WWI: 1914-1919 “The War to End All Wars”

Objective:

To recognize the main causes that built tension and led to the outbreak of WWI in 1914 among the European powers and assess the neutral United States involvement in the conflict.

Causes of WWI: MANIA Militarism– policy of building up strong

military forces to prepare for war

Alliances - agreements between nations to aid and protect one another

Nationalism– pride in or devotion to one’s country

Imperialism– when one country takes over another

country economically and politically

Assassination– murder of Austrian Archduke Franz

Ferdinand

Militarism, Nationalism& Imperialism

European nations extended armies & navies Turmoil in the Balkans - “The Powder Keg of Europe” Rival Nations: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, & Serbia battle for territory Minorities within Austria Hungary and other empires encouraged to throw off rule Berlin Congress- “Scramble for Africa”

Triple EntenteTriple Entente::Triple EntenteTriple Entente:: Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Great Britain

France

Russia

Causes of World War I - Alliances

Tension

Assassination:• June 28th 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand visiting Sarajevo (Bosnian capital)

• Gavrilo Princip assassinates the Archduke &his wife because he was a member of the Black Hand- a terrorist group that believed Bosnia should belong to Serbia (not Austria Hungary)

Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo June 28th 1914

Causes of World War I - Assassination

Gavrilo Princip after his assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Causes of World War I - Assassination

June 28th 1914Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand in Sarajevo

(AH threatens war with Serbia & Russia- Serbia’s ally backs up Serbia)

WWI Short- Term Causes Flowchart!

July 28th 1914

Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia (blaming them for assassination)

July 29th 1914

Russia mobilizes forces → Germany (AH ally) asks Russia to halt- (they don’t)

August 1st 1914

Germany declares war on Russia

WWI Short- Term Causes Flowchart!Contd.

August 3rd 1914

Germany declares war on France (Russia’s ally)

August 4th 1914

On their way to France, Germany invades NEUTRAL Belgium:

Great Britain declares war on Germany

World War IWorld War IWorld War IWorld War I

Allied PowersAllied Powers::Allied PowersAllied Powers:: Central PowersCentral Powers::Central PowersCentral Powers::

Great Britain

France

Russia

Italy

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Ottoman Empire