World War I – Causes And Results

By: Caitlyn Willson

Introduction to The Great War

The Great War (as known as First World War), was a global war centered in Europe that began on June 28, 1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918

It was the fifth-deadliest conflict in world history, paving the way for major political changes

The war drew in all the world’s economic great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances

The Causes of World War I [Continued]

1. Nationalism

• Austria-Hungary built and empire by taking over small countries in the part of eastern Europe known as Balkans. Nationalism inspired by the Balkan people is a burning desire to be independent of Australian rule.

The Causes of World War I [Continued]

2. Militarism

• European powers looked for safety by glorifying military ideas and values

• When Germany built up its navy to challenge Britain’s fleet, Britain constructed more battleships. As Germany’s army grew, France built up its own army.

The Causes of World War I

3. Imperialism

• The expansion of one nation’s authority by the establishment of colonies in another’s territory.

• The more colonies a nation possesses, the wealthier and more powerful the nation often becomes.

• Competition for the colonies was clearly a cause of World War I.

Events Leading Up to World War I [Continued]

June 28, 1914

• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to throne of Austria-Hungary and his wife at Sarajevo, Bosnia

July 2, 1914

• Emperor Franz Josef (Austria) sends letter to Germany asking for support

July 5, 1914

• Germany sends a telegram indicating it would honor its treaty obligations to support Austria

Events Leading Up to World War I [Continued]

July 23, 1914

• Austria delivers an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding a response in 48 hours

July 25, 1914

• Serbia responds to the ultimatum by agreeing to many, but not all of the terms

July 28, 1914

• Austria sends a telegram to Serbia declaring war

Events Leading Up to World War I [Continued]

July 30, 1914

• Russia, in support of Serbia, proclaims a general mobilization

July 31, 1914

• France, as Russia’s ally, also authorizes a full mobilization

August 1, 1914

• Germany declares war on Russia

Events Leading Up to World War I

August 3, 1914

• Germany declares war on France

August 2-4, 1914

• Germany puts Schlieffen Plan into motion, invading Luxemburg and Belgium

Weapons Poison Gas

Tanks

Plane Welfare

New Machine Guns

— Fired hundreds of bullets a minute

• By the end of 1914 the French had lost 300,000 men.

Germany lost more than 130,000 soldiers in a single

battle

The Results of The Great War

Allied victory

End of the German, Russian, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian empires

Foundation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East

Transfer of German colonies and regions of the former Ottoman Empire to other powers

Establishment of the League of Nations

The New York TimesThe New York Times front page of Monday June 29, 1914, the day after the assassinations headline: Heir to Austria’s Throne is Slain with his Wife by a Bosnian Youth to Avenge Seizure of his Country.

Legion MagazineWorld War I cover of a Canadian magazine company, Legion

Magazine.

World War I – Political CartoonThe League of Nations was the international

government created at the end of World War I.

War HorseWar Horse is a 2011 war drama film about a horse whose owner loses

him when his father strictly tells him to sell it to the English Army.

BibliographyBooks

Fein, Eric. Weapons, Gear, and Uniforms of World War I. Minnesota: Capstone, 2012.

Gregory, Josh. World War I. New York: Children’s Press, 2012.

Hakim, Joy. War, Peace, and All That Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.

Bibliography [Continued]

Websites

The End of World War I http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwari/p/World-War-I.htm Find out more information about World War I.

Before the War http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm Check out more photographs, information, and texts.

Bibliography [Continued]

Photographs

World War I Trench. 1914

World War I Australian Troops. 1914

Newspaper

The New York Times, 2. August 1914. A newspaper headline announces the beginning to World War I.

BibliographyMagazine

Legion Magazine. World War I. Fall of 2010.

Political Cartoon

World War I

Film

War Horse. Drama. 2011.