Causes of the Great War Origins of World War I L. Ferrington, American History

Alliances Agreements between nations to provide aide & protect one other

Alliances 1871: Prussia unites 39 Germanic states into German Empire Took Alsace-Lorraine territory from France Germany allied with Italy and Austria-Hungary 1882: Triple Alliance

Alliances Triple Alliance wanted influence in Southeast Europe Russia supported Slavs Russia worried about invasion 1894: Franco-Russian Alliance

Alliances

Militarism Aggressive build-up of armed forces to intimidate or threaten other countries

Militarism Britain had traditionally been the premiere naval power in the world 1898: Germany builds large, modern navy

Militarism Early 1900s, Germany and Britain raced to build warships an entente cordiale – a friendly understanding Britain, France, & Russia become Triple Entente

Militarism 1910 – 1914 Increase in Defense Spending France10 % Britain13 % Russia39 % Germany73 % 600, 000 new troops 600, 000 new troops 400, 000 new troops 400, 000 new troops

Militarism & Alliances Triple AllianceTriple Entente

Imperialism Political and economic takeover of a country by a stronger one.

Imperialism All great powers were competing for colonies/territory Britain, France, and Germany needed foreign resources to compete during the Industrial Revolution. All battling for control of Africa.

Imperialism Russia and Austria- Hungary were in a battle for control of the falling Ottoman Empire (Balkan states)

Nationalism Feeling of intense pride in one’s homeland

Nationalism Austria-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires had ruled the Balkans Groups pushed for independence: Serbs, Bosnians, Croats, Slovenes Serbia gains independence 1908: Bosnian crisis Tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia were high

The Spark…

The Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary assassinated by a member of a Serbian nationalist group called the “Black Hand”

July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

Alliances Are Triggered

Domino Effect Europe is at War Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declares war on Serbia Austria- Hungary Serbia Germany Germany pledges support for Austria- Hungary Russia Russia pledges support for Serbia Germany declares war on Russia France France pledges support for Russia Germany declares war on France and invades Belgium Britain Great Britain declares war on Germany Italy joins Allies in exchange for Austria- Hungary when war ends Italy Bulgaria Ottoman Empire (Turkey) Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire join to form Central Powers …and the fighting goes on for years.

Let’s recap… M A I N Nationalism Imperialism & Alliances & Militarism, were the causes of World War I.

Resources Appleby, J., A. Brinkley, A. Broussard, J. McPherson, and D. Ritchie. The American Vision Modern Times. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Glencoe, Print. “Explosion Montage." youtube.com. Web. 23 Jul "Images." World War I. Web. 23 Jul “Uboats in Kiel." uboat.net. Web. 23 Jul “British Grand Fleet." cityofart.net. Web. 23 Jul