CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I (WWI)

THE GREAT WAR

Text

From 1914 to 1918, World War I erupted in Europe

This “Great War” was the largest, most destructive

war the world had yet seen

WWI was a global war that altered the course

of the 20th century

What caused World War I?

From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European powers that led to the outbreak of World War I

The

MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM causes of World War I

MILITARISMThe Industrial Revolution

led to large, advanced militaries in Europe

Europeans believed that to be great, nations had to have strong militaries

As a result, an arms race began among European nations, especially between Britain &

Germany Nations glorified military power &

kept an army prepared for war (called militarism)

Having a strong army increased

patriotism among citizens

DBQ Use the document on the last slide to answer the following questions:

1. In millions of British pounds, how much did Germany and Austria-Hungary spend in 1890?

In 1914?

2. How much did Great Britain, Russia, and France spend in 1890? In 1914?

3. Which nation spent the greatest percent on its navy? Why would it do that?

4. Is there evidence in the chart to support the thesis that an arms build-up (militarism) was an

underlying cause of World War I? Explain.

5. How can an argument be made that an arms build-up might lead to peace? Explain.

1ST BODY PARAGRAPH- MILITARISM How did militarism help cause WWI?

One a sheet of color paper, write one paragraph using RACE to explain why militarism is ONE cause of WWI?

Remember to

Restate and Answer the Question (1st -2nd sentence)

Cite Evidence from the text (use the DOCUMENT and your NOTES) (2nd- 3rd sentence)

Explain why that evidence PROVES militarism is a cause of WWI (last sentences)

IMPERIALISMEuropean nations competed fiercely

for colonies in Africa & Asia Competition for colonies often pushed Europeans

to the brink of war This competition increased European rivalry & mistrust

Germany & France almost went to war three times

over Morocco

Germany, England, Russia

argued over building a

railroad in India

England & France

argued over rights to the

Sudan

MAPS-P.162

QUESTIONS- SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA 1. In 1880 which European countries had colonies in Africa?

2. In 1880, which European country had the most colonies in Africa?

3. Explain what is happening in Africa between 1885-1914.

4. In 1914, which country had the most colonies in Africa?

5. Based on this map, why would colonization create resentment between European countries?

DBQ Use the document on the last slide to answer the following questions:

1. What was the total area of British colonies in 1913?

2. What was the combined area of colonies held by the nations of the Triple Entente? What was the

combined area of colonies held by Germany and Austria-Hungary?

3. In what different ways could a large colonial population help the economy of the mother country?

4. How can you use this document to argue that imperialism (colonization) was one underlying cause

of World War I?

5. How can you use Documents E and F to argue that colonialism was more important than alliances

and arms build-ups as the underlying cause of World War I?

DBQ Use the document on the last slide to answer the following questions:

1. In what language, and in what year, was this cartoon created?

2. Translate each of the following:

Freiheit der Meere

. England der Blutsauger der Welt

3. What is the main point being made by the cartoonist?

4. In Document C, examine British naval expenses in 1914. Do the Germans have reason to worry

about freedom of the seas? Explain.

5. What does this document suggest is an underlying cause of World War I? Explain.

1ST BODY PARAGRAPH- IMPERIALISM How did imperialism help cause WWI?

One a sheet of color paper, write one paragraph using RACE to explain why imperialism is ONE cause of WWI?

Remember to

Restate and Answer the Question (1st -2nd sentence)

Cite Evidence from the text (use the DOCUMENT and your NOTES) (2nd- 3rd sentence)

Explain why that evidence PROVES imperialism are a cause of WWI (last sentences)

1. A second cause of WWI is imperialism.

2. Explain what imperialism is.

3. Show evidence from the document that proves imperialism is taking place.

4. Explain how imperialism caused the war.

ALLIANCESGrowing rivalries among nations led to the

formation of two military alliances that threatened to draw European nations into war

Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance

England, France, & Russia formed the Triple Entente

DBQ Use the document on the last slide to answer the following questions:

1.The map shows the alliance arrangement in Europe in 1914. In what year did World War I begin?

2. What countries made up the Triple Alliance? What countries made up the Triple Entente?

3. Germany worried about one day having to fight a war on two fronts or two different borders.

According to the map, was this fear justified?

4. Italy would switch sides in 1915. Whom did this hurt?

5. If this map were your only evidence, how could you use it to describe one possible underlying cause

of World War I?

1ST BODY PARAGRAPH- ALLIANCES How did alliances help cause WWI?

One a sheet of color paper, write one paragraph using RACE to explain why alliances are ONE cause of WWI?

Remember to

Restate and Answer the Question (1st -2nd sentence)

Cite Evidence from the text (use the DOCUMENT and your NOTES) (2nd- 3rd sentence)

Explain why that evidence PROVES alliances are a cause of WWI (last sentences)

NATIONALISM

Austrian national poster, 1900

Rivalries due to militarism & imperialism

increased nationalism among European powers

British propaganda poster, 1897

European rivals tried to maintain a balance of

power while also trying to overpower each other

“European Balance of Power, 1914”

NATIONALISMWhile nationalism unified

people in the powerful nations, it was dividing

people in weakening empires

No region was more tense in the years

before World War I than the Balkans

Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania

broke from the Ottoman Empire to create new nations

Slavic people in Serbia wanted to unify all Slavs

but Austria-Hungary opposed giving up the

largely Slavic territories Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Balkans became a “powder keg” waiting for a spark to blow up

1ST BODY PARAGRAPH- NATIONALISM How did nationalism help cause WWI?

One a sheet of color paper, write one paragraph using RACE to explain why nationalism is ONE cause of WWI?

Remember to

Restate and Answer the Question (1st -2nd sentence)

Cite Evidence from the text (use the DOCUMENT and your NOTES) (2nd- 3rd sentence)

Explain why that evidence PROVES nationalism are a cause of WWI (last sentences)

The Outbreak of World War I Serbians vowed to take Bosnia &

Herzegovina from Austria-

Hungary

On June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife were

assassinated by a Serbian terrorist

The assassin Gavrilo Princip

The Outbreak of World War I On July 23, Austria-Hungary

issued an ultimatum to Serbia: turn over conspirators & allow

an investigation…OR…go to war When Serbia balked at some

of the terms, Austria-Hungary declared war on June 28, 1914

Russia had a large population of Slavs & was an ally of Serbia; Russia moved troops

to the Austrian border These events set off a chain reaction that started World War I

DBQ Use the document on the last slide to answer the following questions:

1. What is the significance of the date of this cartoon? What is the name and nationality of the

cartoonist? Explain their significance.

2. What is the "Crime of the Ages"?

3. How can the cartoon be used to describe the chain of events that led to war?

4. What does the hand in the upper left corner represent?

5. According to the cartoon, what was the underlying cause for war? Explain.

WORLD WAR 1 BEGINSAustria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

& its ally Russia

On July 28,1914, Serbia declined the ultimatum

On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war

on Russia

On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war

on France

Italy backed out of its agreement with Germany

& Austria-Hungary……and joined

the Allies

On August 4, 1914, England declared war on Germany &

Austria-HungaryRussia mobilized for war

to protect Serbia

World War I had begun

During the war Germany & Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers; They were

joined by Bulgaria & the Ottoman Empire

The members of the Triple Entente became known as the Allied Powers

and eventually were joined by…

…many nations throughout the world

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Take each paragraph and paste on manila paper.

Write an introduction and conclusion paragraph.

VIDEO

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/causes_war1act.shtml