1. Beginning of World War I
How Imperialism, Nationalism, Militarism, & Alliances caused the first true world war

2. What is World War I? 1. World War I has been described as a time when…
Nations fought the 1st war across the world w/ total commitment of all of society’s resources (human, natural, & technological).
W.W.I started in August 1914 in Europe, dragging all majors powers in due to alliances.
It was called the Great War, the War to End All Wars, the First World War. Anything wrong with some of these nicknames?
The question is: how did the situation in Europe ever get to this point?

3. What is World War I?
2. Europe ignited into war due to four (4) factors that increased tensions between European Powers:
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Metaphorically, these tension-building factors led Europe in 1914 to be described as a…
Powder Keg Waiting for a Spark.
What is a “powder keg”?

4. The Powder Keg of Europe
1. Tensions began in the 1860’s when European nations experienced a surge of…
Nationalism.
Pride, loyalty, & unity in a distinct cultural group.
How did it help create a powder keg in Europe? Nationalism…
Caused intense pride in Europe leading to competition & rivalries across the world.
By the 1910’s, every European nation wanted a war to prove who was the best, but only a nice short war w/ an entire generation born to desire war by 1914.
Nationalism is the cause of the next factor…

5. The Powder Keg of Europe
2. Tensions grew in the 1880’s when European nations started following the ideology of…
Imperialism.
Process one nation extends authority & influence over a foreign people.
How did it help create a powder keg in Europe? Imperialism…
Provided Europe w/ resources to fuel their economies & produce better technology.
Inflamed rivalries among European powers.
Created large spheres of influence to fight over.

6. Imperialism Across the Globe (1914)

7. The Powder Keg of Europe
3. Tensions boiled in the 1890’s when European nations experienced…
Militarism.
Where a nation builds-up its military to maintain influence & prepare for war.
How did it help create a powder keg in Europe? Militarism…
Caused fear & hostility among European rivals.
Fear & hostility led to the creation of alliances.
Militarism led to the last cause of increased tensions…

8. The Powder Keg of Europe
4. Tensions boiled over in the 1900’s as European nations made…
Entangling Alliances.
Agreements between nations to defend each other against a common enemy.
How did it help create a powder keg in Europe? Alliances…
Divided Europe into two allied groups.
Every alliance brought in the colonies as well.
The more alliances, the more fear & hostility.
The two (2) alliances dividing Europe in 1914 were…
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy.
Triple Entente: Great Britain, Russia, & France.

9. The Powder Keg of Europe
What is the problem when you go through with an alliance? Might be dragged into a conflict or fight for someone else’s cause.
What is the problem when you do not follow through with your alliance? You are seen as untrustworthy, a coward, & lacking respect.
This is why pre-World War I Europe was called a powder keg waiting for a spark.
European nations were trapped once they made these alliances & committed to fight for any reason.

10. The Powder Keg of Europe
Look to Number 5…
Take 10 minutes to answer the questions about military strengths & geographic concerns using Pg. 455 in your book.
Once we go over that, we will next fill out the alliance system of W.W.I.
Finally, we will look at the spark that started the Great War.

11. The Powder Keg Explodes
1. Of the four causes of increased tensions in Europe, nationalism was the one that caused the powder keg to explode. This spark came from Serbia. Serbia was…
A young nation gaining independence in the 1870’s.
Very nationalistic wanting a strong nation of only Serbians.

12. The Powder Keg Explodes
2. The majority of the Serbian people lived in Serbia, but a significant minority lived in the region of Bosnia.
Bosnia is controlled by what nation?
Nationalistic Serbians…
Disliked Austrian control & intimidation.
Wanted all Serbians in Bosnia free & would do everything to do it.

13. The Powder Keg Explodes
3. The Austro-Hungarian Empire…
Had over 15 ethnic groups that wanted freedom.
Disliked Serbian nationalism seeing it as a threat.
Wanted to crush all nationalistic groups.
Why would Austria-Hungary try to prevent the creation of “Greater Serbia”? It would inspire other groups to rise up & divide the empire.

14. The Powder Keg Explodes
4. There was hope of averting an armed conflict with the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand.
Ferdinand wanted to work with the ethnic groups to avoid a conflict.
Ferdinand was willing to accept Serbian freedom & thought a public appearance would help.

15. The Powder Keg Explodes
5. There was also a cause for concern: a nationalist Serbian terrorist group called the Black Hand.
The Black Hand vowed to assassinate the Archduke for the cause of Serbian freedom.
The most hardened assassin was a man named Gavrillo Princip.
What is the problem with using violence to solve national problems? Doesn’t really solve anything & creates larger problems. Examples?

16. The Powder Keg Explodes
6. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand visited the town of Sarajevo, Bosnia in hopes that…
His visit would convince the Serbs of his goodwill.
Gavrillo Princip shot & killed the Archduke & his wife as they drove through the streets of Sarajevo.
Let’s watch a short film about his assassination!
7. In retaliation for the assassination, the Austro- Hungarian GOV…
Issued an ultimatum demanding Serbia submit to Austrian control.
What is an ultimatum? Statement that implies a use of force if terms are not accepted.

17. The Powder Keg Explodes
8. Serbia rejected the ultimatum believing it was…
Unacceptable to punish the entire nation for one man’s actions.
Why would Austria-Hungary issue an ultimatum they knew Serbia would reject? To provoke Serbia into war.
Austria-Hungary did not want to look like the aggressor so it gave Serbia a way out; if Serbia rejected it then war was the acceptable conclusion.
The only problem with this was that was that both nations had ethnic allies:
Austria-Hungary was allied with Germany. Why?
Serbia was allied with Russia. Why?
Historically, Germans & Slavs did not get along so nationalistically they are perfect enemies.

18. The Powder Keg Explodes
9. In response to the Balkan Crisis, both parties’ allies took steps to try to force the other side to back down.
Germany issued a “blank check” of support to Austria.
Whatever Austria did, Germany was with them.
Russia issued a “blank check” of support to Serbia.
Whatever Serbia did, Russia was with them.
This show of force increased nationalistic feelings & forced more allies to prepare for war.

19. The Powder Keg Explodes
10. Serbia rejected Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum on July 28th, 1914, causing several reactions:
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary.
Germany declared war on Russia.
France declared war on Germany.
By August 4th, 1914 the rest of the alliances triggered & in little over a month the Great War had begun; Princip only wanted freedom, but what he got was the First World War.

20. The Powder Keg Explodes
11. This is why World War I is considered the first “world war” as European nations & their colonies all went to war fighting over the death of the Archduke. The two (2) opposing sides during the war were called the…
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, & its allies.
Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia, & its allies.
Italy joined the Allied Powers & broke its alliance with Germany & Austria-Hungary.