Long Term Causes of World War One LONG

Long Term Causes of World War One

LONG TERM CAUSES OF WW 1 1. NATIONALISM • Loyalty to your nation or community • the belief your nation and/or people are superior to others • This allows countries to colonize other nations, but can also destabilize countries with diverse cultures/languages/ethnic groups

LONG TERM CAUSES OF WW 1 2. IMPERIALISM • Is the desire for an empire • Nationalism permits nations to take over [colonize] other peoples or countries • It gives an imperial nation more resources, consumers and prestige • The expansion of empires eventually resulted in minor wars [like in Africa] where some European countries claimed the same lands

THE BRITISH EMPIRE

THE FRENCH EMPIRE

THE GERMAN EMPIRE

THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE

THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

EUROPEAN POSSESSIONS IN AFRICA

THE ARMS RACE

LONG TERM CAUSES OF WW 1 3. AN ARMS RACE • This is a weapons race between two or more powers. In World War One it was a race to build a navy (Dreadnaughts) • For Britain – who always controlled the seas – having a large navy was also prestigious • Germany was building her navy quickly and already had the strongest army • …so Britain had to build faster!

ALLIANCES BEFORE WW 1

LONG TERM CAUSES OF WW 1 4. ALLIANCES • To gain an advantage over their enemies countries joined in military pacts with other countries [often despite past hatreds and conflicting political philosophies] • Before WW 1 there were two main alliances – the Triple Alliance [Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire] and the Triple Entente [France, Russia and Britain]

BALANCE OF POWER • A balance of power exists when countries have equal amounts of power. Think of a teeter totter with people of equal weight on each side. It has to be balanced or people feel vulnerable. • Alliances are supposed to keep the peace because provide a balance of power

Balance of Power- WWI TRIPLE ENTENTE (Britain, France, Russia) TRIPLE ALLIANCE (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey)

RECAP FROM LAST CLASS

SHORT TERM CAUSE OF WORLD WAR ONE

SHORT TERM CAUSE OF WW 1 4. INSTABILITY IN THE BALKANS • The Balkans are the region found in south eastern Europe • In the early 1900 s one Balkan state, Serbia, wanted to unite the region, while its neighbour, Austria-Hungary, wanted to keep the region weak and fragmented • Meanwhile, Russia had a military alliance with Serbia

SHORT TERM CAUSE OF WWI • Because of the problems in the Balkans, a terrorist organization was formed called THE BLACK HAND • These young men wanted to gain independence (nationalism) for their country and get rid of the rule of Austria-Hungary • On June 28, 1914 a young member of the group named Gavrilo Princip successfully assassinates the Crown Prince, Franz Ferdinand

A SHOT THAT CHANGED THE WORLD