no obligation as under an allianceobligation as under an alliance

Guarantee they would not fight Guarantee they would not fight each othereach other

So what does all of this look like?So what does all of this look like?

The Balkans- a Powder Keg of The Balkans- a Powder Keg of Ethnicities and ReligionsEthnicities and Religions

Nationalist movements Nationalist movements free many Balkan groups free many Balkan groups to form new nationsto form new nations

As the Ottoman Empire As the Ottoman Empire declined, the Austria- declined, the Austria- Hungarian Empire and Hungarian Empire and Russia sought to gain Russia sought to gain influence and power.influence and power.

The area was near The area was near Austria-Hungary but Austria-Hungary but closer in ethnicity and closer in ethnicity and religion to Russiareligion to Russia

A modern day map

Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand about Franz Ferdinand about to be heir of Austriato be heir of Austria

the “spark” to ignite the the “spark” to ignite the tensionstensions

The Beginnings- June 28The Beginnings- June 28thth 1914 1914

Sarajevo- a City in what is Sarajevo- a City in what is now Bosnianow Bosnia Area was controlled by Area was controlled by

Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary Large Serbian PopulationLarge Serbian Population

Archduke Ferdinand is shot Archduke Ferdinand is shot and killed by a Serbian and killed by a Serbian nationalist-Assassin wants a nationalist-Assassin wants a GREATER SERBIAGREATER SERBIA

Archduke (prince) Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungarian empire

UltimatumUltimatum

Austria used assassination to go to war.Austria used assassination to go to war.Germany agreed to back them completely.Germany agreed to back them completely.

Austria gave Serbia an ultimatum Austria gave Serbia an ultimatum Stop all Anti-Austrian activity and let Austrian Stop all Anti-Austrian activity and let Austrian

officials investigate the assassinationofficials investigate the assassinationSerbia planned to accept to avoid warSerbia planned to accept to avoid warAustria-Hungary invaded anyway – Why?Austria-Hungary invaded anyway – Why?

ImperialismImperialism

Central Powers vs. Allied PowersCentral Powers vs. Allied Powers

Central Powers (based on geographic location)Central Powers (based on geographic location) GermanyGermany

Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary BulgariaBulgaria TurkeyTurkey

Allied PowersAllied Powers Great BritainGreat Britain

FranceFrance RussiaRussia

ItalyItaly

Let’s Recap: So what caused WWI?Let’s Recap: So what caused WWI?

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