Causes of WWI Dun DUNNNN Causes of WWI

Causes of WWI Dun… DUNNNN!!!!!

Causes of WWI - MANIA • Militarism • Alliances • Nationalism • Imperialism • Assassination

Militarism • When a nation’s armed forces come to dominate a country’s national policy • It is also a glorification of the military and war itself 1910 -1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures France 10% Britain 13% Russia 39% Germany 73%

Alliances • Signed treaties in which each nation involved pledges to defend the other if attacked by an aggressor • Basically, countries agreed to help each other

Alliances Triple Entente: Triple Alliance: Great Britain Germany France Russia Austria-Hungary Italy

Nationalism • Pride and patriotism in one’s nation • In terms of WWI, nationalism became aggressive and subsequently (because of this) a major cause of international tension

Imperialism • Domination by one country over the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region • Due to the Industrial Revolution of the 1800 s, European nations had a large portion of the world under their control

Imperialism and Colonial Rivalries • After 1870, the European nations began to acquire colonies in Asia, Africa and the Pacific • Colonial rivalry led to: – strained relations among the European powers. In Africa, all the European powers except Austria and Russia had colonies there. Thus there were many clashes among France, Britain, Germany and Italy. – the formation and strengthening of alliances and ententes. (indirectly) – an intensification of the arms race. – much hostility among the powers.

Assassination • The “spark” that started WWI

The Crisis 1. • 28 June 1914 • Heir to Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo. • Capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed by Austria. • Hotbed of Slav nationalism Seal of the Black Hand group

The Crisis 2. • “Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke • Bomb attempt fails in morning • Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon. • Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists. • Give Serbia Ultimatum

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914

• Gavrilo Princip after his assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The Point of No Return • Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia. • Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. • Russia pledged their support for Serbia.

• Germany declares war on Russia • France pledges their support for Russia • Germany declares war on France • Germany invades Belgium on the way to France • Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany

Allied Powers: Central Powers: Germany Great Britain Austria-Hungary France World War I Russia Ottoman Empire Italy

What would you do? • Your nation is one of the oldest, wealthiest and most populous in the world. Your Science and tech. industries are the best in the world. But you are surrounded by weaker countries that build up their navies to threaten your colonies and steal your resources. They also want to take some of your territory. You fear they are growing stronger at your expense and eventually they might try to take over your homeland. You might lose your home and cultural heritage forever. What will you do? Why?