1. Build up To World War 1

2. Pre-war Europe
After Napoleon’s conquest and subsequent defeat, European peoples of the same ethnic origins, languages, customs, and political ideas moved toward self-determination – the right to form a sovereign state.
What concept is this?
Many of these small nationalistic groups were under the control of larger empires:
Ottoman
Habsburg
Russian
Nationalism

3. Pre-War Europe
Greece gained independence in 1830, Italy in 1861, Germany in Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria followed suit.
Austria-Hungary confronted the nationalist aspirations of Slavic peoples: Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
Russian leaders supported Slav nationalism.

4. Pre-War Europe
Austria-Hungary was supported by Germany because Germany didn’t want to see Russia’s power and influence expanding.

5. Pre-War Europe Imperialistic Economic Factors:
Imperialism brought competition for resources
Germany latecomer to imperialistic expansion
Britain and France had already carved up most of the world
Germany’s rapid industrial expansion fed its desire for “a place in the sun.”
Dominance of British empire declining
1870, 32% of world industrial output (Germany 13%)
By 1914, drops to 14%
Construction of dreadnaughts for control of trade routes (in case of war).

6. Pre-War Europe Imperialistic Economic Factors:
To protect and control trade routes (in case of war) Britain began construction of battleships called dreadnaughts.
Germany began to match this buildup, and also began building
U-Boats.

7. 1910 – 1914 increase in defense spending
Pre-War Europe
Military Build Up:
Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers in millions of £s:
(Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, Britain, Russia)
£94 £130 £154 £268 £289 £398
1910 – 1914 increase in defense spending
France
10%
Britain
13%
Russia
39%
Germany
73%

8. Pre-War Europe Military Build Up:
Germany and France had also developed strategic war plans
“just in case.”
France: Plan XVII – multiple offensive maneuvers of attacks
Germany: Schlieffen Plan
avoid 2-front war by first quickly
knocking out France with an attack
through Belgium, then focus on the
eastern front against Russia.

9. Pre-War Europe Alliances:
A complex set of alliances grew out of these nationalistic rivalries and the independent aspirations of minority groups that were subject to the larger empires.
Germany and Austria-Hungary formed a dual alliance in 1879 to protect each other from a Russian (or other) attack.
Fearful of France, Italy joined them in 1882 creating the Triple Alliance (aka Central Powers)
France and Russia were uncomfortable with Central Powers alliance, Britain fearful of any imbalance of power. They formed the Triple Entente (later the “allies”)

11. All that was needed was a “Spark!”
M.A.N.I.C. Causes of WWI
Military buildup
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Competition
A powder keg of tension!
All that was needed was a “Spark!”

12. Austria-Hungary had claimed control of the Slavic nations as the Ottoman Empire declined.
However, many of these nationalistic peoples wanted sovereignty.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary made a diplomatic visit to Sarajevo in June 1914.
He was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a Bosnian Serb terrorist group called the “Black Hand.”

13. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia and was unsatisfied with their response.
A-H declared war on Serbia, Russia began to mobilize to defend Serbia.
Germany told Russia to stand down, they didn’t, so Germany declared war on Russia.
Germany also warned France to not get involved, they didn’t reply so Germany declared war on them.

14. On August 3, 1914 Germany invaded Belgium, according to the Schlieffen Plan, to attack France. Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany to respect Belgium’s neutrality. Germany ignored Britain so Britain declared war on Germany.