Autonomy and International Involvement UnitCauses of World War One:Long Term

Major themes/concepts

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

Militarism

What does militarism mean?• Policy of building up of armed forces, getting ready for war ( Offensive vs. defensive)

• Which countries do you think were most powerful militarily?

• Who had the greatest navy?

• Britain

• Who had the greatest army?

• Russia

Militarism

• Examine this table. What do you notice?

• Germany is spending more money than the other powerful countries• Germany definitely wants power and may become a problem with the others

1910-1914 increase in defence expenditures ( spending

France 10%

Britain 13%

Russia 39%

Germany 73%

• An arms race ensued between the main countries• Britain and France were appalled at Germany’s aggressiveness in acquiring arms and an army/navy• Between 1870 and 1914, the armies of both France and

Germany doubled

Why was Germany now only acquiring arms?• Industrialization ( remember the Revolution in Britain) came

late to Germany. As well, the country UNIFIED late in the 19th century

• She started to want a “ place “ in Europe. Thus, she started to make her mark

• A naval competition also ensued between Germany and Britain . This was known as “ANGLO-GERMAN RIVALRY”

• Germany knew that whoever controlled the seas, commanded great world and political power. This also gave Germany the opportunity to acquire colonies (IMPERIALISM)

• Britain introduced the “DREADNOUGHT• What do you think dreadnought means?• “fear nothing”• In 1906, these ships made all other ships obsolete. They were fast and equipped heavy artillery

By 1914, the arms race was well on its way… Britain had 19 dreadnoughts and the Germans had 13

Alliances• An alliance is an agreement made between two or more

countries to each other help if it is needed. • When an alliance is signed, those countries become ALLIES • The alliance system was created Otto von Bismarck, a Prussian

( German) statesman and military strategist.

What can you foresee as a potential problem with creating alliances?- If you have to many, you might not keep track- Eventually, countries may have alliances with each other- Alliances force countries to fight or act even if they do not agree or feel the issue warrants their involvement.

• The country that was most scared about Germany’s rise in power was France

• Bismarck picked a war with France in order to help create a new country that would be known as GERMANY

• Before this time, Germany represented a number of separate states.

• In the Franco-Prussian War (1870), France was defeated and lost Alsace-Lorraine, a territory the Germans claimed belonged to them and which had many people of German descent living there ( Capital: Strasbourg)

Major alliances of the 19th century

1879 1881Dual Alliance Austro-Serbian Alliance

1882Triple Alliance 1894

Franco-Russian Alliance1904Entente Cordiale

1907Anglo-Russian Entente

1907Triple Entente

Imperialism • Refers to when a country takes over new lands or countries and makes

them subjects to their rule.• By 1900, the British Empire extended over 5 continents and France had

large areas of Africa.• The amount of lands France and Britain owed made it difficult for

Germany to acquire its own colonies or lands• Nonetheless, the Germans were eager to get a foothold in Africa and

other territories• Kaiser Wilhelm II declared this quest as Germany’s

“Place in the Sun”How do you think the other Imperial Powers reacted with this term or concept?

• The only country left was Morocco.

Moroccan Crisis, 1904• France acquires Morocco from Britain• The Moroccans wanted independence and received HELP from

the Germans who stated vaguely that they were simply “ looking for a their place in the sun.”

• This made France very MAD• War was avoided but tensions started up again in 1911.

Eventually, Germany received a part of the French Congo and so she backed down from the conflict

Nationalism• Means being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one’s country or even

culture or heritage (ethnicity)• There were many nationalities who where exerting their sense of independence at the

turn of the century:1. Germany had just unified and acquired a territory long

held by France2. Italy also had just unified3. Russians were looking to other “Slavic” nations or ethnic groups

Sick Man of Europe: Turkey ( Ottoman Empire)• Used to be a great empire but was slowly being taken over by others especially Austria-

Hungary

The Great Austrian-Hungarian Empire:- This particular Empire included different states or nations within it:- Austria- Hungary- Balkan States ( slowly acquiring)

The Balkans: Powder Keg of Europe

• Where are the Balkans located:• South Europe along the Adriatic and Mediterranean Coasts

opposite Italy and near Turkey and Greece

Conflict in the Balkans• Austria Hungary acquires Bosnia, an ethnic province in the

Balkans which actually includes a number of different ethnic groups

• One state in the Balkans included Serbia who felt that the Serbs living in Bosnia should be part of Serbia. To them, this territory was considered theirs

• The Russians promoted a concept known as Pan-Slavism which meant that they offered assistance to all ethnic groups who shared the “Slavic language” with them.

• The Slav groups greatly resented being a part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and a number of rebellions ensued

• Thus, this area became known as the “POWDER KEG OF EUROPE”