Causes of WWI U S Wars and Conflicts

Causes of WWI U. S. Wars and Conflicts Ron Piper

• Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism • Economics • Significant individuals

Militarism 1. • Germany was competing with the UK to build battleships. • The British feared an attack on their Empire

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%

Militarism 2. • Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies 1880 1914 • Germany 1. 3 m 5. 0 m • France 0. 73 m 4. 0 m • Russia 0. 40 m 1. 2 m

Alliances • Economically at first, were the alliances created. • Signed treaties in which each nation involved pledges to defend the other if attacked by an aggressor • Basically, countries agreed to help each other monetarily or militarily.

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

Alliances • By 1914 all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances. • The alliances made it more likely that a war would start. • Once started, the alliances made it more likely to spread.

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, some European nations had a large portion of the world under their control

Imperialism cont. • All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory. • The British feared Germany in Africa. • The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkans

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.

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 • Independent nations desired dominance and prestige and as these powers tried to dominate each other in Europe, their rivalries may be regarded as one of the causes of the First World War

Nationalism cont. • This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and independence. • In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule. Serbia’s national flag

Nationalism cont. “Germany must have • Kaiser Wilhelm II its place in the sun” world belongs to • Built up German army and “The defend the other if attacked by an the strong. ” navyaggressor Basically, foreign countries agreed • Aggressive policyto help each other • Determined to make Germany a top nation. • Distrusted by other powers

Economics • • The Triple Entente The Triple Alliance Colonialism and Imperialism Germany left out Allies: November 1914 Pop/Mil $ billion $ per capita UK, France, and Russia 793. 3 1096. 5 November 1914 Pop/Mil $ billion $ per capita Germany and Austria 151. 3 376. 6 1, 382 Central Powers: 2, 489

Assassination • The “spark” that started WWI • On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria Hungarian Throne was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist who believed that Bosnia should belong to Serbia

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

• Gavrilo Princip after his assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Significant Individuals 1 • Count Berchtold • Austrian Prime Minister. • During the July Crisis, decided on a very tough ultimatum for Serbia “Were the Serbs to agree to all the demands, this would not be to my liking”

Significant Individuals 2 • Bethmann Hollweg • German Prime Minister • Gave very strong support to Austria during the July crisis while Kaiser was cruising on his yacht “The Austrian demands are moderate. Any interference by Britain, France and Russia would be followed by incalculable consequences”

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.

The Crisis 3. • Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum. • Serbia agrees to all but two terms of the ultimatum. • Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia • Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down. • Germany declares war on Russia “Demands must be put to Serbia that would be wholly impossible for them to accept …”

Why did Britain get involved? • Britain had Ententes with France and Russia. • Only “friendly agreements” but French and Russians given impression Britain would fight. • The Schlieffen Plan Sir Edward Grey British Foreign Secretary … “There’s some devilry going on in Berlin”

The Schlieffen Plan • Germany’s military plan to defeat France and Russia. • “Knock out blow” aimed at France first. • Avoid French defences by invasion of Belgium. • Germans thought Britain would not intervene.

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

Britain’s Reaction • 1838 - UK had signed a Treaty to protect Belgium. • Britain also scared of Germany controlling Channel ports. • Did not want Germany to defeat France and dominate Europe. Britain next? • UK issued ultimatum to Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium. War declared August 4 1914