The Great War:

The War to End All Wars

The

Causes of

World War I

Causes of World War I

● World War 1 was also known as:

–The War to End All Wars

–The First Modern War

–The Imperialist War

–The Trench War

–The Great War

Europe before the war

Europe before the warEurope during the war

The Western Front

The Eastern Front

WW1 is a two-front war because Germany has to fight the Allies on both sides

The Allied Powers

The Central Powers

Europe before the war

Europe before the warEurope after the war

New countries!

New countries!

New countries!

New countries!

New countries!

New countries!

Divided empires!

Divided empires!

Russia turns Communist (USSR)

What Caused World War 1?

●Militarism

●Alliances

●Imperialism

●Nationalism

Imperialism

● The Industrial Revolution led to

hostile competition as imperialists

fought over the same colonies

In 1898, England & France argued over rights to the Sudan in Africa

(the Fashoda Incident)

In 1899, Germany, England, & Russia argued over rights to build a railroad in IndiaIn 1905, 1908, & 1911, Germany &

France almost went to war over Morocco

Militarism● Europeans believed their national

power was determined by their military strength (militarism):

–The Industrial Revolution led to large, advanced armies & navies with new industrial weapons

–Because European countries tried to keep up with each other, an arms race began; This made it difficult to settle minor problems by talking things out

The European Arms Race: England & Germany competed to create the

largest navies in Europe

Nationalism

● Nationalism created feelings of

great pride & united the citizens of

a country & led some countries to

want revenge for previous wars

German “Hymn of Hate” song:

Hate by water & hate by land;

Hate of the heart & hate of the hand;

We love as one; We hate as one;

We have but one foe alone: England

France wanted revenge against Germany for its loss during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871

Nationalism also divided people; The most tense place in Europe by 1914

was the Balkans as Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania all broke from the Ottoman Empire to make new nations

The Slavic peoples wanted to unite & form a Slavic nation (Yugoslavia) but Austria-

Hungary did not want this to happen

The Balkans became a

“powder keg” waiting for a

spark to blow up

Pan-Slavism

in the

Balkans,

1914

Alliances● No nation wanted to fight in a war by

itself so nations formed alliances:

Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy made up the Triple Alliance

England, France, & Russia made up the

Triple Entente

These alliances did not make Europe more secure, they made it more tense

Causes of WWI● By 1914, Europe was in

a bad position:

–Powerful European nations had large armies & navies

–Militarism supported the idea that war can be good & can bring glory to nation & its people (Nationalism)

–Nations were tied together by alliances, so if one country went to war, the others had to go too

The Spark

• What was the

ignition point for

WWI?

• The assassination

of the Austro-

Hungarian

archduke, Franz

Ferdinand and

his wife, Sophie

Archduke Franz Ferdinand fact file

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne

Visited Sarajevo in 1914 in an attempt to improve relations between the monarchy and the Bosnian people

Unpopular due to his marriage to Sophie who was considered to be of lower class

Tensions in the Balkans

Russia & Austria-Hungary wanted to control the Balkans

Both wanted access to the Mediterranean Sea

Austria-Hungary wanted to stamp out growing Slav nationalism

Russia saw herself as protector of the Slavs

1908: Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia

Reactions to the annexation

Bosnians angry: wanted freedom from Austria-Hungary to form a strong Slav state with Serbia

Serbians concerned about Austria-Hungary’s aggression

The Black Hand Society

Fierce Slav nationalists:

hated Austria and

prepared to kill for

freedom

Secret society with

links to the Serbian

government and army

Goal: creation of a

Greater Serbia

"...before God, on my honour and my life, that I will execute all missions and commands without question. I swear before God, on my honor and on my life, that I will take all the secrets of this organization into my grave with me."

Saw opportunity to assassinate the future Emperor of Austria-Hungary

28th June 1914

Days that Shook the World

• The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

• Part 1

• Part 2

• Part 3- stop at 4 minute mark

The Assassin:

GavriloPrincip

The War Begins

● On July 23, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia:

–Either allow Austria-Hungarian officials to investigate the assassination …OR…

–Go to war

● On July 28,1914 Serbia declined the ultimatum & Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

Hurray! War is great! Let’s go beat those

Germans!

How was WW1 a “world” war?

How was WW1 a “world” war?

Essential Question

● What four factors led to

World War I?

● What alliances were formed?

● What role did nationalism

play in causing WWI?

● What is militarism?

Roots of WWI Video

(5:36)

What were the M.A.I.N Causes

of WWI?

Map Activity