CAUSES OF WWI Underlying Causes What Causes Most
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CAUSES OF WWI
Underlying Causes • What Causes Most Wars… • extreme nationalism (super patriotism or love for one’s country) • imperialism spreading the political or economic control of one country over another • militarism using force or the threat of force against another nation • entangled system of alliances (SECRET) • fanatical leaders
Underlying Causes • Rival Alliances Created a “False Sense of Security” • Triple Entente • Great Britain: King George V • France: Premier Clemenceau • Russia: Czar Nicholas II • Triple Alliance • Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm I • Austria-Hungary: Emanuel II
What Caused World War I One way to remember the FOUR main causes of World War I is to remember the acronym M – A – I – N. (M = Militarism, A = Alliances, I = Imperialism, and N = Nationalism. ) • Unrest in the Balkans • Bosnians felt abused under the rule of Austria-Hungary • Goal: to create a “Greater Serbia” (unite Slavic people) • This movement was strongly supported by “Mother Russia”
What Caused World War I • June 28, 1914 • Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria’s heir to the throne) was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb Nationalist while on a good will trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia. THIS SPARK WOULD IGNITE THE WAR.
What Caused World War I • Alliances Unfolded • • • Austria declared war on Serbia Russia supported Serbia (mother country with ethnic ties) Germany sided with Austria and declared war on Russia France was obligated to help Russia & Great Britain to help France By August 5, 1914, Europe was engulfed in WAR!!!
What Caused World War I • Germany’s “Schlieffen Plan” to avoid a 2 front war failed • • Front: zone of conflict between armies Western Front would mostly be in France Area between armies was known as “No Man’s Land” Fighting two fronts puts a giant strain on resources and man power
Triple Entente Britain France Russia Map Credit: historicair Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Italy
The Fighting Sides • Triple Alliance becomes “The Central Powers” (the Bad Guys) • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria • Italy gave up its defensive agreement with Germany and joined the other side • Triple Entente becomes “The Allied Powers” (the Good Guys) • Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy • United States would join in April of 1917 • Eventually over 50 nations were involved in “The Great War”
