WORLD WAR I The Great War The War

WORLD WAR I “The Great War” “The War to End All Wars”

Causes of WWI

MAIN CAUSES OF WWI • Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism

MILITARISM • Militarism: building up armed forces; getting ready for war. • Massive military buildup in European nations late 1800 s to early 1900 s • Wanted to protect overseas colonies from other nations • Often includes military control of the government, increased spending, and army conscription. • Created a massive arms race • Minor disagreements could turn into armed conflict – every body on edge! European Military Spending Year Millions of $ 1870 1880 1890 1900 1914 94 130 154 268 289 398

Militarism Krupp Gun Works during WWI

ALLIANCES • Alliance: agreement or promise to defend and help another country. • If a nation goes to war in theory all nations it is allied with go to war (on the same side) as well • In WWI, there were two alliances: • Central Powers (Triple Alliance): Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Ottoman Empire (joins later in the war) • Allied Powers (Triple Entente): Great Britain, France & Russia (later Italy and U. S. ) • Believed no one nation would attack another because allies would join the fight

Alliances

Now it’s your turn… • In groups, collaborate and answer the following questions: 1) How did militarism affect countries in the early 1900’s? 2) How did countries unite? 3) Who composed the Central Powers (Triple Alliance)? 4) Who made up the Triple Entente?

IMPERIALISM • Imperialism: establishing political, economic and military dominance over weaker nations. • Late 1800 s to early 1900 s, European powers acquired territories in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. • These imperialistic rivalries led to bad relations between the powers, strengthening of alliances, and extreme hostility.

Imperialism

Colonial Rivalries in Asia: 1914

The British Empire in 1914

NATIONALISM • • Nationalism: extreme devotion or loyalty to your nation. Increased in Europe in the late 1800 s Led to formation of new countries and struggles for power Most visible in the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. – Many ethnic groups hoping to break free from the Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire • There were two kinds of nationalism during WWI: 1. Oppressed groups’ desire for independence 2. Independent nation’s desire for dominance

Nationalism

Outbreak of War • The four MAIN causes had been building for 2030 years, but one spark ended with a war. • The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand wife Sophie on 6. 28. 1914 in Sarajevo. • Ferdinand was the heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne. • Shot by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. • Princip was a terrorist who wanted independence for Bosnia & Herzegovina from Austria-Hungary.

Latin Bridge: sight of Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination

Alliances

Outbreak of War – Chain Reaction 1. Assassination of Ferdinand 2. Austria-Hungary blames Serbian government for supplying weapons to the terrorists and declares war on Serbia 3. Russia mobilizes (prepares for war) because of their alliance with Serbia 4. Germany (an ally of A-H) sees Russia as a threat and declares war on Russia 5. Germany declares war on France (ally of Russia) 6. German invades Belgium to get to Paris 7. Great Britain declares war on Germany to defend their allies

Questions to be answered collaboratively… 5. Describe the four MAIN causes of WWI. 6. Describe the one event that led to the outbreak of war. 7. If Princip had failed to assassinate the archduke, do you believe that WWI would have still started or not? Explain your answer. 8. Explain, in your own words, the chain reaction that pushed all European powers into WWI. 9. Do you think that a major war in Europe was a good thing, or a bad thing for the US at the time? Why?

Newspaper Writing Assignment • For this assignment, you are going to write a newspaper article from the perspective of a journalist in 1914. • In your article, you will report on Ferdinand’s assassination and how Europe is now preparing for war. • It must be at least 2 paragraphs! • Get into character! How would an actual newspaper report this life-changing event?