Causes of World War I

“The war to end all wars”

1

MANIA

• Militarism• Alliances• Nationalism• Imperialism• Anarchy

2

Militarism

• To build up your army and navy and air force

• The aggressive preparation for war (battle plans)

3

Militarism

• European armies double in size - conscription

• The German “Schlieffen Plan” called for war with Russia & France via neutral Belgium

• When Russia mobilized, it moved against Germany and Austria-Hungary

• To build up your army and navy and air force

• The aggressive preparation for war (battle plans)

4

Comparative figures on army increase, 1870-1914:

1870 1914

Russia 700,000 1,300,000

France 380,000 846,000

Germany 403,000 812,000

Austria-Hungary 247,000 424,000

Britain 302,000 381,000

Italy 334,000 305,000

Japan 70,000 250,000

U.S.A. 37,000 98,000

5

Schlieffen Plan

6

Arms Race

HMS DREADNOUGHT7

MANIA

• Militarism• Alliances• Nationalism• Imperialism• Anarchy

8

Alliances

• Nations sought to protect themselves in time of war by forming defensive agreements

• Most were secretly negotiated

9

Alliances• Nations sought to protect

themselves in time of war by forming defensive agreements

• Most were secretly negotiated

• Triple Alliance (1882) – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy – “Central Powers”

• Triple Entente (1907) – France, Great Britain, Russia – “Allied Powers”

• Germany promises full-support to Austria-Hungary when it issues its ultimatum to Serbia after the archduke’s assassination

10

1879The Dual Alliance

                                      

 Germany and Austria-

Hungary made an alliance to protect

themselves from Russia

1881Austro-Serbian

Alliance

                                    

Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to

stop Russia gaining control of Serbia

1882The Triple Alliance

                                      

  Germany and Austria-

Hungary made an alliance with Italy to stop

Italy from taking sides with Russia

1914Triple Entente (no separate peace)

                                    

Britain, Russia and France agreed not to

sign for peace separately.

                                

                                                      

1894Franco-Russian

Alliance

                                    

 Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-

Hungary

1907Triple Entente

                                      

  This was made between

Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from

Germany.

1907Anglo-Russian Entente

                                      

 This was an agreement

between Britain and Russia

1904Entente Cordiale

                                      

 This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance,

between France and Britain.

11

Alliance SystemAlliance System

12

AlliesBritain ( and its Empire )

FranceRussia

BelgiumItaly

USA( JOINED IN 1917)Serbia, Portugal

Japanand other minor participants

Central PowersGermany

Austria HungaryOttoman-Turkey

Bulgaria

13

MANIA

• Militarism• Alliances• Nationalism• Imperialism• Anarchy

14

Nationalism

• Pride in your country or group

• The desire to end foreign rule

• Reinforced by ethnocentricism (White Man Burden) and Social Darwinism

15

Nationalism

• Pride in your country or group

• The desire to end foreign rule

• Reinforced by ethnocentricism (White Man Burden) and Social Darwinism

• Serbia sought to create a Slavic state in the Balkans- Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand - Russia supports Serbia

• Minorities in colonies and empires wanted independence

16

Political Tensions• There is no single explanation for the apparent

willingness of the nations of Europe to go to war in 1914. The political tensions that preceded the war, however is often said to be caused by the following factors;

• Colonial rivalry• Economic rivalry• The arms race• France and Germany hostilities (dates back to 1870

Franco-Prussian war)• European military alliances

17

Archduke Franz Ferdinand's Assassination, 28 June 1914Updated - Sunday, 3 November, 2002The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on 28 June 1914, set in train a series of diplomatic events that led inexorably to the outbreak of war in Europe at the end of July 1914.Ferdinand - and his wife Sophie - were killed by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip while on a formal visit to Sarajevo. Princip shot Ferdinand at point blank range while the latter was travelling in his car from a town hall reception, having earlier that day already survived one assassination attempt

Critical Flashpoint

18

MANIA

• Militarism• Alliances• Nationalism• Imperialism• Anarchy

19

Imperialsim

• To take control of other countries politically, economically, and socially

20

Imperialsim• To take control of other

countries politically, economically, and socially

• European Scramble for Africa• Spheres of influence in China• Great Britain in India• Japan in Asia• To be great nations• To maintain the balance

of power in Europe• Raw materials, markets, labor

cash crops• Paternalism• To spread Christianity

21

A Slice of the African Cake

22

23

MANIA

• Militarism• Alliances• Nationalism• Imperialism• Anarchy

24

Anarchy

• The inability to settle disputes

25

Anarchy

• The inability to settle disputes

• Competition for colonies

• Crisis in the Balkans• Socialist dissent

strikes and violence• Austria-Hungary’s

ultimatum to Serbia• Austria-Hungary

declares war on Serbia (7/28/1914)

26

Countdown to World War

• June 1914 Franz Duke Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne assassinated

• 28th July Austria Hungary declare war on Serbia. France and Russia back Serbia

• 30th July Britain and Russia mobilize forces• 1st August Germany declares war on Russia• 2nd August Germany invades Belgium, declares

war on France• 4th August Britain declares war on Germany

27

MANIA

• Militarism• Alliances• Nationalism• Imperialism• Anarchy

28