The Causes of WWI

Europe Alliances in 1914

The Balkans

Europe was divided into two alliances.

These were called THE TRIPLE
ALLIANCE or CENTRAL POWERS
and the TRIPLE ENTENTE or THE
ALLIES

Members of each alliance promised to

fight for the other members if they were
attacked.

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE or THE

CENTRAL POWERS
Germany

Italy

AustriaHungary

THE TRIPLE ENTENTE or THE

ALLIES
Russia

Great Britain

France

The Main (Indirect) Causes of WWI

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

Direct Cause of World War I

Assassination
Ultimatum

Emperor and Empress of Austria

Common Enemy

Government

Language

Customs-dress,
social traditions

Culture-art, music,
literature, film

Religion
Geographical
features

Race- colour
of skin

Desire

Nationalism

Nationalism is feeling of deep loyalty to ones

nation
Nationalism in 1800s took two forms

People who share ALL the Characteristics of a

nation but are separated into small groups uniting
under one leader
National groups under the domination of a foreign
ruler who wanted to become independent

Unification of Germany

This required three small

wars which were led by the
King of Prussia and his
chancellor, Otto Von
Bismark. These wars
gained power for Germany
by

Uniting most GermanSpeaking People

Expanding Germanys army
and navy

Nationalism

Italy unified in 1861

France was defeated in Franco Prussian War
and were seeking revenge
Rise of nationalism in Austria-Hungary and
the Balkans
Rise of extreme nationalism The Black Hand

Alliance System

War was started by

Germany to PROTECT
recent gains and to
PREVENT France from
launching a war of
revenge
Germany wanted to
isolate France from
potential friends so built
alliances that surrounded
France

Germany did not expect England to Help

France because
England and France had been enemies
in the past
There were established links between
the English and Germany through
Royal marriages

Imperialism

This is the policy of controlling land far from

home as colonies and building and empire
WHY????
Cheap Raw Materials
Cheap Labour
Market for Industrial Products

France, Britain and the US were always

competing to spread their empires but Germany
was a new player in this game

Imperialism

Bosnian Crisis 1908 Austria-Hungary

annexed Bosnia, Serbia threatened war with AH, as Bosnia was part of the Greater Serbian
Movement, Russia agreed to support Serbia,
Russia eventually backed down so war was
avoided

Imperialism

Balkan Wars 1912 1913 Balkan States

drove the Turkish back to Constantinople and
fought amongst themselves over territory,
tensions grew between A-H and Serbia, as A-H
was forcing Serbia to give up some of its land
gains

Militarism

The desire to have a large Military establishment

(Army, Navy, air force, missiles)
Other countries started to mandate conscription,
improve weapon technology, plan for mobilization
Leaders believe that this will prevent and decide
disputes
France and Germany doubled their standing armies
between 1870 and 1914

NAVY! Dreadnoughts

Assassination

Sunday June 28th, 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife
Sophia were in Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia) for
a parade
7 Serbian terrorists (The Black Hand) were
there with a plan to assassinate the Archduke
Gavrillo Princip shot and killed the Archduke
and his wife

Ultimatum

July Crisis
Austria blamed Serbia for the assassination
On July 23rd, Austria sent Serbia a list of
demands (the demands would remove Serbias
independence), 10 demands
Serbia accepted all but 2 of the demands, those
that challenged their sovereignty
Sent as an excuse to go to war

Maxton Motorcycle Club

Starting the War

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia July

28th, 1914
July 29th Russia ordered partial mobilization
against A-H in support of Serbia
Germany threatened to declare war on Russia
if they did not demobilize
France also began to mobilize
August 1st Germany declares war on Russia

Starting the War

August 3rd Germany declared war on France

Germany decided to attack Belgium to get to
France, which violated Belgiums official
neutrality, which therefore prompted Britain to
declare war on Germany (Britain had a treaty
with Belgium and had an alliance with France)
World War I had begun

So... Whos to blame for

WWI???