The MAIN Causes of WWI

M - Militarism• the policy of building a strong

military force then using war to get more power such as

colonies, land, raw materials, etc.• Countries compete to build the largest armies

and navies because This helps them to get and protect their

colonies around the world.

A - Alliances• a group of countries

united for military protection.• Countries in Europe looked for friends to help

support them if a war started.

WWI Alliances

I - Imperialism• When a country extends it’s rule over another

country. • Countries form an empire by starting colonies. • More colonies =

more raw materials, more markets for trade, and more land.

• Countries come into conflict when competing for colonies.

N-Nationalism• strong feelings of

patriotism; pride for your mother country

• Countries felt national pride when their empire conquered other countries.

• Some ethnic groups felt an intense desire to preserve their own cultural identity, language and traditions.

• So they wanted to form independent nations, and free themselves from the

control of an empire

WWI – The Major Players

The Alliances

Triple Entente

(The Allies)

Britain, France, Russia

Triple Alliance (Central Powers)

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Turkey

The Major Players The Triple Entente

(The Allies)1. France

gave up 2 rich provinces (Alsace-Lorraine) to Germany when they lost the Franco-Prussian Warfought with Germany over a claim of Moroccofears Germany, so forms an alliance with Russia

The Triple Alliance

(Central Powers)

1. Germany

Kaiser Wilhelm II wants to have a large, rich colonial empire, like Britain and more raw materials.

forms an alliance with

Austria-Hungary and Italy

builds up a large army and navy to compete with Britain,

France and Russia.

The Major Players2. Russia

“The sleeping giant” bordering on Germany. Has a large army.

“Big Brother” to Serbia believes in Pan-Slavism

“Slavic” countries should be united.

Supports these countries because wants access to a warm water port in the Balkans on the Mediterranean Sea

2. Austria-HungarySlavic nationalism is threatening to break apart its empire; Slavic groups want to be

independent.took over Bosnia, wants to take over Serbia and control all Slavic people.

The Major Players3. Britain

has the largest empire

has largest navy because has to protect its large empire.

In “arms race” (competition) with Germany to build the largest navy.

3. ItalyHas defensive alliance will help Germany and Austria-Hungary if attacked.

Their actions are offensive so Italy stays neutral.

Later joins the Allies.

The Major Players

4. Serbiaangry because Austria-Hungary took over

Bosnia (a Slavic country), because they wanted Bosnia to join them.Bosnian Serb terrorist group, the

Black Hand are ready to fight to unite all Slavic people.

4.Turkey (Ottoman Empire)

has controlled the Balkans for 100 years, now empire is crumbling.

Fears losing more land to Russian expansion, so makes a secret alliance with

Germany

Countdown to WWI

Rebellions of the Slavic people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire made the

area known as the Balkans, “The Powder Keg of Europe.” It was ready to explode into a war.

1. The Assassination“The Spark that Lit the

Powder Keg”

• June 28, 1914 –Archduke Franz Ferdinand,

the heir to the Austrian monarchy, and his wife, Sophie, were visiting Sarajevo,

the capital city of Bosnia.

• Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are shot and killed byGavrillo Princip, a member of the Serbian terrorist group, theBlack Hand.

2. Blank Cheque

• Austria-Hungary asks Germany for advice and Germany gives them a

Blank Cheque – this means that they will support Austria even if it means war.

3. Ultimatum• Austria-Hungary prepares for war and

sends the Serbs an ultimatum

hand over the terrorist or face war4. Serbia agrees to only parts of the

ultimatum, so Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia

5. Russia’s leader Tsar Nicholas II, gives Serbia a

blank cheque (full support) and prepares for war against Austria

Hungary

6. Germany tells Russia to back down, Russia refuses, so

Germany declares war on Russia.

7. France has an alliance with Russia,

so France declares war on Germany

8. Germany declares war on France.

The Schlieffen Plan• realizing that it is best to attack France

first, Germany attacks France through Belgium.• Goal – to defeat France in 6 weeks

while Russia is still preparing for war and avoid a

Two-Front War, having to fight France and Russia at the same time.

• Problem – Belgium is a neutral country and has a treaty with Britain to protect its

neutrality.

Aug 4, 1914

• Britain declares war on Germany.

• WWI begins. • All British colonies, including

CANADA, are automatically at war.