1. European Fears and Ambitions in 1914

2. The British Empire The greatest of all colonial empires.
Population- 500 million [75 million on British Isles]
Slogan- ‘The sun never sets on the British Empire.’

3. Britain con’t
Political System- constitutional monarchy [hereditary king/queen plus democracy]
Queen Victoria –[ruled 64 years, grandmother to most of Europe Kings]

4. Britain con’t
Strengths- Biggest, most powerful navy in the world with the‘Dreadnaught’
Powerful economy and stable government.
Weaknesses- Small army- used mainly to garrison far flung colonies.
Fighting a troublesome war in South Africa [the Boer War]

5. Goals and challenges of Britain in 1914
- remain the most powerful empire in the world
Challenges
- maintain status quo

6. The German Empire Newest of all Empires created in 1870.
Population- 85 million.
Slogan- ‘We want our place in the sun.’

7. Germany [con’t]
Political System-constitutional monarchy.44 German kingdoms united under the king of Prussia who was also Kaiser [Emperor] Wilhem II

8. Germany [con’t]
Strengths- The Army- the best trained and equipped in the world.[4.5 million]
[also the High Seas Fleet was the 2nd largest in the world]
Modern industrial economy in the centre of Europe.

9. Germany con’t
Weaknesses- Geography- mostly landlocked and surrounded by enemies.
Weak allies in Austro-Hungary and Italy and the Ottoman Empire.
Mentally unstable Kaiser.

10. Goals and challenges of Germany in 1914
- To become the biggest empire in the world
Challenges
-build up Navy to challenge Britain, counter France and Russia’s alliance

11. The Russian Empire Largest Empire by area. Population- 200 million
Knick named- ‘the Russian steamroller.’

12. Russia con’t
Political System- absolute monarchy with hereditary ‘Czar’- [Emperor]-Nicholas II

13. Russia con’t Strengths- Enormous army of 10 million.
Vast size and population.
Strong allies in France and Britain.
Weaknesses- Backward economy.
Unstable, unpopular government on the brink of revolution.

14. Goals and challenges of Russia in 1914
- acquire a warm water port on the Black Sea
Challenges
- overcome Austria-Hungary

15. The French Empire After Britain- the 2nd largest colonial empire.
Colonies in Africa and south east Asia.
Population- [with colonies] 100 million

16. France con’t Political System- Republican Democracy.
Elected president- ‘Tiger’ Clemenseau

17. France con’t Strengths- Strong economy
Large, well trained army of 4 million.
[Excellent navy as well]
Weaknesses- Blind hatred of Germany [since defeat in Franco-Prussian War in 1870]

18. Goals and challenges of France in 1914
- want Alsace-Lorraine from Germany
Challenges
- need to form an alliance with Russia

19. The Austro-Hungarian Empire
European empire [with no overseas colonies.]
Population- 70 million
Nickname- ‘ the sick man of Europe’.

20. A- H con’t
Political System- dual monarchy [Hungarian and Austrian kings- with Austria king also the emperor.]
Emperor Franz-Joseph Habsburg.
[Heir to the throne-Franz Ferdinand]

21. A H con’t
Strengths- Rich culture [music, art, architecture] and a large army.
Weaknesses- Many ethnic[racial] and regional conflicts within the empire. [eg. Germans vs Hungarians/ Serbs vs Croats/Czechs vs Slovaks…..]
A backward, agricultural economy.

22. Goals and challenges of Austria-Hungary in 1914
need to hold the empire together and remain powerful
Challenges
- holding the minority groups together – they have the most to lose