Causes of World War ICauses of World War IPart 1Part 1

Cause #1 – AlliancesCause #1 – AlliancesWhy Alliances?Why Alliances?

Maintain balance of powerMaintain balance of powerWould be a deterrent to warWould be a deterrent to warTo benefit your countryTo benefit your country

Alliances were kept secret, so parliament Alliances were kept secret, so parliament wasn’t consultedwasn’t consulted

Diplomats came from the upper classes Diplomats came from the upper classes because they were expected to throw because they were expected to throw parties for other diplomats, so they weren’t parties for other diplomats, so they weren’t necessarily the best people for the jobnecessarily the best people for the job

Cause #1 – AlliancesCause #1 – Alliances After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, there After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, there

was a balance of power in Europewas a balance of power in Europe France was defeated by Germany in France was defeated by Germany in

1870-71 (Germany got Alsace-Lorraine); 1870-71 (Germany got Alsace-Lorraine); ended balance of power because ended balance of power because Germany was unitedGermany was united

Cause #1 – AlliancesCause #1 – AlliancesGermany was now:Germany was now:

First in military, education, and First in military, education, and scientific discoveryscientific discovery

67 million people – 2nd to Russia67 million people – 2nd to RussiaProduced much coal, iron, and steelProduced much coal, iron, and steelWere catching up to BritainWere catching up to Britain

Agricultural output doubledAgricultural output doubledIndustry production quadrupledIndustry production quadrupledTrade tripledTrade tripled

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances:Dual Alliance (1879)Dual Alliance (1879)(Germany & Austria)(Germany & Austria)

Germany’s reasonsGermany’s reasons Austria-Hungary had many Austria-Hungary had many

Germans living in themGermans living in them Austria-Hungary could be Austria-Hungary could be

more easily dominatedmore easily dominated Their territory could be Their territory could be

used as a path to the used as a path to the Middle EastMiddle East

Germany wanted to Germany wanted to maintain a balance of power maintain a balance of power in their favorin their favor

It would alarm the Russians It would alarm the Russians into making better relations into making better relations with Germanywith Germany

Austria’s reasonsAustria’s reasons It meant an It meant an

additional additional guarantee of the guarantee of the empire’s stabilityempire’s stability

The maintenance of The maintenance of Austria-Hungary as Austria-Hungary as a Great Power a Great Power depended on the depended on the alliancealliance

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances: Dual Alliance (1879) Dual Alliance (1879)(Germany & Austria)(Germany & Austria)

The maintenance of Austria-The maintenance of Austria-Hungary as a Great Power Hungary as a Great Power became a major foreign policy became a major foreign policy goal for Germany because Austria goal for Germany because Austria was seen as Germany’s only was seen as Germany’s only reliable allyreliable ally

The incorporation of Bosnia-The incorporation of Bosnia-Herzegovina was seen as a way to Herzegovina was seen as a way to strengthen Austria-Hungary’s strengthen Austria-Hungary’s position as a Great Power, but it position as a Great Power, but it was a blow to Serbia’s objective of was a blow to Serbia’s objective of making a Greater Serbiamaking a Greater Serbia

Map of Europe today

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances:Triple Alliance (1882)Triple Alliance (1882)

(Germany, Austria, & Italy)(Germany, Austria, & Italy) Italy switched from a policy of internal Italy switched from a policy of internal

improvement to nationalism/imperialism when improvement to nationalism/imperialism when they united in 1866they united in 1866

France had acquired Tunisia before Italy could France had acquired Tunisia before Italy could get it, so they hoped an alliance would help get it, so they hoped an alliance would help them get territorythem get territory

They wanted – Trentino and Trieste, Nice and They wanted – Trentino and Trieste, Nice and Savoy, Tunisia and Tripolis, Corsica, and BalkansSavoy, Tunisia and Tripolis, Corsica, and Balkans

The alliance and territory would appeared to The alliance and territory would appeared to give Italy status as a Great Powergive Italy status as a Great Power

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances:Dual Entente (1893)Dual Entente (1893)

