THE GREAT WARCH 22

Background and Causes

The causes of WWI are usually put into four MAIN categories:

Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Militarism

“the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests”

Governments place a high emphasis on military expansion

Militarism

• After 1871 alliances lead to an armaments race

• Became increasingly serious between 1900 and 1914.

• Military expenditures increased dramatically

• France 10%, Britain 13%, Russia 39%• Germany being the most militaristic at 73%

Militarism Conscription- Compulsory enlistment for state

service; typically military○ Also known as draft

All continental powers had enforced conscription system after 1870

○ France since the Revolutionary Wars○ A-H by 1868○ Germany since 1870○ Italy since 1873○ Russia since 1874 ○ Great Britain did not have a conscription system

France vs. Germany

Franco-Prussian WarAfter war Bismarck wanted to keep France isolated

and weakBegan building a strong army and navy to do soSeeing what Germany was doing France started

building a strong military as well

Both built massive militaries to protect against one another

Britain vs. Germany

Germany very critical about the Boer Wars

- 1895 Kaiser William II sent telegram to Boer president congratulating them on their stand against the Brits.

Naval rivalry top concern among these two countries

- In 1897 the Reichstag allocated funds to speed up naval expansion

- British response was the Dreadnought

Russia

Russo-Japanese WarAfter defeat started to rebuild military

Wanted strong military to control interest in the Balkans

Alliances

Agreement made between two or more countries to come to the aid if one needs help.

Secret alliances sprouted all over Europe starting in the late 1800’s

Alliances

Alliances in the late 1800’s hinged on:German and French enmity

Competing interests in the Balkans by A-H and Russia

Germany’s fear of being attacked from both east and west

1879The Dual Alliance

Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from

Russia

1881Austro-Serbian Alliance

Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining

control of Serbia

1882The Triple Alliance

Germany and Austria- Hungary made an

alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking

sides with Russia

1914Triple Entente (no separate peace)

Britain, Russia and France agreed not to sign for

peace separately.

1894Franco-Russian Alliance

Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-

Hungary

1907Triple Entente

This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.

1907Anglo-Russian Entente

This was an agreement between Britain and Russia

1904Entente Cordiale

This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between

France and Britain.

Germany and A-H vs. Russia

Germany enjoyed good relations with Russia1873 Bismarck forged the Three Emperors’

LeagueRusso-Turkish War (1877-1878)

○ In 1881 Serbia signed the Austro-Serbian Alliance

Why would Serbia sign this alliance if it looked to Russia for leadership?

Germany and A-H vs. Russia

1879 fearing Russia, Germany and A-H forged the Dual Alliance.

○ This alliance became a central factor of European diplomacy for the next thirty-five years.

1882 Italy joins into an alliance with Germany and A-H

○ Known as The Triple Alliance○ G and A-H wanted to keep Italy from joining

with Russia

1879The Dual Alliance

Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from

Russia

1881Austro-Serbian Alliance

Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining

control of Serbia

1882The Triple Alliance

Germany and Austria- Hungary made an

alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking

sides with Russia

1914Triple Entente (no separate peace)

Britain, Russia and France agreed not to sign for

peace separately.

1894Franco-Russian Alliance

Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-

Hungary

1907Triple Entente

This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.

1907Anglo-Russian Entente

This was an agreement between Britain and Russia

1904Entente Cordiale

This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between

France and Britain.

Germany Encircled

The last thing Germany wanted was and alliance between France and Russia.

Despite the political differences factors drew Russia and France together.

Both faced diplomatic isolation Cultural ties between France and Russian

aristocracy was still strong.

In 1890, Bismarck dismissed by William II.

○ 1894 France and Russia agree to the Franco-Russian Alliance.

Great Britain

Great Britain had been diplomatically isolated until around 1901.

○ After the Russo-Japanese War; Britain worried more about Germany than Russia.

The Entente Cordiale (1904) was reached between Great Britain and France.

○ Eliminated tension between the two powers

The Moroccan Crisis (1905)

France had interest in Morocco Germany only had commercial interest

William II decided to test the new agreement between F and GB.

French gov’t reacted with fury but backed down.

Algeciras Conference (1906)○ Forced Germany to recognize French interest

in Morocco○ Brought Russia and GB closer together

1879The Dual Alliance

Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from

Russia

1881Austro-Serbian Alliance

Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining

control of Serbia

1882The Triple Alliance

Germany and Austria- Hungary made an

alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking

sides with Russia

1914Triple Entente (no separate peace)

Britain, Russia and France agreed not to sign for

peace separately.

1894Franco-Russian Alliance

Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-

Hungary

1907Triple Entente

This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.

1907Anglo-Russian Entente

This was an agreement between Britain and Russia

1904Entente Cordiale

This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between

France and Britain.

The Triple Entente

Russia joined with France and GB in 1907Feared Germany’s expansion of Army as

well as, A-H.Unlike the Triple Alliance they were not

required to come to the aid if another was attacked.

It was a moral obligation to protect each other.

Imperialism

Scramble for Africa- Push to gain control over parts of Africa.

The Balkans

Asia

Nationalism

Nationalism- intense pride in one’s country or culture.

East Europe becomes a hot box of nationalism before World War 1.

The Balkan Tinderbox

The Balkans becomes the key to maintaining peace in Europe.

In 1903 a revolution led to the assassination of the king and queen of Serbia.

Russia quickly recognized the new king hoping Pan-Slav ideas would dominate.

A-H fearing this would drive Serbia closer to Russia

The Balkan Tinderbox

Relations between Serbia and A-H deteriorated when Serbia tried to lessen its economic dependence.Signed a commercial treaty with Bulgaria

A-H responded by banning the import of Serbian livestock

1906 and economic battle known as the “Pig War”

Instability in Turkey

Political instability caused Russia and A-H desire for the Balkans to increase.

In 1894-1895 the Turkish Sultan had about 200,000 Armenians murdered.

○ Done because of Armenian nationalism encouraged by Russia

○ In 1908 a group known as the “Young Turks” lead a revolt against the Sultan

Bosnia

Turkish instability lead to the Bosnian Crisis of 1908.

○ At Congress of Berlin 1878 A-H started to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina.

October of 1908, A-H annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia

The annexation caused further unrest.○ Russian and Serbia responded with fury.○ Strained relations with Italy○ War was avoided with the help of Archduke

Francis Ferdinand.○ Russia drew closer to Britain.○ Serbian nationalist groups like the “Black

Hand” gained support in the area.

The Balkan Wars

Italy provided a kindling for another flare up.

○ 1911 they invaded Libya which became known as the Tripoli War

○ France agreed to the invasion if Italy would recognized their influence in Morocco.

The Balkan League formed in 1912○ First Balkan War lasted less than a month with

victory for the League.

The Balkan Wars

The Balkan Wars

Germany didn’t want any Balkan state to become too strong in fear of nationalist uprisings.

The Second Balkan War – fought between Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece.Germany readied its military.