1. The Road to World War I

2. Rising Tensions in Europe
Beginning of 1900s
Peace and harmony in Europe
Darker side
Developments would propel Europe into War

3. The Rise of Nationalism
Unifying force
Extreme pride in one’s country
Cause intense competition between nations
Seek to overpower each other
Rivalries develop
Great Powers
Germany, Austria-Hungary, GB, Russia, Italy, France

4. Causes of rivalries Competition for materials and markets
Territorial disputes
Ethnic groups demand independence

5. Imperialism Europeans compete over Africa and Asia
Quest for colonies pushed nations to brink of war
Competition leads to sense of rivalry and mistrust

6. Growth of Militarism Arms race developed in Europe
To be great, countries need to have powerful army
1914 – all Great Powers, except GB have large standing army
Experts stress importance of quick mobilization
Ability to get troops ready for war

7. Militarism Policy of glorifying military power
Keeping army prepared for war
Large and strong army made citizens feel patriotic
Frightens some

8. Tangled Alliances Rivalries and mistrust led to creation of alliances
Great Powers form military alliances
Alliance system designed to keep peace develops
Helped cause a war

9. Bismarck Forges Early Pacts
Saw France as biggest threat
Thought they wanted revenge for losing Franco-Prussian War
Goal was to isolate France

10. 1879 – Dual Alliance Triple Alliance - 1882 1881 – treaty w/ Russia
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Triple Alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
1881 – treaty w/ Russia

12. Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace
1890 – Kaiser Wilhelm II forces Bismarck to resign
Didn’t want to share power
Eager to show power of
Germany

13. Wilhelm does things differently
Treaty w/Russia ends in 1890
Russia forms alliance w/France – and 1894
War w/France or Russia would make Germany enemy of both
Could be forced to fight two-front war

14. Wilhelm decides to challenge GB
Began massive shipbuilding program
Make German navy equal to GB
Moves alarm GB
1904 – forms alliance w/France

15. Triple Entente
1907
Russia, France, GB
Did not bind GB to fight w/France and Russia
Ensured GB would not fight against them

16. Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance
Conflict could draw entire continent into war

17. Crisis in the Balkans “Powder Keg of Europe”
Mountainous peninsula in southeastern Europe
Home to assortment of ethnic groups
Long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic conflict

18. A Restless Region Ottoman Empire in rapid decline New nations formed
Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia
Nationalism is powerful force
Groups want to grow in size

19. Serbia Large Slavic population
Wanted to absorb all Slavs on Balkan peninsula
Russia and Austria-Hungary in direct conflict
Russia – supports Slavic nationalism
Austria – threatened by growth

20. 1908 – Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina
Large Slavic populations
Outraged Serbian leaders
Serbs vow to take B&H from A-H
A-H vowed to crush Serbian effort

21. Shot Rings throughout Europe
June 28, 1914
Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand shot in Sarajevo, Bosnia
Gavrilo Princip
19 yr old member of the Black Hand
Black Hand – secret society committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrians

22. Austria angered Use murders as excuse to punish Serbia
July 23 - Presented ultimatum to Serbia
End to anti-Austrian activity
Investigation of assassination
Serbian leaders agree to most of demands
Offered to have international conference settle others

23. Austria unwilling to negotiate July 28
Austria rejected Serbia’s offer
Declares war on Serbia
Russia mobilizes troops toward Austrian border
Leaders of Europe alarmed
Urge Russia and Austria to negotiate