(France & Russia)(France & Russia)Bismarck closed the German money markets Bismarck closed the German money markets

to Russian loans (for military and industrial to Russian loans (for military and industrial development) in 1885 in order to discourage development) in 1885 in order to discourage their engaging in a war in the Balkans, so the their engaging in a war in the Balkans, so the French replaced them. Bismarck was French replaced them. Bismarck was supporting Austria-Hungary by his actionssupporting Austria-Hungary by his actions

France was upset about losing Alsace France was upset about losing Alsace Lorraine and wanted it backLorraine and wanted it back

This alliance would counter the threat of This alliance would counter the threat of Dual AllianceDual Alliance

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances:Entente Cordiale (1904)Entente Cordiale (1904)

(France & Britain)(France & Britain) France couldn’t maintain both a fleet France couldn’t maintain both a fleet

equal to Britain and an army equal to equal to Britain and an army equal to Germany (British navy would concentrate Germany (British navy would concentrate on the English Channel; French navy on the English Channel; French navy would concentrate on the Mediterranean)would concentrate on the Mediterranean)

Both were concerned over Germanys Both were concerned over Germanys growing powergrowing power

Britain felt that if they didn’t maintain a Britain felt that if they didn’t maintain a close relationship with France, they close relationship with France, they might turn to Germany (at the expense might turn to Germany (at the expense of the British Empire)of the British Empire)

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances: Triple Entente (1907) Triple Entente (1907)

(Russia, Britain, France)(Russia, Britain, France)The Russian defeat by Japan made the The Russian defeat by Japan made the

Russian government anxious to improve Russian government anxious to improve relations with Britainrelations with Britain

Britain and France could strengthen the Britain and France could strengthen the fledgling parliamentary system in Russiafledgling parliamentary system in Russia

Gave the Russians hopes of British support Gave the Russians hopes of British support for their aspirations in the Balkansfor their aspirations in the Balkans

Settle imperial differences in the Middle Settle imperial differences in the Middle East between Britain and RussiaEast between Britain and Russia

Britain wanted to maintain their empireBritain wanted to maintain their empire

Cause #1 – Alliances:Cause #1 – Alliances:False BeliefsFalse Beliefs

Bethmann Hollweg, Chancellor of Bethmann Hollweg, Chancellor of Germany, believed that if Russia started Germany, believed that if Russia started the war, then Britain would not intervenethe war, then Britain would not intervene

Franz Conrad, the Chief of Staff of Austria-Franz Conrad, the Chief of Staff of Austria-Hungary, believed that Russian support Hungary, believed that Russian support for Serbia might turn out to be blufffor Serbia might turn out to be bluff

Russian officials believed that if they Russian officials believed that if they supported Serbia, Germany wouldn’t supported Serbia, Germany wouldn’t interveneintervene

Cause #2 – MilitarismCause #2 – MilitarismWhy Militarism?Why Militarism?

Germany had biggest army, while Britain had Germany had biggest army, while Britain had biggest navybiggest navy

Everyone wanted to catch up to each other to Everyone wanted to catch up to each other to maintain balance of power and they also felt maintain balance of power and they also felt threatened by one another, so an arms race threatened by one another, so an arms race resultsresults

Mindset was that all great powers had a big Mindset was that all great powers had a big military - military - The Influence of Sea Power in The Influence of Sea Power in HistoryHistory (1905) by Thayer Mahan (1905) by Thayer Mahan

The military was needed to maintain empireThe military was needed to maintain empire

Cause #2 – MilitarismCause #2 – MilitarismWhy militarism?Why militarism?

All countries felt threatened by one another, All countries felt threatened by one another, so a large military would act as a deterrentso a large military would act as a deterrent

Industrialism – countries could produce Industrialism – countries could produce weapons fast and that are more deadly (arms weapons fast and that are more deadly (arms races)races)

Countries felt like war was eminent as it got Countries felt like war was eminent as it got closer and closer to 1914, so they all closer and closer to 1914, so they all developed war plansdeveloped war plans

Cause #2 – Militarism:Cause #2 – Militarism:GermanyGermany

The Prussians formed the dominant The Prussians formed the dominant element in the army and they had a element in the army and they had a tradition of strong military valuestradition of strong military values

This affected the whole of German society This affected the whole of German society after unificationafter unification

