1. World War I
Chapter 12

2. Section 1: The Great War Begins
Essential Questions:
Why was Europe on the brink of war in 1914?
Why did war break out?
What were the results of the fighting in 1914?

3. Using Geography to Set the Stage EUROPEAN ALLIANCES AND MILITARY FORCES, 1914
What European nations were members of the Allied powers in 1914?
Which nations made up the central powers?
Given the alliances and size of the armed forces in Europe in 1914, what might happen if conflict broke out?

4. COMPARATIVE TROOP STRENGTHS
COUNTRIES
TROOPS
GERMANY
1,900,00
AUSTRIA HUNGARY
450,000
UNITED KINGDOM
100,000
FRANCE
1,300,000
SERBIA
200,000
RUSSIA
1,400,000

5. EUROPE ON THE BRINK OF WAR
MILITARISM
DURING THE LATE 1800’S AND EARLY 1900’S EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAD BUILT UP THEIR MILITARIES
THIS WAS MOSTLY DONE SO THEY COULD PROTECT THEIR OVERSEAS COLONIES IN PLACES LIKE AFRICA AND ASIA
ALLIANCES
IN ORDER TO PROTECT EACH OTHER FROM INCREASINGLY POWERFUL NEIGHBORS, COUNTRIES FORMED ALLIANCES OR PARTNERSHIPS

6. ALLIANCES TRIPLE ALLIANCE TRIPLE ENTENTE GERMANY AUSTRIA HUNGARY ITALY
FRANCE
RUSSIA
GREAT BRITAIN

7. Imperialism
The desire to build empires created a rivalry between Germany, Russia, and Great Britain

8. NATIONALISM
Nationalism is defined as “A strong devotion to one’s national group or culture”
In the BALKAN PENINSULA, Serbian nationalism led to a desire to expand the territory of the independent nation of Serbia
Austria Hungary opposed Serbian expansion, resulting in tensions between the two countries

11. FIGHTING BEGINS
After the assassination of Ferdinand and the arrest of Princip, Austria Hungary decided to use the murder to punish Serbia.
Austria Hungary made a series of humiliating demands on Serbia, and eventually declared war on July 28, 1914
Russia had made an alliance with Serbia, swearing protection
Germany had made an alliance with Austria Hungary
This led to Germany declaring war on Russia, and Russia’s OTHER ally, France

12. Fighting Begins Germany faced a war on two fronts: Russia and France
Germans created the “Schleiffen Plan”, which called for a quick defeat of France prior to wheeling around east to fight Russia
Germany attacked France by going through neutral Belgium
This attack on a neutral nation led Britain to declare war on Germany

13. WORLD WAR ONE BEGINS AUSTRIA HUNGARY GERMANY GREAT BRITAIN RUSSIA
CENTRAL POWERS
AUSTRIA HUNGARY
GERMANY
ALLIED POWERS
GREAT BRITAIN
RUSSIA
FRANCE
SERBIA