Causes of WW1 “The Great War” M.A.I.N.

1. Increased MILITARISM in Europe Militarism: A policy in which military preparedness is of primary importance to the government Most European nations except Britain had started conscription – compulsory military service to increase the size of armies Both Germany and France had developed war plans against each other by the late 1800s Causes an arms race – countries developing larger armies and more powerful weapons than one another

Evidence of militarism: Army increases 1870-1914: 1870 1914 Russia 700,000 1,300,000 France 380,000 846,000 Germany 403,000 812,000 Aust-Hung. 247,000 424,000 Britain 302,000 381,000 U.S.A. 37,000 98,000 Military expenditure: Germany and Russia had the largest budgets in 1914 Britain and Germany spent most per capita: Germany $8.52, Britain $8.53, U.S.A. $0.32

2. Formation of ALLIANCE systems: Alliance: association of nations formed to advance common interests or causes; defense agreements Alliances give security and can help avoid war but also can create the risk that a minor incident could trigger a major war WW1 alliances began long before the war

Alliance Activity Three team captains will be designated: Central Powers Allied Powers Neutral All other students receive a country name Team captains must visit each country and try to recruit them. Each country must decide with whom they should join. Only the countries may use their books for research. Countries cannot leave their seats until asked to join an alliance Team leaders must ask “Do you want to join my alliance?” Countries answer “Yes” or “No” Once in an alliance a country may only leave if the team captains both agree. The team that gets the most alliance members correct will win – 1 point awarded to the first team to finish recruiting Recruiting all members of your alliance will earn you 10 points If you have countries that were not true members of your alliance, you will lose a point for each. Any country that is left sitting (not recruited by any team) will deduct a point from the team that should have recruited them.

2. Formation of ALLIANCE systems: PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR: 1880s: Germany allies with Austria 1894: France and Russia form an alliance, which is a threat to Germany 1904 Great Britain joined with France Many nations had agreed to protect the small and neutral nations of Belgium and Luxembourg

7. Alliances of WW1: Allied Powers - Britain, France, Russia, Italy (remained neutral until 1915) and the USA in 1917 Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria Eventually involved 30 nations.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1879 The Dual Alliance Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from Russia 1881 Austro-Serbian Alliance Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining control of Serbia 1882 The Triple Alliance  Germany and Austria- Hungary made an alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking sides with Russia 1914 Triple Entente (no separate peace) Britain, Russia and France agreed not to sign for peace separately. A number of alliances had been signed by countries between the years 1879 and 1914. These were important because they meant that some countries had no option but to declare war if one of their allies. declared war first. (the table below reads clockwise from the top left picture) 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance  Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-Hungary 1907 Triple Entente  This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany. 1907 Anglo-Russian Entente This was an agreement between Britain and Russia 1904 Entente Cordiale This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between France and Britain.

3. IMPERIALISM – Acquisition of another country or territories, or of economic or cultural power over other nations (often by force) causes conflict among European nations as they race to take colonies in Africa and Asia 1911 war between Italy and the Ottoman Empire over Libya and other African colonies Britain and France both tried to claim Egypt and the Sudan as colonial holdings

4. Increased NATIONALISM in Europe: The desire to assert the interests of one's nation, even at the expense of other nations Very strong in the Balkans region of Europe “powder keg of Europe” because of instability. Ruled by Ottoman Empire 1400s to 1800s. Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina through annexation in 1908; But Serbia saw this area as part of its territory (Slavic nationalism vs. Germanic imperialism)

Short Term Causes of WW1

5. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital. c. By Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist secret society.

Alliance system and the domino effect 6. Time lapse map showing alliances around the world http://thebigfoto.com/world-war-i-95th-anniversary-the-great-war-on-the-ground

Domino Effect of Alliances Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, 28 July 1914. Russia had an alliance with Serbia (announced mobilization of its vast army in Serbia’s defense against Austria Hungary) so Germany declares war on Russia and France France, bound by treaty to Russia, found itself at war against Germany following a German declaration on 3 August.  Germany's invasion of Belgium on 4 August,(a neutral country) brings Britain into the war

Additional Alliances With Britain's entry into the war, her colonies offered military and financial assistance, and included Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa. Japan, honoring a military agreement with Britain, declared war on Germany on 23 August 1914.  Italy was committed to defend Germany and Austria- Hungary only in the event of a 'defensive' war; arguing that their actions were 'offensive' she declared neutrality.  The following year, in May 1915, Italy finally sided with the Allies.

Population of Key Allied Powers German Empire 64 m Aust-Hung 52 m Russian Empire,1914 173.2m French Third Republic, 1914 39.8m United Kingdom, 1914 46.0m Empire of Japan (plus colonies), 1914 55.1m Kingdom of Italy (plus colonies), 1915 35.6m United States (plus overseas dependencies),1917 96.5m