Aim: Could WWI have been avoided? Gary is a new kid in school. He has been trying to get as many friends as he can; to have friends, but also so he has someone to help him out if he gets into a fight (which he often does). Gary is taking steroids and has been lifting weights in the gym daily. Gary’s closest friends are Bob and Ian. Bob is a popular super senior. Bob is on the football team, so he is just a strong as Gary, but he isn’t on steroids so he’s not as aggressive. Bob is close friends with Russell, Sebastian, and Gabe. Gary is trying out for the football team and wants Bob’s position as quarterback. Although they do not show it, both Gary and Bob want each other out of the school. To hurt each other socially, Bob is trying to become friends with Gary’s friends and Gary has been doing the same. Both are spreading rumors about the other. One day after practice, Russell made fun of Sebastian’s family. Sebastian, being very proud of his family took a swing at Russell and gave him a bloody nose… How is Gary a threat to Frank’s status in the school? What actions are putting Gary and Frank against each other? How do you think the incident between Russell and Sebastian is going to effect Bob, Gary, Ian, and Russell?

The World in 1900

The Balkans at the Start of WWI 1914

MAIN Causes of WWI Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Militarism Belief that a country should have a strong military for defense or to promote its interests (such as imperialism).

Militarism: Arms Race Countries such as Germany and Britain engaged in an arms race to produce the most powerful armies through invention and mass production of weapons.

Big guns are finished at Elswick, England Big guns are finished at Elswick, England. At the outbreak of war, the British and French had virtually no large artillery, unlike Germany. Realizing this, British and French war industries worked furiously to catch up.

Key Alliances To increase their own nations’ security, European powers signed treaties with one another  alliances. Alliances are agreements between nations stating that each country will assist the other if they are attacked. On the verge of WWI, there were 2 large alliances. The Triple Entente: United Kingdom (Britain), France, and Russia. Russia was allied with some Slavic countries in the Balkans including Serbia. The Triple Alliance (Central Powers): Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. As the war continued, the Ottoman Empire joined this group and Italy left this alliance to join the Triple Entente.

Imperialism  Increased Tension Between European Nations

Imperialism Continued… The Russo-Japanese War: (1904 – 1905) Japan and Russia fought for control of Manchuria in NE China. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt mediated peace at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Japan won and became the first non-Western world power to seek imperial expansion.

Nationalism Nationalism is an extreme form of patriotism and loyalty to one’s country. Nationalism made the ethnic groups ruled by the Ottoman Empire (such as the Romanians) and by Austria-Hungary (such as the Serbs) want to be sovereign.

Nationalism: Pan-Slavism in the Balkans Serbia had became independent in 1878, but in 1900 many Serbs were still ruled by the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary.

Summary Questions How was Militarism a cause of WWI? How were Alliances a cause of WWI? How was Imperialism a cause of WWI? How was Nationalism a cause of WWI? Which cause do you think was the most important? Why? Could WWI have been avoided?

Key Vocabulary Anglo-Russian Entente Arms Race Balkans Pan-Slavism Russo-Japanese War Serbia Triple Alliance Triple Entente WWI