CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

LONG TERM CAUSES

• MILITARISM: An arms race between countries, as a countries’ power depended on military strength

Example: Germany and Britain competed for naval superiority to compete for colonies

LONG TERM CAUSES

• ALLIANCES: Alone, Europe was vulnerable so alliances sought out even though trust was an issue

Triple Entente: Britain, France and Russia • Triple Alliance: Germany,

Italy and Austria Hungary

LONG TERM CAUSES

• IMPERIALISM: Conquering of colonies/building an Empire• British Empire was 25%

of the world• British flag flew in every

continent of the world

LONG TERM CAUSES

• Nationalism: Inspiring patriotic feelings in ones country/belief that your country is the best

TRIPLE ENTENTE

• Great Britain, France and Russia, fearing the rise of Germany, signed a treaty stating that if any member of the alliance was attacked, the other members would come to its aid.

• France was desperate to avenge its defeat by Germany in the Franco- Prussian War of 1870-1871 by regaining the lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.

• Russia promised to support Serbia, a fellow Slavic nation, while also ensuring that Austria-Hungary did not expand its influence in the Balkans.

• Great Britain supported Belgium and guaranteed its sovereignty, but also to retain the balance of power in Europe by restraining Germany.

• Italy, switched sides- in May 1915 joined the Entente hoping to acquire territory from Austria-Hungary and new colonial possessions, mainly in Africa

CENTRAL POWERS, OR TRIPLE ALLIANCE

• In response to this alliance, Germany formed the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy

• Austria-Hungary wanted to suppress Serbian nationalism and strengthen the unity of its empire in the Balkans.

• Germany supported Austria-Hungary war on Serbia.sought greater influence in Europe by reducing the strength of France and Russia, and more colonial possessions.

• Italy had recently become an independent state and resented the great power displayed by the British and French. Wanted to establish an empire but saw few areas not already controlled by the British.

THE BALKAN POWER KEG!

• Europe has often been referred to as a powder keg waiting to explode in the years before the First World War. • Tension

SHORT TERM CAUSES: JUNE 28, 1914 SARAJEVO

WHERE IS SARAJEVO?

BOSNIA, SARAJEVO

BLACK HAND

-A Serbian terrorist group- They had attacked Austrian citizens and property- Austria suspected Serbian support- Willing to fight Austrians to return Bosnia to Serbia

GAVRILO PRINCIP

THE PLANNED ROUTE OF THE ARCH DUKE AND HIS WIFE- JUNE 28, 1914

KEY EVENTS OF THE ASSASINATION

• Gavrilo Princip fired two shots and was quickly arrested • Austrian government reacted by blaming the

Serbians• …the road to WW1 began

ALLIANCES REACT TO THE ASSASSINATION

- Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia demanding arrest of Black Hand, an apology, and Austria would monitor Serbia- Serbia turns to Russia- Russia pleads with Austria to no avail- Austria calls Germany, who pledges full support to Austria- Austria attacks Serbia- Russia mobilized their army- Germany mobilized their army- France and Britain joined Russia and called up troops

ALLIANCE BELIEF ENTENTE BELIEF

PART 1

• Who is Apis?• Why do you think Princip wanted to assassinate

Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand?• What precautions did Franz Ferdinand take for his

safety? What precautions should he have taken that he did not?

PART 2

• How do you think the members of the Black Hand feel at this point?• Why was it uncommon for Sophie to accompany

Franz Ferdinand?• Why did each of the members carry cyanide with

them?

PART 3

• Do you think the members of the Black Hand were freedom fighters or criminals?• How did the other Countries react to the

assassination?• If Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess

Sophia had not been assassinated, do you think that World War 1 still would have happened?

GROUP ACTIVITY

In groups of 4 create a Facebook profile for either:• Gavrilo Princip• Apis• Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand• Russian czar, Nicholas II• Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II

You can include: political views, hometown, “about me” section, favourite quotations, relationship status, recent posts, recent status updates, mutual friends, photos they are tagged in etc…

• In groups of 4 create a 5 shot storyboard outlining the causes of World War 1