Causes of World War I American History MANIA
- Slides: 10
Causes of World War I American History
MANIA Militarism (weapons race) Alliances Nationalism Imperialism Assassination
Europe’s Great Powers Germany Great Britain Italy Austria-Hungary Russia
Causes of World War I • An uneasy peace grips Europe… efforts for peace are challenged ▫ Nationalism rises �Fierce competition between countries �By 20 th century rivalry exists between Europe’s great powers �Nationalism – patriotic feelings or efforts, an extreme form of this marked by feelings of superiority over other countries
Causes of WWI ▫ Why compete with each other? �Materials and markets for selling them �Territorial disputes (ex: Franco-Prussian War) ▫ Imperialism �France vs. Germany (fighting for Morocco) ▫ Militarism �Arms race leads to big military power �Militarism – glorifying military power and keeping army ready for war
Causes of WW 1 • Tangled alliances ▫ Instead of creating peace, alliances lead to war ▫ Otto von Bismark forges an early pact �Created the Triple Alliance (Italy, Germany, and AH) against France �Also allies with Russia �However Russia and A-H are enemies
Causes of WW 1 ▫ Shifting Alliances threaten peace � 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm forces Bismark to resign �Germany looses alliance with Russia �Russia joins France �Potential for two front war �Germany envies Great Britain & challenges them by building ships to become equal in naval power
Causes of WW 1 ▫ Great Britain is alarmed! �They enlarge their naval fleet �Enter the Triple Entente, another alliance, with France and Russia �This alliance does not agree with fight ALONGSIDE one another, but they won’t fight against each other
Causes of WW 1 • Balkans considered a “Powder keg” ▫ Many different groups of ethnicities all living in the same small area ▫ Histories of nationalist uprisings
Causes of WW 1 • Spark that starts “The Great War” ▫ “Black Hand” assassinates Franz Ferdinand (and wife) �Serbian terrorist organization �Ferdinand is the heir to the A-H throne �Considered a good excuse to punish Serbia MANIA
