1. The Road To War
Part 2

2. Causes of World War 1
Nationalism
Pride in one’s country
Citizens were prepared to do anything for their nation – even go to war
In the 1700’s people began to talk about nations as groups of people that were more important than just their king.
Nationalism in WW1 was the belief in the greatness of one’s own nation- closely connected with language

3. Can you think of how this fits with Canadian History?

5. Causes of World War 1 Imperialism (Clash of Empires)
The Act of empire building
Britain, France, Spain and Portugal have many colonies = big Empires
Germany wants an empire too (remember Wilhelm’s speech)

6. Imperialism Colonies are useful for several reasons including:
A source of raw materials and a market for industrial products;
Locations for military bases. This remains important today. The ability to project power differentiates regional powers from truly global powers.
Colonies can help to relieve population pressure in the mother country.
They provide personnel for military campaigns.

9. African Imperialism
In 1901 Kaiser Wilhelm told the German people that by entering the race for colonies, “we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun”.
Germany was a late entrant in the race, having only unified as a nation around 1870.
Most of the ‘good’ colonies were already taken. Germany did manage to stake claim to land in Africa and Polynesia. This race brought the militaries of Germany and Britain into direct contact.

11. The July Crisis
The War Begins

12. The SPARK - the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand Continued……
Black Hand – Serbian Nationalist Terrorist group.
Resent being a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Serbia historically closer to Russia not Austria-Hungary
Kill the A-H heir
We know this….how do we get a world war…Militarism, Alliances….

13. The SPARK - the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand Continued……
Summer 1914
Alliances kick in
July 29
Russia mobilizes
July 28
Austria invades Serbia
July 25
Serbia replies, rejecting them
July 23
Austria sends ultimatum (list of demands) to Serbia
June 28
Archduke Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo

14. The SPARK - the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand Continued……
Canada and the
British Empire are
at war- more on this later
Summer continued
Germany invades Belgium as a way to get to France
Britain declares war on Germany – protecting Belgium
August 4 - 5
August 3
France mobilizes forces to assist
Russia
- Germany declares war on France
July 29
- Russia mobilizes army along borders with Austria and
Germany
- Germany declares war on Russia

16. German Advancement The Schlieffen Plan
Designed to prevent a war on two fronts
Take France in 6 weeks, by surprise by going through Belgium
Once France falls, move troops east to fight Russia

17. Failure of the Schlieffen Plan
Britain objected when Germany invaded Belgium This was their reason to go to war
German troops encountered both French troops moving out of Paris and British from the Channel ports
Belgium had a treaty with Britain, France and Germany guaranteeing its neutrality German Generals altered the plan causing German troops to turn south towards Paris earlier than originally planned