Causes of World War I

Causes of World War I

Objectives • Describe how international rivalries and nationalism pushed Europe toward war. • Explain how the assassination in Sarajevo led to the start of World War I. • Analyze the causes and effects of the European alliance system.

Terms and Places • entente – a nonbinding agreement to follow common policies • militarism – glorification of the military • Alsace and Lorraine – provinces on the border of Germany and France, lost by France to Germany in 1871; regained by France after WWI • ultimatum – a final set of demands • mobilize – to prepare military forces for war • neutrality – supporting neither side in a war

Why and how did World War I begin in 1914? By 1914, Europe had enjoyed a century of relative peace. Two alliances were formed with the intention of keeping that peace. When an Austrian Archduke was assassinated, a local conflict became an international war because of alliance obligations.

From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European powers that led to the outbreak of World War I The MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM causes of World War I

World War I and the Russian Revolution 1914-1920 Chapter 14 Section 1: Causes of World War I What is militarism? Why did European nations begin to build up their militaries? M

A What is an alliance? What alliance systems took shape before the beginning of World War I?

European powers created alliances in the late nineteenth century to promote peace. Which country switched sides? Allies Central Powers • Italy

I What is imperialism? How did overseas rivalries lead to international tensions?

IMPERIALISM Germany & France almost went to war three times over Morocco European nations competed fiercely for colonies in Africa & Asia England & France argued over rights to the Sudan Germany, England, Russia argued over building a railroad in India Competition for colonies often pushed Europeans to the brink of war This competition increased European rivalry & mistrust

What is nationalism? How did nationalism increase tensions in Europe? N

These alliances were based on previous wars, new economic rivalries, and competition for colonies. • These rivalries increased ___________, which painted war in a romantic light. • The great powers began to increase the size of their armies and navies. militarism

Growing nationalism and economic competition also caused tensions within countries and across European borders. Germany’s industrial advances threatened Britain. Germany feared that Russian industry was catching up to its own. Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman empire struggled to survive the threat of growing nationalism within their borders.

_________ sparked tensions all over Europe. Nationalism • France sought to regain _________________, provinces that it had lost to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. • Russia supported ___________, which held that all Slavic people, regardless of borders, shared a common nationality. • Several Balkan states fought wars, first against the Ottoman empire, then against one another. The Balkans were called the “powder keg of Europe.” Alsace and Lorraine Pan-Slavism

Which of the four underlying causes (above) does this diagram represent? What three main countries make up the Triple Alliance? What three main countries make up the Triple Entente?

http://maps.canadiangeographic.ca/outbreak-of-first-world-war-map/http://maps.canadiangeographic.ca/outbreak-of-first-world-war-map/

Sarajevo

An assassination on June 28, 1914, lit the fuse that set off the Balkan powder keg. • ________________was heir to the Austrian throne. • While on a visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, he and his wife Sophie were shot to death by a Serbian nationalist. Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Austria-Hungary 3. Serbia

Russia Germany

Britain

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia & its ally Russia On August 4, 1914, England declared war on Germany & Austria-Hungary On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on France Russia mobilized for war to protect Serbia Italy backed out of its agreement with Germany & Austria-Hungary… …and joined the Allies World War 1 Begins On July 28,1914, Serbia declined the ultimatum World War I had begun

Serbia agreed to most of Austria’s demands, but not all of them. After the assassination, Serbia and Austria quickly moved toward war. With the approval of the Kaiser William II of Germany, Austria issued an ________ to Serbia. ultimatum On July 28, 1914, Austria declared war on Serbia.

Germany declared war on Russia. The war between Austria and Serbia soon drew the great powers into the conflict. Serbia sought help from its ally Russia, which began to __________. mobilize Although Germany warned France to stay out of the conflict, France supported Russia.

Days later, Germany marched through Belgium and headed south to attack France. Germany declared war on France. neutrality Britain, which had pledged to defend Belgium’s _________, declared war on Germany on August 4.

Circle the Balkans on the map above in red. Why was this region considered to be a trouble spot? How did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand here set off a world war?

What two countries do the figures in this cartoon represent? What was the Schlieffen Plan? How did the plan bring Britain into the war? British propaganda showing Belgium defiantly resisting the Schlieffen advance

During the war Germany & Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers; They were joined by Bulgaria & the Ottoman Empire The members of the Triple Entente became known as the Allied Powers and eventually were joined by…

Why were young men on both sides eager to fight when World War I Started? (List at least three reasons)

At the onset, the war brought a renewed sense of patriotism. • Patriotic fever helped governments divert attention from labor disputes or nationalist disturbances within their borders. • Young men rushed to enlist in what seemed like an exciting adventure. • But this sense of optimism would not last long.

Causes of World War I