1. World War I: An Introduction
A Local Conflict Goes Global

2. The Cousins War Wilhelm II George V Nicholas II

3. Underlying Causes M.A.N.I.A.
Militarism
Alliances
Nationalism
Imperialism
Anarchy

4. Militarism

5. Militarism Militarism: The glorification of war & the military
The development of new weapons
The establishment of large reserve armies

6. Militarism Mobilization: The organization of resources for combat
Generally triggers other nations to do the same

7. Militarism
Example:
During the early 1900s Kaiser Wilhelm II expanded the German Navy
Wanted Germany to be equal to Great Britain in terms of naval strength

8. Militarism
Great Britain felt threatened as a result of Germany’s naval buildup
Solution?
Expanded the British Navy
Developed a new battleship; The Dreadnought

9. Alliances

10. Alliances Defense Agreement Among Nations

11. Alliances Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
Allied in an attempt to isolate France
Triple Entente:
France, Great Britain, Russia

13. Nationalism

14. Nationalism French Nationalism:
French nationalists sought revenge against Germany after their loss of Alsace-Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian War (1870)
Alsace-Lorraine – French territory lost after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870

15. Nationalism Pan Slavism:
A large-scale movement to unify all Slavic people under one empire
The Serbs wanted to lead Slavic unification; supported by Russia

16. Nationalism German Nationalism:
Germany wanted to prove its strength in comparison to the other great powers of Europe

17. Imperialism

18. Imperialism Imperialism: The domination of one nation by another
Germany & France came close to fighting a war over the control of Morocco

19. Imperialism Germany wanted to create a Berlin to Baghdad Railway
Caused resentment in Britain
Feared interference with India & reduced traffic thru the Suez Canal

20. Anarchy

21. Anarchy
At this time the nations of Europe began to pursue policies without consulting their neighbors
Problem?
If a crisis arose there was no international organization to monitor it…

22. World war i: The Beginnings

23. Immediate Causes
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip
Princip was a member of the Serbian nationalist group Black Hand

24. Why Assassination?
Ferdinand planned to give the Slavs of Bosnia-Herzegovina an equal voice in the Austro- Hungarian government
This threatened the movement for a separate Slavic state

25. What Next?
Austria-Hungary held the Serbian government responsible for the assassination of Ferdinand
Austria-Hungary sought backup from Germany in the event of war

26. What Next? Germany issued a Blank Check to Austria-Hungary
William II agreed to support any actions that Austria-Hungary might take against Serbia

27. Tensions Build!! The Ultimatum:
Austria-Hungary demanded entrance into Serbia
Why?
Suppress subversive organizations
Conduct an investigation

28. Tensions Build!!
Austria-Hungary gave Serbia 48 hours to agree to the ultimatum
Serbia REFUSED to agree
July 28, 1914:
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia!

29. Others Get Involved
Russia, an ally of Serbia, mobilized troops along the borders of Germany & Austria- Hungary
Germany warned Russia to stop
Russia refused!

30. Others Get Involved Germany issued an ultimatum to France
Gave France 18 hours to decide whether or not it would support Russia
France gave an inconclusive answer!

31. Declarations of War 08/01/1914: Germany declared war on Russia
08/03/1914:
Germany declared war on France

32. Declarations of War Great Britain hoped to remain neutral
DID NOT want to become involved in a war
HOWEVER…

33. The Belgium Issue
Germany demanded passage across Belgium in order to fight France
Part of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan

34. The Belgium Issue
In 1839 Britain, Russia, France & Germany signed a treaty that guaranteed Belgium’s neutrality
Due to the fact that Belgium was a neutral nation, Great Britain protested Germany’s demand

35. The Belgium Issue
Despite Belgium’s neutrality, Germany invaded on August 14, 1914
Great Britain demanded that Germany immediately withdraw from Belgium

36. The Belgium Issue
Germany responded by referring to the treaty as nothing more than a scrap of paper
As a result Great Britain declared war on Germany

37. World War I: Opposing Sides

38. Opposing Sides The Triple Entente became the Allied Powers
The Triple Alliance became the Central Powers

39. Allied powers

40. Allied powers Major Players: France, Great Britain, Russia
Italy (1915)
Japan (1915)
United States (1917)
28 other countries

41. Allied powers Strengths: More soldiers More money
Greater industrial potential
Great Britain – best navy
France – excellent army

42. Allied powers Weaknesses: Russia was WEAK & POOR No unified command
Each country acted independently until the end of the war
Fighting on their OWN territory

43. Central powers

44. Central powers Major Players: Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria
Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

45. Central powers Strengths: Germany – best army Germany – excellent navy
Superior weapons
Fighting in enemy territory

46. Central powers Excellent lines of communication Unified command
Everyone under German control
Control of the Dardanelles

47. Central powers
Weaknesses:
Fighting a two-front war