causes of world war i

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Causes of World War I

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Causes of World War I. long-term Causes of WWI (Intro.). Imperialism Nationalism Militarism Alliances. Imperialism. Expand empire to become more powerful > need military to control and defend territory - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Causes of  World War I

Causes of World War I

Page 2: Causes of  World War I

long-term Causes of WWI (Intro.)

• Imperialism• Nationalism• Militarism• Alliances

Page 3: Causes of  World War I

Imperialism

• Expand empire to become more powerful > need military to control and defend territory

• Countries dispute territories far away > increased possibility of fighting to resolve disputes

• Colonial rivalry > increased tension

Page 4: Causes of  World War I

How did imperialism cause WWI?

Page 5: Causes of  World War I

How did imperialism cause WWI?

Colonial rivalries and the desire to defend territories increased tension in Europe.

Page 6: Causes of  World War I

Militarism• Desire to protect overseas

colonies > military buildup

• Race to buildup navies (esp. in Britain and Germany)

• Increased arms stockpiles

• Focus on creating modern weapons

• Increasing strategic infrastructure (esp. railways)

Page 7: Causes of  World War I

1850

1913

Page 8: Causes of  World War I

How was militarism a cause of WWI?

Page 9: Causes of  World War I

How was militarism a cause of WWI?

Tensions caused European countries to build up massive armies and stocks of weapons so countries were ready to fight. This buildup only escalated the tension in Europe.Also, both sides felt invincible and were convinced the war would be quick and decisive.

Country Spending Increase

Military Size

Britain 117% 430,000France 92% 970,000Russia 19% 1,500,000

Germany 158% 760,000Austria-Hungary

160% 480,000

Page 10: Causes of  World War I

Nationalism• Two types of nationalism:

• 1. desire of subject people for independence• 1871 – France loses territory of Alsace-Lorraine to

Germany

• 2. desire of independent nations for dominance• Great Britain has largest overseas empire –

competition with other European countries

Page 11: Causes of  World War I

How was nationalism a cause of WWI?

Page 12: Causes of  World War I

How was nationalism a cause of WWI?

Many groups felt that Europe’s borders did not reflect their national allegiances which led to militant nationalist groups and fighting over territory.Conservative leaders within countries feared revolutions and saw war as a way to suppress internal dissent.

Page 13: Causes of  World War I

Pride in ones country led many men into war, even against their better judgment.Nationalist propaganda before the war had created hatred between different countries, justifying war.

How was nationalism a cause of WWI?

Page 14: Causes of  World War I

Alliances• Why would European countries feel the need

to create alliances in the early 20th century?

Page 15: Causes of  World War I

Alliances

• Why would countries feel the need to create alliances?• Military buildup > countries feel threatened• Desire for peace > alliances to prevent war

Page 16: Causes of  World War I

How were alliances a cause of WWI?

Page 17: Causes of  World War I

How were alliances a cause of WWI?

• Tension becomes heightened over time • Sometimes alliances are secret – countries become suspicious• Germany and Austria-Hungary are surrounded by allied countries –

becomes defensive

• Alliances draw other countries into war quickly, even if the starting event is small and unimportant

Page 18: Causes of  World War I

Why 1914?• These tensions had been building for

decades… so why now?• Austria-Hungary wants to assert its authority in

the Balkans.• Russia wants to reestablish its military prestige

after losing to the Japanese in 1905 (and maintain social order over the peasants).

• France wants to win back Alsace-Lorraine• The German Kaiser wanted to avoid civil unrest

from the growing socialist movement

Page 19: Causes of  World War I
Page 20: Causes of  World War I
Page 21: Causes of  World War I

The single event

• June 28, 1914 – Serbian nationalist/terrorist Gavrilo Princip assassinates the heir to the Austrian throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Page 22: Causes of  World War I
Page 23: Causes of  World War I

escalation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfxrTD-kPps

Page 24: Causes of  World War I

escalationJuly 28: Austria declares war on SerbiaJuly 29: Russia (allied with Serbia) begins to mobilize.July 31: Germany (allied with Austria/afraid of Russia) institutes the Schlieffen Plan to invade France and neutralize it, then turn to fight RussiaAugust 1: France begins to mobilizeAugust 4: Germany invades Belgium to get to FranceAugust 4: Great Britain (allied with Belgium) declares war on Germany

Page 25: Causes of  World War I

Attempts to avoid war• Throughout the period of June-July, 1941

many European countries, led by Great Britain, attempted to avoid war.

• However, the tensions and competition in Europe had grown too great and neither side trusted the other to uphold their end of the agreement and didn’t want to be left behind when war began.

• So, even though most of Europe wanted to avoid war, all of Europe went to war.