1. Causes of WWI

2. Quick Write
Write 3-4 sentences on the following question: What do you believe causes wars?

3. M.A.I.N Causes of World War I
M- Militarism
A- Alliances
I- Imperialism
N- Nationalism
During the last half of the nineteenth century European nation states were competing vigorously with one another
- liberals originally thought if European states were organized along national lines they would work together and create peace
Each state was guided by its own personal interests

4. M.A.I.N Causes of World War I
Many leaders viewed war as an acceptable way to maintain power.
Militarism
- Mass armies began to grow after 1900, creating tension between countries
- Industrialization brought new methods of shipbuilding and the use of iron, steel, and chemicals offered new weapons
- Many Western countries established a conscription, or military draft before 1914

5. M.A.I.N Causes of WWI Militarism
- Between European armies had doubled in size
- Russia had the largest army, with 1.3 million men
- France and Germany had 900,000 soldiers
- The British, Italian , and Austro- Hungarian armies ranged between , ,000 soldiers
- as militarism grew, military leaders drew up complex plans for quick mobilization plans for millions of soldiers and supplies
- Political leaders had to made decisions for the military instead of political reasons

6. M.A.I.N Causes of WWI Alliances
- Systems of alliance intensified the dangers of militarism
- The great powers of Europe had divided into two loose political alliances.
- Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance in 1882
- France, Great Britain, and Russia created the Triple Entente in
- These alliances were tested with a series of crises

7. M.A.I.N Causes of WWI Imperialism
- Competition for lands abroad, especially in Africa led to conflict
- It also heightened the existing rivalries among the European states
Nationalism
- Not all ethnic groups had become nations in Europe
- Slavic minorities and Austro- Hungarian Empire wanted their own national state
- The Irish (under British rule) and the Poles (under Russian rule) wanted something similar.

8. Serbian Problem
For many years southeastern Europe struggled to free themselves from Ottoman rule.
Austria- Hungary and Russia were rivals and wanted domination of those new states
By 1914 Serbia was supported by Russia
- They wanted to create an independent Slavic state in the Balkans
Austria- Hungary wanted to prevent this due to their states having Slavic minorities as well.

9. The Assassination Archduke Francis Ferdinand
- heir to the throne of Austria- Hungary
- traveled with his wife Sophia to Sarajevo, in Bosnia
- June 28, 1914
The Black Hand
- a Serbian terrorist group
- They wanted Bosnia to be free of Austria- Hungary’s rule, and for it to join a large Serbian kingdom.
- They developed a plan to kill the archduke and his wife

10. The Assassination
During the morning of June 28, 1914 members of the Black Hand waited in the streets for the Archdukes car to pass.
One of them through a bomb at his car
- it bounced off of the archdukes car and exploded against the car behind them
Gavrilo Princip, however was successful later that day.
- He was a 19 year old Bosnian Serb
- Shot and killed the archduke and his wife

11. Austria- Hungary Responds
Austria- Hungary was not sure if the Serbian government had anything to do with the attack, but they didn’t care
They saw this as an opportunity to stop Serbia for good
They wanted to attack Serbia, but feared what Russia would do
- This caused them to look to their German allies
- Emperor William II of Germany offered a “blank check” to Austria- Hungary
- This basically assured them that they would have Germany’s full support

12. Austro- Hungarian Ultimatum
With Germany behind them they sent an ultimatum to Serbian on July 23
The ultimatum contained three components
1. Serbia would have to accept an Austro-Hungarian inquiry into the assassination
2. Take down and stop anti-Austrian propaganda
3. Remove any leaders they deem unfit
The demands were extreme, and Austria- Hungary knew this
- Serbia refuses
- On July 28, 1914 Austria- Hungary declared war on Serbia

13. Russia Mobilizes
On July 28th Czar Nicholas II called for partial mobilization of the Russian army against Austria- Hungary
- Mobilization is the process of assembling troops and supplies and making them ready for war
- Mobilization in 1914 was considered an act of war
On July 29th the Czar calls for total mobilization due to
- the mobilization plans being based on war with both Austria Hungary and Germany
- Believed mobilizing against one would only create chaos for the troops

14. The Conflict Grows
Germany considers the total mobilization of the Russian army an act of war on them
Germany gives Russia 12 hours to stop its mobilization
- Russia ignores this warning
On August 1 Germany declares war on Russia
The Germans like Russians had a military plan
- Their plan was developed by General Alfred von Schlieffen
- It became known as the Schlieffen Plan
- This plan called for a two front war with France and Russia

15. The Schlieffen Plan What the Plan stated Map of the Schlieffen Plan
The plan stated Germany would conduct a small holding action against Russia
- at the same time most of the German army would conduct a rapid invasion of France
- they would move through France quickly along the coastal areas through Belgium
- once they defeated France the German army would move to the east against Russia
Since this plan did not allow mobilization solely on Russia, Germany declared war on France on August 3

16. Let’s All Declare War
In order for Germany’s plan to work they had to go through Belgium
- they issued an ultimatum to Belgium demanding the right for German troops to pass through the Belgium territory.
- This violated Belgian neutrality due to the fact that Belgium was a neutral nation
Due to this violation Britain declared war on Germany on August 4
Britain was also worried about maintaining its world power status if Germany and Austria- Hungary won.
On August 4 all the European world powers were at war