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CAUSES OF

Canadian & World Studies COLLINGWOOD COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

WORLD WAR I

CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

•  Nationalism

•  Imperialism

•  Militarism

•  Alliance System

CAUSE OF WAR: NATIONALISM

Nationalism nationalism |ˈnaSHəәnəәˌlizəәm|

What does this term mean? •  Strong feelings of patriotism. When a country has

feelings of superiority over other countries.

CAUSE OF WAR: NATIONALISM

Nationalism nationalism |ˈnaSHəәnəәˌlizəәm|

How did this contribute to war fever? •  Countries that prize national interests over anything

else often cause wars.

•  At this time European countries wanted to assert themselves and their national identity.

CAUSE OF WAR: IMPERIALISM

Imperialism imperialism |imˈpi(əә)rēəәˌlizəәm|

What does this term mean? •  A policy of extending a country's power and influence

through government or military force.

CAUSE OF WAR: IMPERIALISM

Imperialism imperialism |imˈpi(əә)rēəәˌlizəәm|

How did this contribute to war fever?

•  Britain, France, Spain and Portugal had large empires. •  They had colonies in Asia and Africa.

•  Germany wanted their own colonies to use for raw materials. •  Most of the land had been conquered by this time so they had

to deal with Britain and France.

CAUSE OF WAR: MILITARISM

Militarism militarism |ˈmiləәtəәˌrizəәm|

What does this term mean? •  The belief of a government or people that a country

should have a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

CAUSE OF WAR: MILITARISM

Militarism militarism |ˈmiləәtəәˌrizəәm| How did this contribute to war? •  In the early 1900’s, the British navy was the largest in the world •  To control any new colonies Germany needed to have a large navy •  Tension and hostility were building in Europe. •  Britain saw this as a challenge and the two countries got into an

Arms Race to see who could build the biggest and strongest navy.

•  Germany competed with France and Russia to build the biggest and best equipped army.

CAUSE OF WAR: ALLIANCE SYSTEM

Alliance System alliance |əәˈlīəәns|

What does this term mean?

•  A union or association formed for mutual benefit between two or more countries or organizations:

•  Rivalries often force countries to make defensive alliances.


Alliance System alliance |əәˈlīəәns|

How did this contribute to war fever?

•  Allies were needed for protection.

•  Now we have two well armed sides. All that was needed was a spark to start the conflict.


Alliances:

Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria – Hungary, and Italy

Triple Entente: France, Russia and Britain


Alliances

Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria – Hungary, and Italy

Triple Entente: France, Russia and Britain

CAUSES OF WAR: THE SPARK

CAUSES OF WAR: THE SPARK

•  A Serbian terrorist group , the Black Hand, assassinated, Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, Heir to the Austrian throne, on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

•  This was a state within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

•  The Austrians sent Serbia and ultimatum.

•  The Serbs refused and Austria invaded.

•  Russia came to the aid of its Serbian Allies.

•  Within a month, most members of the rival alliances were drawn into the conflict.

CAUSE OF WAR: THE SPARK

•  Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, Heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

WORLD WAR I


World War Begins

CAUSE OF WAR: REVIEW

WORLD WAR I


Background

WWI: World War Begins Background: •  During the late 1800’s Germany tried to keep on friendly

terms with Russia.

•  Germany expected war to be with France and not Russia. This would mean battle on a Western Front.

•  If Russia Joined France against Germany, it would mean battle on an Eastern Front.

WWI: World War Begins


The Big Question: How could Germany avoid a war on two fronts?

WORLD WAR I


The Schlieffen Plan

WWI: The Schlieffen Plan

WWI: The Schlieffen Plan The Schlieffen Plan •  German General Von Schlieffen developed a plan.

WWI: The Schlieffen Plan •  He expected the Russians to take a long time to mobilize

their army

•  He thought he could move rapidly against the French on the Western Front. Doing so would mislead the Russian army as to the origin of the main attack.

•  Schlieffen’s plan called for the majority of the German army to invade France from the North.

WWI: The Schlieffen Plan

•  The Germans thought they could sweep across the flat lands of neutral Belgium and northern France, eventually making it to the English Channel.

