1. The Great War
Towards Disaster

2. Ever since the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 at Waterloo there had been no war in which all the major powers of Europe (France, Russia, Britain, Germany) had been involved)
There had been many smaller wars and behind most of them was Nationalism
In the 19th Century nationalism provokes only local wars. In the 20th Century it would drag Europe down the path to disaster

3. Nationalism 2 Forms:
The great powers who wanted to extend their boundaries and then influence to make themselves even more powerful
Groups of subject peoples who wanted to set up their own independence, national homelands, and states

4. Nationalism – Problems in Europe
France
Wanted to recover Alsace-Lorraine from Germany

5. Nationalism – Problems in Europe
Italy
Wished to recover Trenton and Trieste from Austria

6. Nationalism – Problems in Europe
Poland
Wished to recover their whole country from Austria-Hungary

7. Nationalism – Problems in Europe
Balkans
Especially Serbia, have strong desire to get rid of the foreign domination of Turkey and Austria-Hungary

8. Definitions Pan-Slavism
To unite all people of Slavic origin

9. Definitions Pan-Germanism
Fanatic German Nationalism, hatred of foreigners

10. Definitions Imperialism
New resources were needed to support industries at home
Having a large empire was prestigious
German and Italy now wanted to be let in on the spoils of Empire building and this caused conflicts
“White Mans Burden” the moral obligation of civilized people to protect and develop backwards nations and savages

11. Definitions Militarism
The build up of armies and navies to strengthen position at the international bargaining table
“Diplomacy without force is like music without instruments” – Fredrick the Great of Prussia
Tremendous influence of military men on the government
Science and Technology that helped men to improve the world also enable them to develop weapons that now threatened to destroy mankind e.g. rifles, machine guns, huge cannons, tanks, combat planes, battleships, gas etc.

12. International Anarchy
Lawlessness
No United Nations
No League of Nations

13. Secret Alliances
After 1882 all kinds of secret agreements and alliances existed