Causes of the War

M M MMilitarismilitarism

AA AAllianceslliances

II IImperialismmperialism

NN NNationalismationalism

Militarism 1.

• Germany was competing with the UK to build battleships.

• The British feared an attack on their Empire

Militarism 2.

• Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies

1880

1914

• Germany 1.3m 5.0m

• France0.73m 4.0m

• Russia 0.40m 1.2m

Alliances

• By 1914 all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances.

• The alliances made it more likely that a war would start.

• Once started, the alliances made it more likely to spread.

Imperialism

• All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory.

• The British feared Germany in Africa.

• The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkans

Nationalism

• This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and independence.

• In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.

Serbia’s national flag

Significant Individuals 1.

• Kaiser Wilhelm II • Built up German army and

navy• Aggressive foreign policy• Determined to make

Germany a top nation.• Distrusted by other powers

“Germany must have its place in the sun”“The world belongs to the strong.”

Significant Individuals 2

• Count Berchtold

• Austrian Prime Minister.

• During the July Crisis, decided on a very tough ultimatum for Serbia

“Were the Serbs to agree to all the demands, this would not be to my liking”

Significant Individuals 3

• Bethmann Hollweg

• German Prime Minister

• Gave very strong support to Austria during the July crisis while Kaiser was cruising on his yacht “The Austrian demands

are moderate. Any interference by Britain, France and Russia would be followed by incalculable consequences”

The Crisis 1.

• 28 June 1914• Heir to Austrian

throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.

• Capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed by Austria.

• Hotbed of Slav nationalism Seal of the

Black Hand group

The Crisis 2.

• “Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke

• Bomb attempt fails in morning

• Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon. This is the SPARK that ignited WWI

• Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists.

The Crisis 3.

• Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum.

• Serbia agrees to all but two terms of the ultimatum.

• Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia

• Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down.

• Germany declares war on Russia

“Demands must be put to Serbia that would be wholly impossible for them to accept …”

The Schlieffen Plan

• Germany’s military plan to defeat France and Russia.

• “Knock out blow” aimed at France first.

• Avoid French defences by invasion of Belgium.

• Germans thought Britain would not intervene.

On the Way to World WarOnce Austria-Hungary had assurance of German

support, it made HARSH demands on Serbia.

• Austria Serbia

• Russia & France Austria Hungary

• Germany Russia and France

• Germany Belgium

• Britain Germany

Declares War

Invades

Declares War

Declares War

Declares War

Central & Allied PowersAfter W.W. I Began

– The Central Powers(1)Germany(2)Austria-

Hungary(3)Ottoman

Empire(4)Bulgaria

– The Allied Powers(1)France(2)England(3)Russia (quits

in 1917)(4)*Italy(5)U.S. (1917)

Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war?

• America was isolationist.– “Why should I get involved in someone else’s

problems?”

• The Monroe Doctrine (1823) sought to isolate “the American continents” from European influences and problems.

In this cartoon, “The Great Wall” (1914), the Monroe Doctrine is shown as a protective shield for the United States.

Submarine Warfare

• The Germans warned Americans their merchant ships might be hit.

• Reaches a crisis point after Lusitania is torpedoed in 1915—128 Americans died.

• After sinking of British and French liners, Germans promised they would not sink unarmed ships without warning SUSSEX PLEDGE

The Lusitania• Germans warned British their passenger liners were in

danger• England still sailed Lusitania from New York to England• German U-boat torpedoed Lusitania in May 1915

– Sunk in 18 minutes– 2,000 on board, 1200 died including 128 Americans– Ship was carrying secret cargo of war materials.

• Wilson still wanted US to stay neutral, campaigned on promise “He kept us out of war”

The Zimmerman Note (1917)

• Sent by German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico

• Was intercepted and decoded by British• Telegram stated Germany would again begin

unrestricted submarine warfare• Even worse, telegram proposes alliance between

Germany and Mexico– Germany promises will help Mexico get land back

Zimmerman Note

America Enters the War

• 1917—Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare.

• US finds Zimmerman Note on 1917.

• “Overt” acts—German U-boats sank four unarmed American merchant vessels in two weeks.

• April 6, 1917: US declares war because of these German actions.

How was the war looking for the allies?

• Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917.

• Russia’s withdrawal allowed Germany to fight a one- front war with all its troops concentrated on France (remember this point when you study WWII!).

• Not Good...

Calling for a Communist revolution, anti-Tsarist protesters gather outside the Winter Palace in Petrograd, Russia, February 1917.

Russia Leaves the War

• The Bolsheviks, who were communists, overthrow the Russian government

• The Bolsheviks were led by Vladimir Lenin

• 1918- the Russians signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers