1. Fundamental and Immediate Causes of WWI
Socials 11
Fundamental and Immediate Causes of WWI

2. Welcome to Socials
Today we will be looking closely at the causes of World War One.
Reminders
Political cartoon due at start of class this Friday (it is unlikely you will have time to work on it in class today)
Re-Test for Gov is at the start of tutorial today.
Check my mark is updated and available for you to view

4. Fundamental & Immediate Causes
Fundamental cause:
Underlying larger issues that cause an event to occur (the big problems)
Immediate cause:
The spark that starts the event
The event starts immediately after the spark

5. Fundamental Causes of WWI
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism

6. Militarism Definition: Background:
The policy of making a country’s armed forces strong
Background:
Britain = world’s largest navy
Two Power Standard
Germany begins to increase their navy -> arms race
Competition between Britain & Germany for strongest military
Arms race = increased tensions & possibility of war

7. Alliances Definition: Background:
Close associations of countries to achieve a common goal -> “I help you, you help me”
Usually military protection (security)
Background:
Triple Alliance (a.k.a. the Central Powers)
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Triple Entente (a.k.a. the Allies)
France, Russia, Britain

8. Imperialism Definition: Background:
One country extending authority over another country/ territory
i.e. Empires with colonies
Background:
Resulted from industrialization -> need for raw materials
European Empires -> conflict over competing areas
Britain & France vs. Germany -> fear of German expansion
Austria-Hungary vs. Russia -> fighting over Balkans

9. Nationalism Definition: Background:
Strong feelings of pride based on common bonds of language/ ethnicity/ religion
Whole country or group within a country
Background:
Many ethnic groups within Austria-Hungary
A-H takes over Bosnia -> Serbs in Bosnia unhappy -> Black Hand (terrorist group) forms w/ goal of creating a “Greater Serbia”

10. Immediate Cause of WWI
June 28, 1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary assassinated by a member of the Black Hand
Countdown to war:
A-H and Germany discuss how to deal with crisis
Germany gives A-H “Blank Cheque” -> we will support you
A-H sends Serbia an ultimatum -> hand over terrorists or go to war
Serbia agrees but needs clarification on ultimatum
A-H thinks this is a rejection and invades Serbia

11. Immediate Cause of WWI July 28, 1914 – A-H declares war on Serbia
Russia mobilizes
Thinks Germany is trying to occupy the Balkans
Germany declares war on Russia
Supporting A-H
France mobilizes
Supporting Russia
Germany declares war on France
Threatened by France supporting Russia