Causes of WWI Nationalism and Imperialism Balkan Powder Keg –Serbia/Russia –PanSlavism –Sarajevo –the Black Hand Militarism Mobilization System of Alliances –Triple Entente – Allied Powers –Triple alliance – Central Powers The Great War World War I Main Causes
World War I
MAIN Causes Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism
Militarism Military Spirit The Glorification of Armed Strength
Militarism EUROPEAN POWERS armies Sophisticated weapons Technology to wage war Developed transportation means Longer periods of conscription
Militarism Led to feelings of hostilities Contributed to build up tension Most countries had plans for war
Alliances A union or agreement to cooperate between nations Designed to balance power in Europe Alliances assured total peace or total war “The game of the day,” 1879
Alliances Causes: Imperial rivalry Economic pressure for markets Militarism Nationalism
Alliances YearNameWhoWhat for 1873Dreikaiser- bund Germany, Russia and Austria- Hungary Isolate France 1879The Dual Alliance Germany and Austria-Hungary Protect themselves from Russia 1881Three Emperor´s Alliance Russia, Germany, Austria Hungary If Germany, Russia or Austria were at war the others would remain neutral. 1882The Triple Alliance Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy Stop Italy from taking sides with Russia 1894The Franco Russian Alliance Russia and France Protect themselves against Germany and Austria-Hungary
Alliances YearNameWhoWhat for 1904The Entente Cordiale Britain and France Recognized each other´s colonial possessions 1907The Anglo Russian Entente Britain and Russia Respect each other´s influence in Asia 1907The Triple Entente France, Britain, Russia Reveal their friendship 1914The Triple Entente France, Britain, Russia Agreed not to sign for peace separately
Alliances European powers made defensive alliances These agreements ensured that if a conflict arose, it will not remain localized.
The political, military, or economic domination of one country over other countries or colonies Imperialism “The game of the day,” 1879
European powers were fighting over colonial possessions: France vs. Britain – North Africa France vs. Germany – Morocco and Alsace Lorraine Russia vs. Japan – Asia Imperialism
Germany vs. Britain –Germany built a navy to threaten their relation. –Britain was worried about Germany´s: contact with the Ottoman Empire railway between Berlin and Baghdad Industries depended on raw material Imperialism
Nationalism A love for ones country, Patriotism combined with a sense of superiority A uniting force Called for conquering the inferior nations or people
Nationalism Europeans were proud of armed forces. Population praised military virtues. The growth of mass nationalism went hand in hand with increasing militarization. Military parades and “naval days” contributed to honor military values and therefore increased nationalism.
The Balkan Peninsula
The Balkans Decline of the Ottoman Empire left a power vacuum in the Balkans –Serbia wants to unite all Slavic people in the Balkans –The Black Hand is a Serbian Nationalist Group working in Austria Hungary trying to break off Bosnia
The SPARK Assassination of Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria Hungary –The Arch-Duke is the Crown Prince of Austria Hungary –He was on a state visit to Sarajevo. (Bosnian capital) –Gavrilo Princip is the assassin, he was also a member of the Black Hand
The Dominos begin to fall Austria Hungary Issues a Harsh Ultimatum to Serbia Serbia agrees with all but one demand Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia with German consent Russia mobilizes against Austria Germany attacks Russia and France Great Britain declares War on Germany
Europe on the eve of WWI
Europe at war
Europe after war
Comparative Losses in World War I