1. The Great War: The War to End All Wars
Causes of
World War I

2. Causes of World War I World War 1 was also known as:
The War to End All Wars
The First Modern War
The Imperialist War
The Trench War
The Great War

3. Europe during the war Europe before the war Europe before the war
The Allied Powers
The Eastern Front
The Western Front
WW1 is a two-front war because Germany has to fight the Allies on both sides
The Central Powers

4. Russia turns Communist (USSR)
Europe before the war
Europe after the war
Europe before the war
New countries!
Divided empires!
New countries!
New countries!
New countries!
New countries!
Divided empires!
New countries!
Russia turns Communist (USSR)

5. What Caused World War 1?
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism

6. Imperialism
In 1898, England & France argued over rights to the Sudan in Africa (the Fashoda Incident)
In 1899, Germany, England, & Russia argued over rights to build a railroad in India
The Industrial Revolution led to hostile competition as imperialists fought over the same colonies
In 1905, 1908, & 1911, Germany & France almost went to war over Morocco

7. Militarism
Europeans believed their national power was determined by their military strength (militarism):
The Industrial Revolution led to large, advanced armies & navies with new industrial weapons
Because European countries tried to keep up with each other, an arms race began; This made it difficult to settle minor problems by talking things out

8. The European Arms Race: England & Germany competed to create the largest navies in Europe

9. Nationalism
France wanted revenge against Germany for its loss during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871
Nationalism created feelings of great pride & united the citizens of a country & led some countries to want revenge for previous wars
German “Hymn of Hate” song:
Hate by water & hate by land;
Hate of the heart & hate of the hand;
We love as one; We hate as one;
We have but one foe alone: England

10. The Slavic peoples wanted to unite & form a Slavic nation (Yugoslavia) but Austria-Hungary did not want this to happen
Nationalism also divided people; The most tense place in Europe by 1914 was the Balkans as Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania all broke from the Ottoman Empire to make new nations

11. Pan-Slavism in the Balkans, 1914
The Balkans became a “powder keg” waiting for a spark to blow up

12. Alliances
Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy made up the Triple Alliance
England, France, & Russia made up the Triple Entente
No nation wanted to fight in a war by itself so nations formed alliances:
These alliances did not make Europe more secure, they made it more tense

13. Causes of WWI By 1914, Europe was in a bad position:
Powerful European nations had large armies & navies
Militarism supported the idea that war can be good & can bring glory to nation & its people (Nationalism)
Nations were tied together by alliances, so if one country went to war, the others had to go too

14. The Spark What was the ignition point for WWI?
The assassination of the Austro- Hungarian archduke, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie

15. Archduke Franz Ferdinand fact file
Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne
Unpopular due to his marriage to Sophie who was considered to be of lower class
Visited Sarajevo in 1914 in an attempt to improve relations between the monarchy and the Bosnian people

16. Tensions in the Balkans
Russia & Austria-Hungary wanted to control the Balkans
Austria-Hungary wanted to stamp out growing Slav nationalism
Russia saw herself as protector of the Slavs
Both wanted access to the Mediterranean Sea
1908: Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia

17. Reactions to the annexation
Bosnians angry: wanted freedom from Austria-Hungary to form a strong Slav state with Serbia
Serbians concerned about Austria-Hungary’s aggression

18. The Black Hand Society
Fierce Slav nationalists: hated Austria and prepared to kill for freedom
Goal: creation of a Greater Serbia
Secret society with links to the Serbian government and army
"...before God, on my honour and my life, that I will execute all missions and commands without question. I swear before God, on my honor and on my life, that I will take all the secrets of this organization into my grave with me."

19. 28th June 1914
Saw opportunity to assassinate the future Emperor of Austria-Hungary

20. Days that Shook the World
The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3- stop at 4 minute mark

21. The Assassin:
Gavrilo Princip

22. The War Begins
On July 23, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia:
Either allow Austria-Hungarian officials to investigate the assassination …OR…
Go to war
On July 28,1914 Serbia declined the ultimatum & Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

24. Hurray! War is great! Let’s go beat those Germans!

25. How was WW1 a “world” war?

26. How was WW1 a “world” war?

27. Essential Question What four factors led to World War I?
What alliances were formed?
What role did nationalism play in causing WWI?
What is militarism?

28. Roots of WWI Video
(5:36)

29. What were the M.A.I.N Causes of WWI?
Map Activity