Download - WWI: Causes and Outbreak
Unit 6: World War I
Nationalism “my state is the best” Threatened existence of Austria, Russia,
Ottoman Empire Social Darwinism
Economic rivalry Germany challenged Britain’s supremacy
Imperialism Conflict over colonies (markets, raw
materials)
Glorification of war Means of proving superiority Chance of winning glory Arms race:
Britain – navy twice as large as next two combined
Germany – starts increasing size of navy
Know you have enemies Need to have friends Two emerge:
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria, Italy Triple Entente: France, Russia, Britain
Goal: Avoid fighting France and Russia at the same time
Russia: takes 8 weeks to mobilize men France: defeated them in 5 weeks in 1871 Plan: Invade France first, capture Paris, then
shift troops to eastern front to fight Russia Problem: After 1871 (Franco-Prussian War),
France fortified its border with Germany
Independent kingdom 1832 Neutrality guaranteed by treaty signed
in 1839 by Britain, France, Russia, Prussia & Austria
Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzogivina
Gavril Princip, Serb nationalist, assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austrian throne
29 July: A declares war on Serbia; R orders partial mobilization, declares war on A
30 July: R orders full mobilization
31 July: G demands R to halt mobilization; demands F stay neutral
1 Aug: G declares war on R; F mobilizes
2 Aug: G demand Belgium let her pass; Be refuses
3 Aug: G declares war on F, invades Be
4 August: Br declares war on GGerman declaration of war on Russia