The M A I N Causes of WWI

The M. A. I. N. Causes of WWI What were the Underlying causes of World War One?

M. Militarism Def: the belief of a government that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. • Arms race between powers • Having a large standing army (army ready to go any time) was new to Europe, and turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy

The Arms Race 1910 -1914 Increase in European Defense Expenditures France: 10% increase Great Britain: 13% increase Russia: 39% increase Germany 73% increase MILITARISM!

MILITARISM! As well as their STANDING ARMIES, the nations introduced CONSCRIPTION, so they also had large numbers of trained RESERVES. All the nations except Britain had HUGE armies.

A. Alliances • Nations forming pacts to back each other up • “If you go to war, we go to war” • Seeking alliances when powerful neighbors join alliances • Two major alliances: the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (England, France, and Russia) • Alliances make nations overconfident and reckless

Alliances and the First World War: Germany in the Middle Germany’s BIG problem was that it was IN THE MIDDLE. That made it VULNERABLE if it came to a war.

Alliances and the First World War: Triple Alliance But when Kaiser Wilhelm became Emperor, he dumped the Russian alliance. He kept the Triple Alliance, but this did NOT solve the problem of Germany’s encirclement.

Alliances and the First World War: Triple Entente, 1907 In 1907 Russia joined Britain and France to make the Triple Entente. So by 1914 Europe had divided into two massive superpower blocs. People thought this BALANCE OF POWER would keep the peace.

Alliances and the First World War The Balkans But Russia was also allied to Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. When trouble erupted in the Balkans in 1914, the nations found their alliances dragged them into war…

I. Imperialism • The European powers were protective of their economic interests in many parts of the world • Fear that other nations and alliances would move in on their colonial claims (especially in Africa and Asia)

Colonial Rivalries : Africa in 1914

Colonial Rivalries: Asia in 1914

The British Empire in 1914

Essential Background This British postcard interprets Kaiser Wilhelm’s statement about wanting ‘a place in the sun’ – it shows him making everybody in the world bow down to him. IMPERIALISM led to militarism … in 1900, Kaiser Wilhelm said that GERMANY wanted ‘a place in the sun’ – i. e. , that Germany wanted an empire as big as Britain’s. This TERRIFIED the British.

N. Nationalism • Many nations felt a strong sense of (nationalism is strong sense of patriotism) – Context of the time: massive industrialization, Europe conquering most of the world, new technologies, new sense of national identities! • Feeling of national superiority – Feeling that people from other nations are inferior – Desire to secure your nation’s rightful place in the world order • Feeling threatened by other nations

M. Militarism

A. Alliances

I. Imperialism

N. Nationalism

Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

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Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

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Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism