WORLD WAR I BEGINS

Unit 6: WWI

Causes of the War

M.A.I.N.Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

(+ Balkan “Powder Keg”)

Causes of the War

◦Militarism – aggressive preparation for war◦ Industrialization allowed for

larger armies and navies; new weapons

◦ Conscription: military draft

◦ Extensive plans for mobilization (preparing and organizing troops for active service)

◦Alliances◦ Triple Alliance, Triple Entente

◦ Imperialism◦ Scramble for Africa created

tension between powers

◦ The “Eastern question”

◦ Ottoman Empire began to shrink; European powers wanted their Balkan territory

◦ Nationalism◦ Ethnic groups without a nation

dreamt of creating one

Alliances

◦Triple Entente

◦Russia, France, Britain

◦Triple Alliance

◦ Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany

◦Russia also supported Serbia

◦Ottoman Empire also supported Germany

The “Eastern Question”

◦Ottoman Empire at risk of collapse in early 1900s

◦ Began to withdraw from its territory in Balkans

◦Balkan region valuable because of location◦ Between Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russian Empire

◦Had direct access to Mediterranean

◦Balkans = volatile

◦ Intense nationalistic, ethnic conflict

◦ “Powder keg”

The Balkans

◦ Serbia wanted to unite Slavs (ethnic group from E. Europe)◦ Opposed by Austria-Hungary◦ Ruled a large Slav population; threat of revolt

◦ Supported by Russia◦ Most Russians are Slavs

◦ Russia despised Aus-Hun; wanted a Slav revolt

◦Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina to prevent Serbia from uniting Slavs there

◦ June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visited Bosnia◦ Assassinated by a Serbian nationalist

Franz Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian terrorist

Austria-Hungary asks Germany for support in case Russia mobilizes

Austria-Hungary declares war on

Serbia

Russia mobilizesGermany

declared war on Russia

The Conflict Broadens

◦Germany devised the Schlieffen Plan in case they found themselves at war with France and Russia simultaneously◦Germany would conduct small holding action against Russia; carry out rapid invasion of France through neutral Belgium

◦Once France is defeated, move full-force against Russia

◦ In August 1914, Germany declares war on France and begins Schlieffen Plan

Franz Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian terrorist

Austria-Hungary asks Germany for support in case Russia mobilizes

Austria-Hungary declares war on

Serbia

Russia mobilizesGermany

declared war on Russia

Germany declares war on

France

Germany enacts Schlieffen Plan and invades

Belgium

Britain declares war on Germany

Franz Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian terrorist

Austria-Hungary asks Germany for support in case Russia mobilizes

Austria-Hungary declares war on

SerbiaRussia mobilizes

Germany declared war on

Russia

Germany declares war on

France

Germany enacts Schlieffen Plan and invades

Belgium

Britain declares war on Germany

Montenegro declares war on Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary declares war on

Russia

Serbia declares war on Germany

Montenegro declares war on

Germany

France declares war on Austria

Hungary

Britain declares war on Austria-

Hungary

Japan declares war on Germany

Japan declares war on Austria-

Hungary

Austria-Hungary declares war on

Belgium

Russia declares war on Ottoman

Empire

Serbia declares war on Ottoman

Empire

Montenegro declares war on Ottoman Empire

Britain and France declare war on Ottoman

Empire

Ottoman Empire declares war on

Allies

Italy betrays Triple Alliance

Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary

Italy declares war on Ottoman

Empire

Bulgaria declares war on Serbia

Britain declares war on Bulgaria

Montenegro declares war on

Bulgaria

France declares war on Bulgaria

Italy and Russia declare war on

Bulgaria

Germany declares war on

Portugal

Austria-Hungary declares war on

Portugal

Irish rebels declare war on

Britain

Italy declares war on Germany

Ottoman Empire declares war on

Romania

Bulgaria declares war on Romania

U.S. declares war on Germany

Panama declares war on Germany

Greece declares war on Central

powers

Siam declares war on Germany

and Austria-Hungary

Liberia declares war on Germany

China declares war on Germany

and Austria-Hungary

Brazil declares war on Germany

U.S. declares war on Austria-Hungary

Panama declares war on Austria-

Hungary

Guatemala declares war on

Germany

Nicaragua declares war on Germany and

Austria-Hungary

Costa Rica declares war on

Germany

Haiti and Honduras declare war on Germany

Exit Ticket

Work in pairs; one half-sheet per pair; complete sentences

1. In your own words, using what we learned, explain why the Balkan region is known as the “powder keg” of Europe leading up to WWI.

2. Why is nationalism considered a cause of WWI?

3. How did imperialism contribute to the start of WWI?

4. What was the Schlieffen Plan and what was the German rationale behind it? Why did the plan’s actions occur in the order it did?