Setting the Stage to the Causes of World War I Alliances

1914 in EUROPE Industrial revolution shifted manufacturing from small independent shops to large factories Industrial revolution reshaped politics and diplomacy not just economies Countries required stable sources of raw materials and secure markets to sell manufactured goods Most economic control of foreign lands rested with Britain (British colonial control – almost ¼ of the world) Challenge to this British control came from Germany with efficient factories and increased sales of German goods

1914 EUROPE Germany begins rise as industrial super power and strengthen ties with other countries Britain and Germany begin to square off for political, military and economic power Clashes of economic interests and failure of governments and diplomats to arrive at peaceful compromises give rise to IMPERIALISM, NATIONALISM, MILITARISM and an ALLIANCE SYSTEM

Causes of World War I Industrial Revolution - large factories lead to change in European economy Both Britain and Germany wanted to be European superpowers By 1914 alliances existed Alliance countries supporting Britain – TRIPLE ENTENTE (Britain, France, Russia) Alliance countries supporting Germany – TRIPLE ALLIANCE (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) Both countries felt politically, economically, and socially superior Failure to arrive at peaceful compromises on political, economic and social policies set the stage for war

IMPERIALISM The extension of one nation’s authority or control over another by political, economic, social or military means. Nations which acquires colonies were able to build empires Britain had the world’s largest empire: Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Burma, India, Malasia Germany had the next largest empire: wanted to expand into the neutral Balkan region – Romania, Greece, Albania, Romania, Egypt, Arabia Britain began to feel threatened by Germany’s growing expansionism and tensions began to build between the two countries.

NATIONALISM A strong sense of national pride Imperialism and Nationalism were interrelated The early 1900s were an era of the rise of national pride Ruling over a vast empire was a symbol of national pride

MILITARISM A government policy designed to build up military forces and weaponry Britain and Germany spent millions of dollars to build up their armies and navies and equip them with weapons of war Germany had the most powerful military by 1914 Britain had the most powerful navy by 1914 – British navy ships – DREADNOUGHTS – were being equipped with giant guns 18,000 ton battle ships By 1914 , Germany had built 17 warships and Britain had built 29 Dreadnout battle ships.

ALLIANCE SYSTEM As military tensions grew, Britain and Germany formed alliances to ensure their safety Alliances were dangerous because if war broke out, alliance countries and colonies would get involved to support either Britain or Germany

EVENTS THAT TRIGGERED WORLD WAR I June 28, 1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the AUSTRIA- HUNGARY throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of the province of Bosnia, during a motorcade. Austria blamed Serbia for the assassination and declared ward on Serbia Russia mobilized to support Serbia Germany, supporting Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia France then declared war on Germany Germany then declared war on France then moved to attach France through Belgium, a neutral country Britain had promised to protect Belgium by an earlier treaty, signed 100 years ago, declared war on Germany Canada, not a fully independent country, but part of the British Empire meant that Canada was also at war.