The Causes of WWI (M.A.N.I.A)

Militarism Germany was competing with the UK to build battleships. The British feared an attack on their Empire

Militarism Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies. The size of Germany and France’s armies doubled between 1870 and 1914.

Alliances By 1914 all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances. The alliances made it more likely that a war would start. Once started, the alliances made it more likely to spread.

Nationalism This was an age when all nations wanted to show their power and independence. Serbia’s national flag

Imperialism All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory. The British feared Germany in Africa. The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkans

Assassination: The July Crisis

The role of leaders… e.g. Kaiser Wilhelm II Built up German army and navy Determined to make Germany a top nation. Distrusted by other powers “Germany must have its place in the sun” “The world belongs to the strong.”

The Schlieffen Plan

Britain’s Reaction 1838- Britain had signed a Treaty to protect Belgium. Did not want Germany to defeat France and dominate Europe. Britain next? Britain issued ultimatum to Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium. War declared August 4 1914

If Britain is was at war, so was Canada

THE BIG EVENT!!!! The spark that started the war began on June 28th, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated while visiting Sarajevo. He was the next in line to be king of Austria Hungary As he was making the journey with his wife a bomb was thrown at them Ferdinand and his wife continued the journey and later that day a 19 year old Serbian man named Gavril Princep shot Ferdinand and his wife

Gavril Princep was part of a Serbian terrorist group known as the Black Hand. The Black Hand wanted freedom from Austrian- Hungarian rule After shooting Ferdinand, Princep drank poison to commit suicide but it failed. He later died in jail