•  Schlieffen estimated it would take the German army a mere 6 weeks to complete his plan.

The Schlieffen Plan

Why it Failed

WWI: Why The Schlieffen Plan Failed


•  Schlieffen based his plan on a gamble. About 70 years earlier France, Germany, and Britain had signed a treaty guaranteeing that Belgium should be neutral.

•  Germany assumed that Britian would not object to Germany invading Belgium since it had been so long.

•  This back fired on Germany and Britain used this as a reason to enter the war.

WWI: Goodbye Schlieffen •  Von Schlieffen dies in 1913 but his general’s stick to the

plan.


•  While approaching Pairs from the west the they were forced to truth south too soon. This meant that the French could meet them a the French German border.

•  The German advance was halted on the Marne River and

both sides “dug in.” and built extensive trench systems.

•  These trenches were protected by Artillery, Barbed wire, and machine guns.


Conclusion.

•  Instead of knocking France out of the war, the Germans found themselves trapped on the western front

•  The now faced the combined armies of France Britain, and the members of their empires, including Canada.

War in the Trenches


Imperialism in the trenches

•  See worksheet – add in answer take up •  See pictures folder – have discusison. •  Clip on what its like – letters from soldiers


Shell Shock

Disaster on the Home Front

HALIFAX EXPLOSION

Disaster on the Home Front

Canadians Under

Fire

BATTLES

Ypres

BATTLES

WWI: The Battle of Ypres •  The battle at Ypres occurred in April of

1915.

•  At Ypres the Germans unleashed a new and terrible weapon-Chlorine Gas.

•  This was the first time it used in history

WWI: The Battle of Ypres

•  The Germans carried 5730 cylinders of gas with the to the front lines.

•  When the French troops saw the gas they panicked and ran.

•  This allowed the Germans to smash through the gap.


•  This cloud of gas drifted over Canadian positions.

•  Over 6000 Canadian soldiers would die a horrifically painful death.

•  The Battle was a victory but it was a harsh reminder of what was to come.

The Somme

BATTLES

WWI: The Battle of The Somme •  In 1916, the German army began pressing

the French at Verdun.

•  British Commanders tried to smash through German Lines.

•  Countless Allied lives were lost because of poor planning and execution.

WWI: The Somme

WWI: The Battle of The Somme •  The Allies bombarded the Germans with

1.5 million rounds of ammo.

•  This was to weaken the Germans. However, casualties were much lower than expected.

•  More than 600 000 French and British were killed.

WWI: The Battle of The Somme •  The Canadians gained most of their

objectives but lost nearly 24 000 men.

•  This was the first time tanks were used.

•  After it was all over less than a dozen kilometers were gained.

WWI: The Somme

Vimy Ridge

BATTLES

WWI: Vimy Ridge •  The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a high point

of Canadian Military achievement.

•  The Ridge was a strategic position that was heavily fortified.

Trenches, machine guns, concrete walls, barbwire, ,mines

Dt folder

WWI: Vimy Ridge •  The French and British Troops made

several attempts to take the ridge.

•  The Canadians were charged to take the ridge. Their strategy was strategic planning.

WWI: Vimy Ridge

WWI: Vimy Ridge •  The victory at Vimy cost Canadians dearly.

•  More than 3,500 lives were lost.

•  This battle showed that the Canadians could act as an independent unit.

Passchendaele

BATTLES

WWI: Passchendaele •  Unfortunately Vimy was not the last battle

of the war.

•  The British lead a disastrous attempt to smash through the German front.

•  Canada was later ordered to capture Passchendaele.

WWI: Passchendaele •  4 million shells destroyed all drainage

systems.

•  Some historians have termed this battle the “insane” attack because it would cost so many lives.

•  Regardless the Canadians began their attacks.

WWI: Passchendaele

WWI: Passchendaele •  Eventually the Canadians reached the

outskirts of the village.

•  They held on for five days but were torn apart before reinforcements arrived.

•  Nine Canadian soldiers were awarded the victoria cross.

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