UNIT 2 WORLD WAR I

Causes of World War I – Underlying and Immediate Causes

Causes - Underlying or Long Term Causes

Explanation

imperialism the policy of one

nation acquiring another countryor region

European nations - Great Powers - established colonies to create empires

they exploited the land and resources they wanted raw materials and markets for their

manufactured goods European empires aggressively pursued colonies in Africa Germany in conflict with Britain and France Russia, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman empires wanted to

control Balkans (refer to Figure 2-3 p.27)

militarism a nation’s policy of

maintaining armed forces ready for war

Great Powers developed strong military to protect colonies

Britain had the largest navy and Germany wanted to match it

Britain built the Dreadnought and Germany built it as well (refer to Figure 2-2 p.27)

France concerned about German military strength arms race increased tension

alliances agreement among

nations toward a common goal

rivalries between Great Powers resulted in alliancesto support and protect one another

Triple Alliance - Germany and Austria-Hungary vs

Triple Entente - France, Britain, Russia Great Powers hoped alliances would reduce the threat of

war alliances made it easier for a country to be drawn into war

nationalism pride and patriotism

in one’s nation

Great Powers’ nationalism fueled imperialism intense nationalism existed in Balkans as Austria-Hungary

contained Slavs who wanted independence Serbs in Bosnia wanted independence from Austria Serbia wanted control of Bosnia and unite Slavs to from

Greater Serbia

Causes - Immediate or Short Term Causes

Explanation

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

June 28 assassination of Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia by Serbian Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand triggered a chain reaction that started the war

Schlieffen Plan August 2 Germany invades neutral Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan for attacking France

Source: Causes of the First World War - Counterpoints p.26-30

Europe Prior to World War I

Causes of World War

Which cause was most responsible for World War I?

imperialism militarism alliances nationalism Schlieffen Plan assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

Criteria for Selecting Significant FactsSignificant Causes

the event may not have occurred if the cause was not present the direction or intensity of the event would be altered the influence on the event is obvious

Cause Reasons/Evidence