The Great War:
The War to End All Wars
The
Causes of
World War I
Causes of World War I
● World War 1 was also known as:
–The War to End All Wars
–The First Modern War
–The Imperialist War
–The Trench War
–The Great War
Europe before the war
Europe before the warEurope during the war
The Western Front
The Eastern Front
WW1 is a two-front war because Germany has to fight the Allies on both sides
The Allied Powers
The Central Powers
Europe before the war
Europe before the warEurope after the war
New countries!
New countries!
New countries!
New countries!
New countries!
New countries!
Divided empires!
Divided empires!
Russia turns Communist (USSR)
What Caused World War 1?
●Militarism
●Alliances
●Imperialism
●Nationalism
Imperialism
● The Industrial Revolution led to
hostile competition as imperialists
fought over the same colonies
In 1898, England & France argued over rights to the Sudan in Africa
(the Fashoda Incident)
In 1899, Germany, England, & Russia argued over rights to build a railroad in IndiaIn 1905, 1908, & 1911, Germany &
France almost went to war over Morocco
Militarism● Europeans believed their national
power was determined by their military strength (militarism):
–The Industrial Revolution led to large, advanced armies & navies with new industrial weapons
–Because European countries tried to keep up with each other, an arms race began; This made it difficult to settle minor problems by talking things out
The European Arms Race: England & Germany competed to create the
largest navies in Europe
Nationalism
● Nationalism created feelings of
great pride & united the citizens of
a country & led some countries to
want revenge for previous wars
German “Hymn of Hate” song:
Hate by water & hate by land;
Hate of the heart & hate of the hand;
We love as one; We hate as one;
We have but one foe alone: England
France wanted revenge against Germany for its loss during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871
Nationalism also divided people; The most tense place in Europe by 1914
was the Balkans as Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania all broke from the Ottoman Empire to make new nations
The Slavic peoples wanted to unite & form a Slavic nation (Yugoslavia) but Austria-
Hungary did not want this to happen
The Balkans became a
“powder keg” waiting for a
spark to blow up
Pan-Slavism
in the
Balkans,
1914
Alliances● No nation wanted to fight in a war by
itself so nations formed alliances:
Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy made up the Triple Alliance
England, France, & Russia made up the
Triple Entente
These alliances did not make Europe more secure, they made it more tense
Causes of WWI● By 1914, Europe was in
a bad position:
–Powerful European nations had large armies & navies
–Militarism supported the idea that war can be good & can bring glory to nation & its people (Nationalism)
–Nations were tied together by alliances, so if one country went to war, the others had to go too
The Spark
• What was the
ignition point for
WWI?
• The assassination
of the Austro-
Hungarian
archduke, Franz
Ferdinand and
his wife, Sophie
Archduke Franz Ferdinand fact file
Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne
Visited Sarajevo in 1914 in an attempt to improve relations between the monarchy and the Bosnian people
Unpopular due to his marriage to Sophie who was considered to be of lower class
Tensions in the Balkans
Russia & Austria-Hungary wanted to control the Balkans
Both wanted access to the Mediterranean Sea
Austria-Hungary wanted to stamp out growing Slav nationalism
Russia saw herself as protector of the Slavs
1908: Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia
Reactions to the annexation
Bosnians angry: wanted freedom from Austria-Hungary to form a strong Slav state with Serbia
Serbians concerned about Austria-Hungary’s aggression
The Black Hand Society
Fierce Slav nationalists:
hated Austria and
prepared to kill for
freedom
Secret society with
links to the Serbian
government and army
Goal: creation of a
Greater Serbia
"...before God, on my honour and my life, that I will execute all missions and commands without question. I swear before God, on my honor and on my life, that I will take all the secrets of this organization into my grave with me."
Saw opportunity to assassinate the future Emperor of Austria-Hungary
28th June 1914
Days that Shook the World
• The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3- stop at 4 minute mark
The Assassin:
GavriloPrincip
The War Begins
● On July 23, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia:
–Either allow Austria-Hungarian officials to investigate the assassination …OR…
–Go to war
● On July 28,1914 Serbia declined the ultimatum & Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Hurray! War is great! Let’s go beat those
Germans!
How was WW1 a “world” war?
How was WW1 a “world” war?
Essential Question
● What four factors led to
World War I?
● What alliances were formed?
● What role did nationalism
play in causing WWI?
● What is militarism?
Roots of WWI Video
(5:36)
What were the M.A.I.N Causes
of WWI?
Map Activity