World War I Begins
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 ◦ Imperialism preparation for war ◦ Scramble for Africa created tension between powers ◦ Industrialization allowed for larger armies and navies; new ◦ The “Eastern question” weapons ◦ Ottoman Empire began to shrink; European powers ◦ Conscription: military draft wanted their Balkan territory ◦ Extensive plans for mobilization (preparing and ◦ Nationalism organizing troops for active ◦ Ethnic groups without a nation service) dreamt of creating one ◦ Alliances ◦ Triple Alliance, Triple Entente 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
Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand Austria-Hungary asks Germany for assassinated by declares war on support in case Serbian terrorist Serbia Russia mobilizes
Germany declared war on Russia mobilizes 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
Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand Austria-Hungary asks Germany for assassinated by declares war on support in case Serbian terrorist Serbia Russia mobilizes
Germany Germany declares war on declared war on Russia mobilizes France Russia
Germany enacts Schlieffen Plan Britain declares and invades war on Germany Belgium Austria-Hungary Germany enacts Franz Ferdinand Austria-Hungary Germany Germany asks Germany for Schlieffen Plan Britain declares assassinated by declares war on Russia mobilizes declared war on declares war on support in case and invades war on Germany Serbian terrorist Serbia Russia France Russia mobilizes Belgium
Japan declares Britain declares France declares Montenegro Austria-Hungary Montenegro Japan declares Serbia declares war on Austria- war on Austria- war on Austria declares war on declares war on declares war on war on Germany war on Germany Hungary Hungary Hungary Germany Russia Austria-Hungary
Britain and Austria-Hungary Russia declares Serbia declares Montenegro Ottoman Empire Italy declares war France declare Italy betrays Triple declares war on war on Ottoman war on Ottoman declares war on declares war on on Austria- war on Ottoman Alliance Belgium Empire Empire Ottoman Empire Allies Hungary Empire
Austria-Hungary Germany Italy and Russia Montenegro Italy declares war France declares Britain declares Bulgaria declares declares war on declares war on declare war on declares war on on Ottoman war on Bulgaria war on Bulgaria war on Serbia Portugal Portugal Bulgaria Bulgaria Empire
Siam declares Irish rebels Ottoman Empire Greece declares Italy declares war Bulgaria declares U.S. declares war Panama declares war on Germany declare war on declares war on war on Central on Germany war on Romania on Germany war on Germany and Austria- Britain Romania powers Hungary
Nicaragua China declares Costa Rica Guatemala Panama declares U.S. declares war declares war on Brazil declares war on Germany Liberia declares declares war on declares war on war on Austria- on Austria- Germany and war on Germany and Austria- war on Germany Germany Germany Hungary Hungary Austria-Hungary Hungary
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?