Road to World War One
Arms Race Britain and Germany trying to military ‘out-might’ the other and ‘out-colonize’ the other 1906: Dreadnaught launched Britain wanted Canada to help by funding the British navy
Militarism The policy of building up military forces and weaponry and threatening armed aggression Britain: “ruled the waves” Germany: most powerful army in Europe Needed to maintain “balance of power”
End of the Empire Much of Eastern Europe was dominated by three weak and crumbling Empires: Russia Ottoman Austria-Hungary
Russia Czar Nicholas II Russia on the verge of a revolution
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Austria-Hungary Emperor Franz Joseph Archduke Franz Ferdinand Heir to the throne
Ottoman Empire - “Sick Man of Europe”
Germany Kaiser Wilhelm II Before he died he wanted his “place in the sun” "It is not by his will that he will unleash a war, but by his weakness." King Edward VII writing about his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II, in 1905.
Hegemony: having dominance over another country Congress of Vienna (1815) After the defeat of Napoleon, major powers worked together in alliance systems to prevent another nation’s hegemony Hegemony: having dominance over another country
WWI Alliances 1914: the great powers of Europe were divided into two alliances Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy Triple Entente: Great Britain, France, Russia Formed because of German threat
Entente Cordiale Series of mutual defense pacts signed between Britain, Russia and France Germany knows she is condemned to a two front war
WWI Alliances
Balkan Nationalism Struggle for control over Balkan peninsula after Turkey loses territories during Balkan wars (1812-13) A-H wants Serbia in her control
Balkan Nationalism Russia was anxious to curb A-H’s power, so she supported Serbia 1908: A-H took advantage of Russia’s weakness (Russo-Japanese War 1904-05) and annexed Slav territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina (bordering on Serbia)
The spark that ignited “the war to end all wars” Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated while visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia on 28 June 1914 by the Black Hand (a Serbian nationalist secret society)
Assassination http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCTIaiiGB4o
Austria-Hungary Reacts A-H blames Serbia A-H now has a legitimate reason to take Serbia However, Russia was obligated to defend Serbia One thing leads to another…
Chain Reaction A-H blames declares war on Serbia Russia defends Serbia, declares war on A-H Germany declares war on Russia France declares war on Germany, then Germany invades France & Belgium Britain declares war on Germany because of treaty with Belgium Colonies support Britain (including Canada) United States declares neutrality
The Irony of Alliances
To summarize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfxrTD-kPps