The Great War

World War I

What were the main causes of WWI?

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4 MAIN causes of WWIMilitarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

Europe was a POWDER KEG waiting to explode

HOW DID IT START

4 long term causes that led to a build-up of tension

Glorification of the military

Buildup of weapons and artillery

Why would countries need strong militaries?

MILITARISM

Complicated system of agreements that would drag countries into war even if it wasn’t their conflict

With this alliance system, nothing could be kept small or local

ALLIANCES

How would alliances help to cause a world war?

The Alliance System came down to two large “blocks”• Triple Alliance

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Italy

• Triple Entente

• Great Britain

• France

• Russia

ALLIANCES

The USA would come in later

ENEMIES…AND COUSINS

Countries were competing for colonies with the best raw materials

Germany, recently united as a country, felt that they were kept out of the best colonies in Africa• Many felt that a good war against Britain might get them some

colonies

IMPERIALISM

EXTREME pride in one’s country

Other nationalistic traits:• Jealousy, envy, revenge, fear, etc.

NATIONALISM

France: revenge for the defeat in the Franco-Prussian war, and for Germany “stealing” Alsace-Lorraine

Germany: wanted to establish itself as the true superpower in Europe

Gr. Britain: wanted to maintain its superpower position, & crush the new German navy

Italy: wanted to establish itself as the true superpower in the Mediterranean

WWI IS THE FIRST MAJOR WAR WHERE ALL THE MAJOR POWERS WANTED THE WAR TO HAPPEN!

Russia: an unpopular Tsar wanted to gain the support of the people through a quick and victorious war

Austria-Hungary: a dying empire, being torn apart by over 30 major ethnic groups, a good war might unify it again

All the nations marched off to war willingly• Except the US…we didn’t want to be involved in this European conflict

WWI IS THE FIRST MAJOR WAR WHERE ALL THE MAJOR POWERS WANTED THE WAR TO HAPPEN!

Bosnians felt abused under the rule of Austria-Hungary

Goal: to create a “Greater Serbia” (unite Slavic people)

This was strongly supported by Russia

THE BALKANS

Europe 1914

THE BALKANS

June 28, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria’s heir to the throne) was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia

Gavrilo Princip: Assassin

This is the spark that would ignite the war.

THE “SPARK”

The Austro-Hungarians declare war on Serbia

Serbia’s ally Russia mobilized to protect Serbia

Russia’s ally France mobilized to protect Russia

Austria-Hungary’s ally Germany declared war on Russia and France

THE RESULT

How long do you think it takes for this to happen?

Germany swept through neutral Belgium to attack France, violating an international treaty.

The violation brought Great Britain into the war

By August 15, 1914, Europe was engulfed in war!

Within a year, over 60 countries worldwide were involved in the war• They all had colonies

• The colonies started fighting each other

THE CONFLICT EXPANDS

Triple Alliance becomes “The Central Powers” (The Bad Guys)• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria

• Italy gave up its agreement with Germany & joined the other side

Triple Entente becomes “The Allied Powers” or “Allies” (The Good Guys)• Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy

• U.S. would join in April of 1917

Becomes known as “The Great War”

THE FIGHTING SIDES

DECLARATION OF WAR BRINGS CHEER TO GERMANY!

BUT HORRORS AWAIT