Unit 6 – The Age of Imperialism and World War I

(1890 – 1918)The 4 M-A-I-N! Causes of

The Great War

Daily Learning Target

• I can identify and analyze the MAIN causes and significant events of World War I.

M.A.I.N. Causes of World War I

• Militarism

• Alliances

• Imperialism

• Nationalism

• Define each term (use the dictionary or your glossary)

• What does it look like? In other words tell how each term/ practice could cause 2 or more countries to go to war today.

Militarism

• A state of extreme, aggressive military preparedness; a nationalistic glorification of the military. Often results in an arms race between nations. My weapons are better than yours!

Alliances

• A close association of nations acting together for a common objective such as for defense in case of an attack by an enemy. In war, this leads to a “domino effect.”

Russia

Great Britain

France

Germany

Austria- Hungary

Italy

World War I AlliancesCentral Powers

• +Germany• +Austria-Hungary• Ottoman Empire• Bulgaria• +Italy

Allied Powers• *Great Britain• *France• Belgium• *Russia• Serbia• Greece• Italy (1915)• U.S.A. (1917)

Europe During WW I (P. 284)1. Which nations were the

Allies?

2. Which nations were the Central Powers?

3. Which nation has the greatest geographical advantage?

4. Which nation has the greatest geographical disadvantage?

5. Where did most of the fighting occur?

Allies

Imperialism

• The policy of forming and maintaining an empire, as by establishing colonies and/or dominating the affairs of weaker nations.

• It is intense and highly competitive!

Nationalism• A devotion to one’s

nation; having pride in your nation or heritage. Can become dangerous when it is coupled with extremism & militarism. i.e. an “I’m better than you” attitude.

The Powder Keg Explodes• Bosnia (S.E. Europe) was annexed by

Austria-Hungary in 1908. This angered Serbia.

• Due to ethnic rivalries and tension, the Balkan Peninsula had long been considered the “Powder Keg” of Europe.

• Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie (he was heir to the once mighty Hapsburg empire) traveled to Sarajevo, Bosnia to try to calm tensions and reassure the people of Bosnia and Serbia.

Assassination! June 28, 1914• The Black Hand (a

Serbian Nationalist Group) planned to kill the Archduke.

• Gavrilo Princip fired the deadly shots.

• July 28, 1914, A-H declared war on Serbia and the Alliance System broke down.

The Conflict Widens• Germany was prepared! It had a first

strike strategy called the Schlieffen Plan that called for a quick sweep into France to take it out of the war.

• Because Germany had to go through neutral Belgium, it drew Great Britain into the war on the side of the Allies.

• By late 1914, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers and Italy joined the Allies in 1915.

Stalemate!• Germany’s advance on Paris was stopped

30 miles short and both sides dug in for the long haul.

• Trench Warfare – 450 miles of trenches across the Western Front.

• 1000s were slaughtered as they attacked and counter attacked across no man’s land.

• Germany & Austria had great success against Russia on the Eastern Front however.

Exit Slip – MAIN Causes of WW I

1. Militarism-

2. Alliances-

3. Imperialism-

4. Nationalism-

A. An association of nations pledged to defend one another

B. Policy of building an empire; adding colonies

C. Pride in one’s country; patriotism

D. An aggressive state of military preparedness