1. Causes of WWI

3. Causes Excerpt from May 7 1919 Count Brockdorff- Rantzau, leader of German delegation to the Versailles Peace Conference: No one would want to assert that the disaster began only at that disastrous moment when the successor of Austria-Hungary fell a victim to murderous hands. In the last fifty years, the imperialism of all European states has chronically poisoned international relations. Policies of retaliation, policies of expansion, and disregard for the right of peoples to determine their own destiny, have contributed to the European malady which came to crisis in the World War… and placed the issue in the hands of the military …

4. Causes of the First World War Alliances Alliances Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria- Hungary and Italy Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria- Hungary and Italy Triple Entente: France, Russia and Great Britain Triple Entente: France, Russia and Great Britain

5. Causes of the First World War Imperialism Imperialism Spheres of Influence Spheres of Influence Berlin Conference and the “ Scramble for Africa ” Berlin Conference and the “ Scramble for Africa ” The Rhodes Colossus

6. Causes of the First World War Nationalism Nationalism Definition? Definition? Unifications (Italy, Germany) Unifications (Italy, Germany) Self-determination and Ethnic Struggles (e.g. Serbia and Austria-Hungary) Self-determination and Ethnic Struggles (e.g. Serbia and Austria-Hungary) Irredentism Irredentism Italy – Trieste, Istria and Gorizia Italy – Trieste, Istria and Gorizia France – Alsace-Lorraine France – Alsace-Lorraine

7. Causes of the First World War Militarism Militarism Massive military buildup in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries Massive military buildup in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries Impact of industrialization Impact of industrialization Nervous, tense environment (Invasion Novels The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers) Nervous, tense environment (Invasion Novels The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers)

8. Militarism – Per Capita Expenditures on Armaments 18701880189019001914 Great Britain 3.543.463.8412.68.23 France2.924.024.665.217.07 Russia1.281.51.261.443.44 German y 1.282.162.84.068.19 Austria1.081.701.51.463.10 Italy1.381.742.522.343.16

9. Immediate Cause Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and wife Sophie Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and wife Sophie Heir to the Austrian Imperial throne Heir to the Austrian Imperial throne Murdered by Gavrilo Princip Murdered by Gavrilo Princip 19-year-old member of Black Hand 19-year-old member of Black Hand Serbian Serbian Sarajevo, Bosnia (recently annexed by A-H) Sarajevo, Bosnia (recently annexed by A-H) St. Vitus Day (June 28, 1914) St. Vitus Day (June 28, 1914) Commemorates 1389 Battle of Kosovo Commemorates 1389 Battle of Kosovo Austria blames Serbia; sends ultimatum Austria blames Serbia; sends ultimatum

10. Immediate Cause Balkans – “ powder keg of Europe ” Balkans – “ powder keg of Europe ” Gavrilo Princip Archduke Franz Ferdinand Who’s who?