In addition, Germany still had individual In addition, Germany still had individual states (Landers), that possessed states (Landers), that possessed important powers over day-to-day life of important powers over day-to-day life of their citizens, so foreign policy was seen their citizens, so foreign policy was seen as a way to unify the countryas a way to unify the country

Cause #2 – Militarism: Cause #2 – Militarism: GermanyGermany

Weltpolitik was the German policy to find Weltpolitik was the German policy to find their “place in the sun” that was fitting to their “place in the sun” that was fitting to their rising powertheir rising power

Part of this policy was to maintain an Part of this policy was to maintain an empire. They would do that by making a empire. They would do that by making a navy which would rival, or even exceed, navy which would rival, or even exceed, the UK’s Royal Navy in strengththe UK’s Royal Navy in strength

This policy was sought by Admiral Alfred This policy was sought by Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. He convinced the Reichstag von Tirpitz. He convinced the Reichstag that without the navy, German decline that without the navy, German decline was certainwas certain

Dreadnoughts – early form of Dreadnoughts – early form of battleshipbattleship

By 1914:- Britain – 32- Germany – 19

Cause #2 – Cause #2 – Militarism: Militarism: GermanyGermany

Arguments for the fleet:Arguments for the fleet: Because of Britain’s many worldwide Because of Britain’s many worldwide

commitments, a battleship fleet only 2/3 commitments, a battleship fleet only 2/3 the size would bring victorythe size would bring victory

Fleet would act as a deterrent, ensuring Fleet would act as a deterrent, ensuring Britain’s neutrality in any future conflictBritain’s neutrality in any future conflict

Other countries would only respect and deal Other countries would only respect and deal with Germany fairly when Germany’s navy with Germany fairly when Germany’s navy was built up that muchwas built up that much

Cause #2 – Militarism:Cause #2 – Militarism:GermanyGermany

The results of Weltpolitik were:The results of Weltpolitik were:It led to an Anglo-German naval race where It led to an Anglo-German naval race where

each sought to outbuild the other in each sought to outbuild the other in dreadnoughtsdreadnoughts

Led to Britain’s fear that they would lose the Led to Britain’s fear that they would lose the balance of power and their empire, so they balance of power and their empire, so they began a naval building program in 1889began a naval building program in 1889

Britain and other countries refused to end Britain and other countries refused to end warship construction because they were warship construction because they were afraid they’d lose overseas markets and afraid they’d lose overseas markets and natural resourcesnatural resources

Cause #2 – MilitarismCause #2 – MilitarismGermany’s Schlieffen PlanGermany’s Schlieffen Plan

Developed when Russia had been Developed when Russia had been defeated by Japan in 1904-05 and defeated by Japan in 1904-05 and Russia was in their first revolutionRussia was in their first revolution

Dependent on quick mobilization and Dependent on quick mobilization and defeat of France, then defeat of defeat of France, then defeat of RussiaRussia

They thought it would take Russia 40 They thought it would take Russia 40 days to mobilizedays to mobilize

Wanted to go through neutral BelgiumWanted to go through neutral Belgium

Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan

Cause #2 – Militarism:Cause #2 – Militarism:AustriaAustria

Austrian Naval League (1905) – explained Austrian Naval League (1905) – explained that Austria-Hungary ought to follow the that Austria-Hungary ought to follow the path taken by Germanypath taken by Germany

By 1912, the largest budget in Austro-By 1912, the largest budget in Austro-Hungarian history was approvedHungarian history was approved

New military laws guaranteed their armed New military laws guaranteed their armed forces an annual contingent of 181,000 forces an annual contingent of 181,000 men, with increases over the next 5 yearsmen, with increases over the next 5 years

Cause #2 – Militarism:Cause #2 – Militarism:AustriaAustria

Wanted to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina Wanted to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina Plan B (Balkans) - Planned a campaign to Plan B (Balkans) - Planned a campaign to

crush Serbia quickly before Russia could get crush Serbia quickly before Russia could get involvedinvolved

Plan R (Russia) - Another plan developed Plan R (Russia) - Another plan developed later that would attack Serbia, prevent later that would attack Serbia, prevent Russian assistance to Serbia, deploy troops Russian assistance to Serbia, deploy troops to Russia, and leave northern A-H up to to Russia, and leave northern A-H up to Germany to protectGermany to protect