Causes of WWI

The Great War (WWI) 1914-1918

• Leads to End of 4 Empires

• Leads to worst war ever = WWII

Feuds and Competition

• Germany’s unification.

– A. Alsace-Lorraine = hostility with France– B. Competition with England (Economic and

militarily)

Imperialism

• The major European countries competed with each other over Imperialism—colonizing for resources and markets.

Alliances

• Great European powers entered in Alliances for protection.

• France and Russia

• Germany and Austria-Hungary

• England has secret alliance with France.

• Central Powers (Triple Alliance)—Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (who switch sides when war breaks out) and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) who join when war starts.

• Allies (Triple Entente)—England, France, and Russia (and later Italy, Japan & the U.S.).

• These alliances meant that if any 2 of these countries went to war, it would drag all of the other countries in as well.

Militarism

Militarism—In the late 1800s, most of the major European countries began building large armies and navies.

• Because of Militarism,

all of the major powers had large, modern armies and navies ready to fight.

• Many countries were almost eager to go to war (a kind of romantic view).

Nationalism

Nationalism = A great pride in one’s country.

• Also, the idea that each ethnic group should have its own country.

Causes of WWI

• Militarism

• Alliances

• Imperialism

• Nationalism

How WWI Broke Out

• TROUBLE IN THE BALKANS

• In the Balkans, nationalism fueled Slavic people’s desire for their own independent countries.

• Meanwhile, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey all competed to dominate the Balkans.

Slavic Nationalism and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire

• Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia in 1878.

• Many Serbs lived there.

• They wanted out of the Empire and wanted to unite with Serbia.

The War Begins

• 1. While visiting Sarajevo, the heir to the Austria-Hungry crown—The Archduke Franz Ferdinand--was assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist.

Gravilo Princip

• Member of the “Black Hand,” a secret Serbian nationalist organization.

• 2. Austria-Hungry blamed the assassination on Serbia.

• They gave Serbia a list of demands (an ultimatum) or else there would be war.

• 3. Russia, which was the kind of “Big Brother” to the Slavic people, told Austria that it would help Serbia if it was attacked.

• 4. Meanwhile, The Germans told Austria that they must set an example and that they would do whatever they could to help them. This is known as Germany providing a “blank check” to Austria.

• Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia.

• Russia began to mobilize its army on Germany border.

• Germans declare war on Russia and France.

• WWI started when the heir to the Austrian-Hungarian throne--________________--was assassinated in ____________.

• The person that assassinated him was named _________________. He was a member of the Serbian nationalist group the “_______________.”

Review

• The causes of WWI were:– M– A– I– N