The First World War

1. The First World War a.k.a. The Great War The War to end all Wars

2. “MAIN” Causes of the Great War • Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism

3. Great Powers of Europe • The Great Powers of Europe were: • Great Britain • Germany • France • Russia • Austria-Hungary • What makes a country a “great power”?

4. How did a country become ‘Great’? • Large army and navy • Strong ruler • Had to control a large empire • Empire building was a big thing in the 19th Century • know as Imperialism…think colonies • It had to have strong industries at home • Did a country need all these things to become a ‘Great Power’?

5. MAIN Causes • Militarism – policy of building up an army to prepare for war. • Alliances • Imperialism – policy of a stronger nation extending control over weaker nations. • Nationalism

6. Great Britain • At the beginning of the 20th Century, Britain was the greatest power in the world • She was very richand was apowerful industrialized country • Britain had the largest and most powerful navy • She had the largest overseas empire • The British Empire covered over a quarter of the world’s surface

7. The British Empire Empire: Land outside the border of a nation which is controlled by that nation. These are called colonies and a group of colonies make up an empire.

8. Germany • But soon Germany began to compete against Britain for this title • Germany had a larger population that Britain • Many of her industries were more advanced in comparison to Britain • She had more natural resources • Germany was expanding her trade throughout the world: by 1913 she was selling more goods in Europe than Britain • Germany’s Army was on the increase • This began to worry Britain

9. The German Overseas Empire

10. France • France had been one of the most important countries in Europe until 1870-71 • Franco-Prussian War: France was defeated and had to hand over Alsace and Lorraine • France was not as industrialised as Germany or Britainas she produced less • She had a large empire and army • France wanted revenge for 1870-71

11. The French Empire

12. Russia • At this time Russia was the largest country in the world! • It had a population of 159 million • She didn’t need an overseas empire • Her empire was on her doorstep and consisted of many different peoples and languages • Russia had a large army • Russia wasn’t as industrialized as the other Great Powers

13. Austria-Hungary • Austria-Hungary was a large empire in the center of Europeand consisted of many different people groups– some of whom did not get along • Many of these groups had their own language, customs and way of life: this made theEmpire difficult to rule • Many of these groups wanted to be independentfrom Austria-Hungary – this was known as nationalism

14. Nationalism • Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism- a feeling of pride in one’s country. A belief that there is something special about the people who live there, their language and customs. • Extreme nationalism led to wanting independence, or led to powerful countries wanting to prove their greatness to others.

15. So why did this system contribute to the war? • There is a contest to be the biggest, most powerful country on earth. Two ways to achieve that is to make a large military and many colonies. (militarism and imperialism) • Some colonies wanted their independence and all the countries believed they were “the best” (nationalism) • All it would take was for one ‘Great Power’ to do something that wasn’t deemed acceptable by the other for issues to arise

17. Militarism

18. The need for Allies • Militarism • Alliances – an agreement formed between nations for their mutual benefit • Imperialism • Nationalism • What do we mean when we speak of allies and alliances? • Why do countries need alliances?

19. The situation in 1914 You see, Baldrick, in order to prevent a war in Europe, two super blocs developed: us, the French and the Russians on one side; and the Germans and Austro-Hungary on the other. The idea was to have two vast, opposing armies, each acting as the other's deterrent. That way, there could never be a war. Blackadder Goes Forth

20. The Triple Alliance (Central Powers) The Triple Entente (Allies) Great Britain France Russia • Germany • Austria-Hungry • Italy – changes sides before the war

21. Formation of the Triple Alliance • In 1879, Bismarck (German leader) was afraid the Russia would attack Germany so he signed an alliance with Austria-Hungry • They agreed that they would help each other militarily if Russia attacked either one of them • This was known as the Dual Alliance • Italy joined the Dual Alliance in 1882, making it the Triple Alliance • This time the alliance was directed against France

22. Formation of the Triple Entente • France and Russia were worried about the alliances which had been made against them • So they decided to form their own alliance in 1895: Franco-Russian Alliance • Both France and Russia promised to help each other if they were attacked by another power • Now it was Britain’s turn to get worried, they needed an alliance too.

23. So by 1907, two opposing camps formed: The Triple Alliance (Central Powers) The Triple Entente (Allies) Great Britain France Russia • Germany • Austria-Hungry • Italy • Remember: An Entente means a friendly understanding – it is not a military alliance • The Triple Alliance was a military Agreement. The Triple Entente was not

24. So if the alliances were designed to discourage war, why did one break out? • In a way, the alliance system made war more likely • When one of the members of either alliance declared war, the other members would lend their support • This had the potential to mean that when a country in one alliance went to war against a country in the other alliance, all the countries would get involved to support their allies • Domino effect • This is what happened in the summer of 1914

25. MAIN Causes Review • Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism

27. Archduke Franz Ferdinand • Born: 18 Dec. 1863 • Position: Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne • Died: 28 Jun. 1914 • Cause of Death: Assassination – gun shot in the neck

28. Why was he in Sarajevo? • Franz Ferdinand and his wife had been invited to inspect the troops stationed there • Little did he know that a terrorist group fighting with the aim of uniting Bosnia with Serbia, the Black Hand, had planned to kill him • There were 7 assassins involved – each armed with a gun, bomb and a cyanide pill • Franz Ferdinand arrived at 10am, June 28, 1914 and proceeded to make his way to the Town Hall in a motorcade

30. Assassination attempts 1 & 2 • The Black Hand knew the route which Ferdinand was going to take, so they positioned the 7 assassins along the roadside • The first assassin failed to kill him as he lost his nerve • He used the excuse that a policeman was standing near him • The next assassin threw his bomb at the car • However Ferdinand’s driver saw the bomb and accelerated – it blew up under the car behind • The assassin took his pill and jumped into the river but he failed to die – the pill just made him vomit and the river wasn’t deep enough to drown him • The driver sped up to get to the town hall safely and the remaining assassins called the plot off

31. Third time’s the charm • Ferdinand insisted upon going to the hospital to visit those injured in the blast so they got back into the car and drove off • One of the assassins, Gavrilo Princip, had decided to go to a café after they called off the assassination plot • To his amazement, Ferdinand’s car drove past him – the driver had taken a wrong turn! • The driver then turned the car around and this time Princip was ready • As soon as the car passed, he pulled out his gun and shot the Archduke and his wife – both died later that day • Princip, then turned his gun on himself but a member of the public stopped him and the police arrested him

32. The spark that lit the fuse • Austria-Hungary interrogated those involved and found out that the organizers were hiding in Serbia • They demanded that Serbia hand them over so they could be tried, that Serbia takes the blame for the assassination and to allow Austria-Hungary to police anti-Austrian groups in Serbia • Serbia refused to do so, and after gaining support and approval from Germany, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28 • This began the domino effect

33. Road to War

34. More Dominoes

35. War Begins • By August 12, a month and a half after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, 8 countries have declared war on one another. • The world is at war!