The Great WarThe Great War

a.k.a.a.k.a.

World War IWorld War I

BackgroundBackground

Powers in Europe before 1914Powers in Europe before 1914 Great BritainGreat Britain: world-wide empire, : world-wide empire,

naval power; A weak, divided Europe naval power; A weak, divided Europe is in its best interest.is in its best interest.

GermanyGermany: Newly unified nation (in : Newly unified nation (in 1871) Trying to industrialize, build its 1871) Trying to industrialize, build its military and establish colonies around military and establish colonies around the world.the world.

FranceFrance: wanted to recover Alsace-: wanted to recover Alsace-Lorraine from GermanyLorraine from Germany

BackgroundBackground

RussiaRussia: economically stagnant (not : economically stagnant (not industrialized) with an outdated social industrialized) with an outdated social system (serfs, the czar)system (serfs, the czar)

Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary: a powerful empire in : a powerful empire in southeast Europe; Now losing its southeast Europe; Now losing its dominance over the German statesdominance over the German states

The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire: “The Sick Old Man : “The Sick Old Man of Europe.” Key geographical position of Europe.” Key geographical position (Europe, Asia, Africa), once controlled vast (Europe, Asia, Africa), once controlled vast territoriesterritories

BackgroundBackground

4 Causes of W.W. I4 Causes of W.W. I

1.1. NationalismNationalism: strong feeling of pride in and : strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country and the people who devotion to one’s country and the people who share one’s cultureshare one’s culture

Pan-German MovementPan-German Movement: attempt to unite al : attempt to unite al German-speakers in one country (Germany)German-speakers in one country (Germany)

Pan-Slavic MovementPan-Slavic Movement: attempt to unite all Slavic : attempt to unite all Slavic peoples in one country (Russia)peoples in one country (Russia)

2.2.ImperialismImperialism: Gr. Br. and G are competing for : Gr. Br. and G are competing for colonies; Serbia and A-H fight for control of Bosnia-colonies; Serbia and A-H fight for control of Bosnia-Herzegovina and F and G fight Alsace-LorraineHerzegovina and F and G fight Alsace-Lorraine

4 Causes of W.W. I4 Causes of W.W. I

3. 3. MilitarismMilitarism: building up the armed : building up the armed forces and the glorification of all things forces and the glorification of all things militarymilitary

4. 4. Alliance SystemsAlliance Systems: Treaties between : Treaties between groups of countries that promise military groups of countries that promise military aid to any member nation that is aid to any member nation that is attacked. (That means that if one nation attacked. (That means that if one nation is attacked, the countries that are allied is attacked, the countries that are allied with them get dragged into the conflict.) with them get dragged into the conflict.)

The Spark That Lit The FireThe Spark That Lit The Fire

The Balkan Peninsula was known as the “powder keg of Europe.”

The Spark That Lit the FireThe Spark That Lit the Fire

SerbiaSerbia had become independent from the had become independent from the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire.

Bosnia-HerzegovinaBosnia-Herzegovina had belonged to the had belonged to the Ottoman Empire. Now it had been Ottoman Empire. Now it had been annexed by A-H. annexed by A-H.

The The Archduke Franz FerdinandArchduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to (heir to the throne of A-H) and his wife the throne of A-H) and his wife SophieSophie were traveling throughout the provinces of were traveling throughout the provinces of the empire. One city they visited was the empire. One city they visited was SarajevoSarajevo..

The Black Hand

•Secret society founded May 1911

•Part of the Pan-Slavic Movement

•Wanted to unite all the southern Slavs (Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, etc.) which had been annexed by Austria-Hungary

The Spark that Lit the FireThe Spark that Lit the Fire

•Members of the Black Hand planned an assassination attempt.

•Gavrilo Princip, Nedjelko Cabrinovic and Trifko Grabez were the three recruits who were trained and equipped to do the job. Later 4 others (including 2 high school students) joined them.

•June 28, 1914

•While the original plan did not work, a chance encounter allowed Gavrilo Princip to shoot the Archduke and his wife.

The Spark that Lit the FireThe Spark that Lit the Fire

A-H blamed Serbia and issued an ultimatum. When Serbia refused to comply, A-H declared war against Serbia.

Serbia was part of an alliance w/ Russia. This declaration of war by A-H caused the Triple Entente nations to declare war against Germany (allied with A-H, came into the war on their side)

The Spark that Lit the FireThe Spark that Lit the Fire

Eventually over 30 nations and their colonies fought in the Great War.

At the time, people in Europe called this conflict the Great War.

They also thought that this war was so large in scope and so horrible that no one would ever go to war again. They said that this conflict was “the war to end all wars.”

Later on, people began to refer to the conflict as a world war.