wwi: causes and outbreak

Unit 6: World War I

Nationalism “my state is the best” Threatened existence of Austria, Russia,

Ottoman Empire Social Darwinism

Economic rivalry Germany challenged Britain’s supremacy

Imperialism Conflict over colonies (markets, raw

materials)

Glorification of war Means of proving superiority Chance of winning glory Arms race:

Britain – navy twice as large as next two combined

Germany – starts increasing size of navy

Know you have enemies Need to have friends Two emerge:

Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria, Italy Triple Entente: France, Russia, Britain

Goal: Avoid fighting France and Russia at the same time

Russia: takes 8 weeks to mobilize men France: defeated them in 5 weeks in 1871 Plan: Invade France first, capture Paris, then

shift troops to eastern front to fight Russia Problem: After 1871 (Franco-Prussian War),

France fortified its border with Germany

Independent kingdom 1832 Neutrality guaranteed by treaty signed

in 1839 by Britain, France, Russia, Prussia & Austria

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzogivina

Gavril Princip, Serb nationalist, assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austrian throne

29 July: A declares war on Serbia; R orders partial mobilization, declares war on A

30 July: R orders full mobilization

31 July: G demands R to halt mobilization; demands F stay neutral

1 Aug: G declares war on R; F mobilizes

2 Aug: G demand Belgium let her pass; Be refuses

3 Aug: G declares war on F, invades Be

4 August: Br declares war on GGerman declaration of war on Russia