1. Causes of WWI

4. Long 19th Century 1789-1914 a meaningful period
Europeans considering themselves the principal society, with the promise of material prosperity
Also the potential for disaster
Best to consider the causes as a ‘powder keg’ (long-term) ignited by a spark (immediate)

5. Staggering Empires
Britain attempting to maintain its imperial superiority
France attempting to hold steady after defeat by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War
Germany rising after recent unification in 1871
Ottoman empire declining
Austro-Hungarian empire on the decline, threatened by Slavic nationalism
Italy modernizing, but not yet a world power
Russian empire stagnant, humiliated after failures of the Russo-Japanese Wars 1895 and 1905

6. British Empire

7. France

8. Germany

9. Ottoman Empire

10. Austria-Hungary and Italy

11. Nationalism
A general population boom in Europe throughout the later 19th and early 20th centuries
Encouraged patriotism, prosperous outlooks
German nationalism
Early 1800s, Germany had been a series of provinces
, Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of the North German Confederation, united all states under the German Empire
New balance of power in Europe, now the most powerful industrial and military state

12. Nationalism French Nationalism Balkan Nationalism Russian Nationalism
Revanche or revenge for the Franco-Prussian War of
Balkan Nationalism
After being freed from Ottoman control, Slavic states such as Serbia sought autonomy
Challenged by the imperialism of the surrounding nations – Austria-Hungary and Italy
Russian Nationalism
Pan-Slavic ties with the Balkans, will seek to defend their autonomy later on

14. Militarism
Trend toward larger militaries, industrial capacity and empire
Increased in two ways
Technical sense – warships, troops and expenditure
Socially – the military’s favorability in the eyes of the population, rising warlike attitudes
Would urge nations to use these new forces, created suspicion, a general arms race
Conscription in all nations other than Britain

15. Militarism
The result of a rising Germany was their challenge to British naval superiority
Anglo-Germany Naval Race
1906, Britain launched the revolutionary Dreadnought, making all other ships obsolete
Only ignited further passion in Germany
Increase naval expenditure by 197% from 1900 to 1914

17. Militarism
With these weapons and manpower available, each nation developed war plans to implement them
Two important examples
German Schlieffen Plan
Knock out France quickly, transfer the bulk of armies east to face the Russians
Thought Russians were backwards technologically, would take six weeks to prepare
Would attack France through Belgium to avoid strong French fortresses

18. Schlieffen Plan

19. Militarism French Plan XVII
Mass of troops on the eastern border, hoping to regain Alsace and Lorraine
Based on élan vitale, the preference of attack at the expense of prudent defense
The first was based on speed, the second on impatience – both of these would be important to the quick fashion in which nations mobilized
Also recall that such military buildup requires industrialization, which requires increased resources, which then requires increased labor and markets

20. Plan XVII

21. Imperialism Imperial tension dangerously high in the late 1800s
Largely due to the ‘scramble for Africa’, only solved for a short time at the Berlin Conference of 1885
German Weltpolitik or world policy envisioned by the new Kaiser, Wilhelm II, demanding that his nation get a ‘place in the sun’

22. Scramble for Africa

23. Imperialism Morroccan Crises
Wilhelm II declared that the status of French-controlled Morocco should be re-evaluated
Algeciras Conference upheld French authority in 1905; happened again in the Agadir Crisis of 1911
Britain supported France both times
Created a feeling of isolation and fear in Wilhelm II

24. Imperialism Balkan Crises
Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia in 1908
Serbia eager to be the leading Balkan nation
First Balkan War 1911
Serbia forms the Balkan League (Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece) and went to war with the Ottomans, securing Albania and Macedonia
Second Balkan War 1913
International intervention, led by Austria-Hungary, defeated Serbia
Recap: tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, with Russia backing up the latter

25. Alliances
Germany seeking to isolate France and prevent revanche began the system
Three Emperors’ League 1873 – Germany, A-H and Russia
Dual Alliance 1879 – Germany and A-H
Triple Alliance 1882 – Germany, A-H and Italy
Franco-Russian Alliance 1894 – France and Russia
Entente Cordiale 1904 – Britain and France
Triple Entente 1907 – Britain, France and Russia
*Treaty of London 1839 – Britain and Belgium

28. Assassination The spark that triggered the outbreak
Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo (Bosnia) on June 28, 1914
Heir to the throne
Killed by Serbian terrorist, Gavril Princip, member of the Black Hand

29. Assassination
Austria-Hungary decided to use the event as an excuse to go to war with Serbia
Princip had been protesting occupation of Bosnia
Relations had become strained
Strong military allies involved
Kaiser Wilhelm II gives a blank cheque to Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia
Serbia would not allow for investigation into the Black Hand
War declared by Austria-Hungary on Serbia on July 28

30. Assassination Russia began its mobilization on July 29
Austria-Hungary does the same on July 30
Germany responds on July 31, ordering Russia to stop and asking what France will do
Russia does not, and so on August 1 Germany declares war on Russia
August 3, Germany declares war on France
On the same day the Schlieffen Plan begins
August 4, Britain declares war on Germany, citing the 1839 Treaty of London and the violation of Belgian neutrality