1. Causes for WWI
The MAIN Causes

2. Militarism
the policy/philosophy that the most powerful country has the right to take what they want from surrounding nations--by force.
Example - Otto von Bismarck (president of Prussia until 1890) said:
“Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided but by iron and blood”.

3. Anglo-German Naval Race
Germany wanted to challenge Britain’s naval superiority, and due to Britain’s Two Power Standard, England and Germany rapidly built ships and strengthened their navies - massive Dreadnoughts (Two Power Standard = British navy must be at least as big as the next two most powerful navies combined.)
Anglo-German Naval Race

4. Germany had an offensive attack strategy in place (The Schlieffen Plan) from 1905 to assure a quick defeat to France
Schlieffen Plan

5. Alliances
A group of nations working together to achieve certain goals, usually united for the purpose of military protection.
(think of the show Survivor!)

6. Alliance Promises (up to 1914)
- England promised to defend neutral Belgium in the case of war - Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm guaranteed a “blank cheque” of military support to Austria’s Emperor Franz Josef - Russia would support Serbia in the case of A-H or German aggression - England loosely promised to support France in the case of German aggression - Russia and France agreed to assist each other in the case of German aggression
Alliance Promises (up to 1914)

7. Alliance Blocks of 1914 Europe
Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
France
England
Russia
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy

8. Imperialism
A policy of extending the rule of authority of one country over other countries or territories.
Involves a desire to rule, or at least control, other nations

9. - Russia wanted control of Balkans for warm water ports & control of waterways to trade Germany wanted control of Balkans for economic reasons - they built the “Berlin to Baghdad railway” Germany’s Kaiser wanted more colonies in Africa (his “place in the sun”) - Austria - Hungary wanted control of Balkans for prestige Germany’s Kaiser guaranteed Moroccan independence in 1905 – annoying France and England (France wanted Morocco and already controlled Algeria & Tunisia).
Imperialistic Claims

10. Nationalism
The feeling of sharing a common past, and the hope to share a common future, combined with respect and love for one’s country.
Feeling of patriotism and pride
Desire to preserve and/or spread their own culture (language, religion, custom, dress etc)

11. German Kaiser Wilhelm wanted his “place in the sun” (remember that “the sun never sets on the British Empire)
Polish peoples were unhappy under German control (in Prussian state)
Serbs – unhappy with Austrian interference with their goal of an independent south Slavic state
Nationalistic Examples

12. Aggressive Nationalism: Powerful European countries wished to extend their boundaries and influence
ex. Germany’s role in Europe
Suppressed Nationalism: Large groups of people who were subject to other, more powerful ountries wanted their “own” states
- ex. Bosnian people wanted their own country, and did not want to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Two Types of Nationalism in 1900’s Europe

13. The shot that changed the world…
On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austrian throne (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) was assassinated while touring Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Gavrilo Princip (19) shot Ferdinand and his wife
He was a member of the Black Hand –a Serbian Nationalist secret organization fighting Austrian control of Serbs
- Within a month, World War I was underway -