1. World War I

2. The War was also known as THE GREAT WAR and famously “THE WAR TO END ALL WARS”
It was a global military conflict that took place mainly in Europe between 1914 & 1918.
It was a total war which left great devastation, millions dead and shaped the modern world.
World War I created a decisive break with the old world order that had emerged after the Napoleonic Wars. The results of World War I would be important factors in the development of World War II; 21 years later.

3. Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism MAIN CAUSES OF WWI
***These background causes were building for years before the actual outbreak of WWI.

4. Long-Term Cause #1: Militarism
Militarism: building up armed forces in preparation for war
Characteristics:
Army and military forces are given a high profile by the government
Increased military spending and production
Implementation of the draft
Led to an arms race
The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for naval superiority.
The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships.

5. Military Spending Year 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914 94 130 154 268
Millions of dollars 94
130
154
268
289
398

6. Britain maintained a large lead over Germany in all categories of warships. Both nations believed that command of the seas was vital to a great nation.

7. trained, and returned to civilian life until needed.
Soldiers
Large Naval Vessels
Tonnage (carrying capacity)
Russia
54,000 4
328,000
France
68,000 10
731,000
Britain
209,000 29
2,205,000
Totals
331,000 43
3,264,000
Germany
79,000 17
1,019,000
Austria-Hungary
16,000 3
249,000
95,000 20
1,268,000
1890: Germany set up an army reserve system whereby young men were drafted,
trained, and returned to civilian life until needed.

8. Cause 2: Alliances
An alliance is an agreement to help defend, if needed.
Several alliances were signed between
Key to diplomacy – protect yourself & isolate your enemies!
These alliances meant that some countries had no option but to declare war if one of their allies declared war first

9. Formation of Alliances
In 1879 Germany and Austria- Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance.
This became the Triple Alliance when in 1882 it was expanded to include Italy. The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia.
France felt threatened by this alliance. Britain was also concerned by the growth in the Germany Navy and in 1904 the two countries signed the Entente Cordiale (friendly understanding). The objective of the alliance was to encourage co-operation against the perceived threat of Germany.
Three years later, Russia who also feared the growth in the German Army, joined Britain & France to form the Triple Entente.
The Russian government was also concerned about the possibility of Austria Hungary increasing the size of its empire. It therefore made promises to help Serbia if it was attacked by members of the Triple Alliance
The formation of the Triple Entente in 1907 by Britain, France and Russia reinforced the need for the Triple Alliance.

11. Cause 3: Imperialism
Why did European powers want to colonize Africa and the Far East? How did this lead to problems between the powers?
Due to industrialization, countries needed new markets & resources  Imperialism!
Imperialism: establishing political, economic and military dominance over weaker nations
By 1900, all large European powers had colonies in Africa or Asia (not Austria-Hungary)
How did Germany’s new leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II respond to this?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Launched a new foreign policy: Weltpolitik
The aim was to transform Germany into a global power through aggressive diplomacy, the acquisition of overseas colonies, and the development of a large navy. 
“We demand our own place in the sun.”
His policy of Weltpolitik was antagonistic and a threat to other European powers.
Germany soon found itself as a minority. Its only European ally was the weakest of the European powers, Austria-Hungary.

13. British Characterization of Germany

19. Cause 4: Nationalism
The French Revolution resulted in chaos and the ascent of Napoleon to power. Napoleon's armies marched all over Europe, bringing not only French control, but French ideas.
The rise of ideas of nationalism (devotion and pride for one's common people and ethnicity) increased in popularity during the Napoleonic Wars.
Napoleon encouraged the spread of nationalism, which he saw in his troops, to better the French war machine.
The French people began to feel pride in their culture and ethnicity. The world watched nationalism for the first time and saw the power the French gained from it.
Following the Napoleonic Wars, all of Europe was sharing these ideas
There were two types of nationalism that emerged during the era:
Desire for dominance
Oppressed groups’ desire for independence

22. Conflict in the Balkans
Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area
The states then fought each other over which area should belong to which state… all wanted sea access!
Austria-Hungary then intervened and forced Serbia to give up some of its acquisitions.
Russia intervened to protect Serbia, but backed down after threats from Austria-Hungary.
Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high.

24. In your opinion, which of the four background causes (militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism) was the biggest cause of WWI? Explain!
Militarism
Imperialism
Alliances
Nationalism

26. Militarism – many countries were building up their military and getting ready for war.
Alliances – countries allied with one another for protection and markets.
Imperialism – countries wanted to expand and conquer other countries for land, resources, and markets.
Nationalism – strong feeling towards one’s country

27. Catch Phrases for Context
Regarding Alliances: “The nations were caught in a trap. There was no looking back.” General Joffre, French Britain and France, Europe’s liberal nations: “What spoiled children we are.” Germany and Italy: Europe’s young nations: “We demand our place in the sun.” Austria and Russia: Europe’s dying dynasties: “Hard times make for hard lines.” The Balkans: Europe’s tinderbox: “We want to be free!”

28. The Assassination in Sarajevo
June 28, 1914
On a bright summer’s day, 28 June 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, heirs to one of the wealthiest empires in Europe got into their car and drove through the elegant streets of Sarajevo in Bosnia.
The couple were extremely happy that day – it was their wedding anniversary.

29. -A secret Serbian nationalistic society, the Black Hand, planned the assassination of the Archduke.
-Seven young Serbs were hired to carry out the plot.
-Of the seven, only Gavrilo Princip was successful and hit the Archduke in the neck and the Archduchess in the stomach.

30. The killer was a 19 year-old member of the BLACK HAND
The killer was a 19 year-old member of the BLACK HAND. A secret society committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule & unite all Serbs including those living in Bosnia under one government

31. Princip's act gave Austria- Hungary the excuse that it had sought for opening hostilities against Serbia and thus precipitated World War I. Two bullets were about to lead to the deaths of a further 20 million men.
Austria provoked the international crisis by sending Serbia an ultimatum on 23 July

32. Effects of Assassination
Serbia only accepted two of the three demands. It was not willing to accept all three, because it would result in them giving up their sovereignty.
A-H declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
Russia then mobilized its forces to the German and A-H borders.
Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 and on France on August 3.
Germany then invaded Belgium on August 3, So Britain then declared war on Germany and A-H.

33. Britain’s involvement
Ententes with France and Russia (friendly agreements)
1838- UK had signed a Treaty to protect Belgium.
Britain also scared of Germany controlling Channel ports.
Did not want Germany to defeat France and dominate Europe. Britain next?
UK issued ultimatum to Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium. War declared August

37. World War I introduced the world to killing and destruction on a scale never seen before. During the battle of the Somme, 19,000 men died on the first day alone. By the end of the campaign the British had gained only 125 miles of territory at a terrible cost: casualties on both sides exceeded one million. For many, the senseless slaughter represented the worst expression of European imperialism, militarism, and nationalism. A 1914 cartoon published in the Chicago Daily News uses racial chauvinism to condemn the European war for undermining the moral supremacy of "Western Civilization."

38. Propaganda Feeds Nationalism