The M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI
1. MILITARISM
MILITARISM What is it? –Celebrating military power –Having an army that is always ready for war Who is strongest? –Great Britain = strongest navy –Germany = largest army and building navy to rival Great Britain
2. ALLIANCES
What is it? –Commitment that you will support another nation if they are attacked Why? –Security through balance of power Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, Russia) Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) –Alliances are like “dominos” – once one country becomes involved, allies have to fight! ALLIANCES
TRIPLE ALLIANCE TRIPLE ENTENTE Triple Entente Allies Triple Alliance Central Powers Triple Entente Allies Triple Alliance Central Powers
3. IMPERIALISM
IMPERIALISM What is it? –The seizure of a territory or country by a stronger country Why? –European nations were competing for raw materials and new markets in Africa and Asia –Increased the number of rivalries How is Imperialism related to Militarism?
4. NATIONALISM There were several reasons for the growing nationalism in Europe. There was increased competition between nations for materials and markets, the glory of having the best military and also having colonial assets.
NATIONALISM What is it? –Devotion to your nation Impact? –Countries start competing with each other to be the best –Competition turns into fierce rivalries
M.A.I.N. Not sure how you’ll remember all of this?? Just remember that these are the MAIN causes of WWI! M – Militarism A – Alliances I – Imperialism N – Nationalism
In need of a spark “The great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans.” Otto von Bismarck, 1888
The Spark: An Assassination “The powder keg of Europe” Area with long history of nationalist uprisings Serbia’s Slavic population wanted to establish their own state and take over Bosnia Austria-Hungary controlled Bosnia June 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, gunned down by a Serbian radical The Archduke is assassinated in Sarajevo in June 1914
Immediate Cause of World War I: Assassination Gavrilo Princip? Who?? –Serbian assassin with strong feelings of Nationalism This starts a war?! –Countries unable to solve problems through diplomacy –Alliances called into play!
The real cause … a sandwich
Alliances Fall 1.Austria declares war on Serbia 2.Russia (Serbia’s ally) declares war on Austria- Hungary 3.Germany declares war on Russia 4.Germany declares war on France 5.Britain declares war on Germany and Austria- Hungary 6.Europe is at WAR! 1.Austria declares war on Serbia 2.Russia (Serbia’s ally) declares war on Austria- Hungary 3.Germany declares war on Russia 4.Germany declares war on France 5.Britain declares war on Germany and Austria- Hungary 6.Europe is at WAR!