1. 4 MAIN Causes of World War I – Built up for decades before 1914
All the countries of Europe built up their armies and navies.   In 1914, their armed forces stood like this:
•   Germany: 2,200,000 soldiers, 97 warships
•   Austria-Hungary: 810,000 soldiers, 28 warships.
•   Italy: 750,000 soldiers, 36 warships
•   France: 1,125,000 soldiers, 62 warships
•   Russia: 1,200,000 soldiers, 30 warships
•   Great Britain: 711,000 soldiers, 185 warships
As each country increased their armies, all the others felt obliged to increase their armed forces and establish alliances to keep the ‘balance of power’.
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Land of Hope and Glory,
 mother of the free...
God who made thee mighty,
 will make thee mightier yet.
The words of Land of Hope and Glory, English ballad sung by British people at the parades.   
Germany, Germany above all, over everything in the world, When it steadfastly holds together, offensively and defensively.
The words of the German national anthem, Deutschland über Alles

2. Label the MAIN causes of WWI on your notes page
Put an M next to militaristic causes
Put an A next to alliances
Put an I next to Imperialism
Put an N next to Nationalism.

3. The Short Run Cause: Crisis in the Austrian Empire
Given the forces of Nationalism, why is the Austrian Empire ripe for a crisis?

4. Crisis in the Balkan “Powder Keg” Sparks War
Balkans were home to various ethnic groups that had long standing conflicts and were not independent nations.
Balkans is at the crossroads of Catholic, Orthodox Christian and Muslim religious influence which furthered tensions.
Nationalism was a powerful & dividing force in that had grown due to many wars & changing borders in the region. Various ethnic & religious groups wanted their own independent nations

5. Serbia’s desire to control Bosnia created tensions among allies: Russia (Serbia) vs. Austria-Hungary (Bosnia)
Serbia was small independent republic (allied with Russia) that wanted to unite all slavs in the Balkans into one nation.
Bosnia was an ethnically mixed region controlled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire (ally of Germany) that included many Slavs

6. Balkan “Powder Keg” Explodes!!
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visits Sarajevo, Bosnia on June 28th, 1914.
He and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist (18-23)
Austria-Hungary wants to punish Serbia

7. Alliance System (ironically meant to prevent war)
Kicks in and quickly escalates events – see #1 maps

8. How did a local war turn into an all European War
How did a local war turn into an all European War? Take notes and be able to describe how the cartoon shows the causes of WWI

9. Who is to blame?

10. The War Begins: Belgium to the Trenches
Continue on Assignment #2 taking notes on the military aspects of the war and answering the questions. Use an extra piece of binder paper if you need.

11. “Two-Front” War Develops between Allied & Central Powers: Gernany’s Schlieffen Plan
Germany, AH< Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire vs. France, Russia and soon: Britain in defense of their empire and Italy and Japan in hopes of post-war gain.
All of them hoped to gain power and eventually brought their colonial holdings in.
Schlieffen Plan:

12. Why did the German army invade neutral Belgium and how did this influence public opinions about the war?
Video Reflection #1 (3:00 – 14:00)
1914

13. Political Impacts of Attack on Neutral Belgium
German army accused of atrocities against Belgian civilians
Outraged over attack on neutral Belgium, England declares war on Germany (August 1914)
Italy later (1915) uses attack on Belgium as excuse to leave Triple Alliance & join Allies
Events in Belgium remembered for rest of war as seen in US propaganda (1917) on the right

14. Trench Warfare on Western Front

15. New military technologies of World War I

16. Video Reflection #2 (27:15 -32:00): Describe the early fighting on the Eastern Front between Russia & Germany

17. Video Reflection #3 (40:00 - 50:00)
Why did a “stalemate” develop on the Western Front? Describe how soldiers on all sides faced their situation.
Video Reflection #3 (40: :00)