Causes

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Causes

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World War 1 Overview

• First total war in history (soldiers
  civilians)
• In August 1914 it involved only 7 European
  countries but by November 1918 there were over 30
  countries fighting
• Battles were fought in Europe, Asia, Africa,
  on/under the Atlantic Pacific Oceans
• Resulted in revolutions, changes of govts., loss
  of empires, the rise of great new powers,
  millions of dead

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World War I Causes

• While the assassination of Archduke Franz
  Ferdinand was the immediate cause of the war,
  there were four underlying causes of WWI.
• They are
• a). Militarism
• b). Alliances
• c). Imperialism
• d). Nationalism

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Militarism

• The belief in the power of strong armies or
  navies to decide issues.
• It was thought that the only way to guarantee
  peace was to prepare for war.
• Based on the idea that if a nation is strong,
  then no enemy would dare to attack it.
• If war does break out, the militarized nation is
  able to defend itself.

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Militarism

• Militarism led to an arms race before 1914 as
  each country tried to build a larger more
  deadly war machine than its rivals.
• The size of armies navies would determine who
  was more powerful.
• Germany contained Europes strongest armies while
  Great Britain was the worlds strongest naval
  power.
• Gr. Britain felt threatened when Germany began to
  construct a large navy.
• European nations were becoming increasingly
  suspicious alarmed by the others military
  power.

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Products of Militarism
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Alliances

• Alliances are formed when countries band together
  against a common threat.
• In 1914 there were two alliances
• 1.The Triple Alliance (The Central Powers)
  consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, (Italy)
  and Ottoman Empire
• 2. The Triple Entente (The Allies) consisting
  of Great Britain, France, and Russia

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European Alliances 1914
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Imperialism

• Imperialism is the policy of establishing
  colonies away from the homeland building an
  empire
• WHY?- Colonies provided natural resources, places
  to sell goods, military strength for many
  European countries.
• Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, the
  United States all wanted to build a colonial
  empire.
• Imperialism led to frequent quarrels among the
  great powers of Europe in all parts of the globe.
• Arguments over colonies trade constantly
  threatened peace.

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Imperialism in Asia
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Nationalism

• Nationalism is a feeling of deep loyalty to ones
  people homeland
• Extreme nationalism was causing problems in the
  early 20th century.
• Some people seemed willing to take any action to
  support their nation, regardless of the effect on
  others
• They were even ready to go to war to promote the
  interests of their homelands

1914-1918
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Nationalism

• Nationalism was very strong in Serbia where
  people resented living under Austrian control.
• The Black Hand was a Serbian-Bosnian terrorists
  group that thought Bosnia should break away from
  Austria
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed by a Serb
  nationalist Gavrilo Princip, who belonged to the
  Black Hand, while visiting Sarajevo.

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Ultimatum......July 1914

• The Austro-Hungarian (A-H) govt blamed Serbia
  for the archdukes death attempted to crush
  Serb nationalism
• With the support of Germany, A-H sent the Serbian
  govt an ultimatum (A ultimatum is a demand by one
  govt that another govt accept its terms or face
  war) to Serbia
• a). put down all Serb nationalism against A-H
• b). Punish those involved in the assassination
• c). Allow A-H into Serbia to help destroy the
  Black Hand
• Serbia accepted all except the last request

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Outbreak

• Austria declared war on Serbia when Serbia
  rejected the Austrian ultimatum.
• Russia, Serbias ally, along with France,
  mobilized their armies.
• Germany declared war on both Russia France
  when both countries refused to demobilize.
• Germany planned to attack France through neutral
  Belgium
• Britain declared war on Germany when Belgium was
  invaded

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Causes of WWI Review

• Name the two alliances that existed in Europe in
  1914?
• What countries belonged to these alliances?
• What is nationalism? What role did it play in
  the outbreak of war?
• What was the Black Hand? What role did it play
  in the assassination of Franz Ferdinand?
• How did imperialism cause problems between
  nations in the years leading to outbreak of war
  in 1914.
• What is militarism?