Download Causes of World War I

Long Term (MAINE) Causes of WWI
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Economic
MILITARISM
Each empire increased the size of its
army and created better weapons
 The bigger the army, the less likely to be
attacked
 Most countries had “conscription” (draft)
 Each country had detailed war plans
 Because they had bigger armies it took
longer to get ready so they had to
mobilize

– Mobilization was seen as a declaration of
war
ALLIANCES

Militarism, imperialism and nationalism
led to hostility between countries &
increased tensions

Network of alliances emerged

Alliances were defensive and would only
operate if a country was attacked
1879
The Dual Alliance
1881
Austro-Serbian Alliance
1882
The Triple Alliance
Germany and Austria-Hungary
made an alliance to protect
themselves from Russia
Austria-Hungary made an alliance
with Serbia to stop Russia gaining
control of Serbia
Germany and Austria- Hungary
made an alliance with Italy to stop
Italy from taking sides with Russia
1914
Triple Entente (no separate
peace)
1894
Franco-Russian Alliance
Russia formed an alliance with
France to protect herself against
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Britain, Russia and France agreed
not to sign for peace separately.
1907
Triple Entente
This was made between Russia,
France and Britain to counter the
increasing threat from Germany.
1907
Anglo-Russian Entente
This was an agreement between
Britain and Russia
1904
Entente Cordiale
This was an agreement, but not a
formal alliance, between France
and Britain.
IMPERIALISM

Every country wanted more land
– Like Scramble for Africa

Germany & France disagreed about the
territory of Alsace-Lorraine

Germany started building up its navy &
interfering with Ottoman Empire which
worsened tensions with Britain
NATIONALISM

Feelings of pride in one’s country
– Could be desire for country to be
independent (Serbia)

France upset about loss of AlsaceLorraine
– Lost natural resources AND humiliated by
loss

Austria invaded Serbia
– To protect against a threat to its empire
ECONOMIC

Industrial Revolution in England spread
to all of Europe

Each empire was dependent on
production and export of manufactured
goods
– Access to natural resources was important
– Needed ability to sell manufactured goods

Economic power = Military power
Short-Term Causes of WWI
First Moroccan Crisis, 1905
 Bosnian Crisis, 19808
 Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911
 Balkan Wars,

First Moroccan Crisis, 1905

Morocco was weak and France hoped to
conquer it. In 1903, the French based an
army on the Moroccan border. In Feb. 1905,
France demanded control over the
Moroccan army and police. The Sultan
refused.

In March 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm visited
Tangiers in Morocco. He told the French
that he wanted free trade for Germany in
Morocco. He then gave a speech in which
he promised to defend Morocco as 'free and
independent and subject to no foreign
control'.
First Moroccan Crisis, 1905



Both France and Germany threatened war.
The French (scared of another war with
Germany) were going to back down, but the
British encouraged them to take a firm line.
A Conference was held at Algeciras (1906).
Britain and Russia supported France and
Germany had to promise to stay out of
Morocco.
France was angry at Germany. Britain was
frightened of Germany’s Empire. Germany
was humiliated. The Algeciras conference
convinced Germany that the other countries
were 'ganging up' on Germany.
Balkan Crisis, 1908
Balkans area was important to AustriaHungary and to Russia
 Austrian Empire ruled over a collection
of people

– People were resentful of Austro-Hungarian
control

Panslavism was the idea that the
nations of the Balkans should be able to
rule themselves
– Serbia was a leader in the Pan-Slavic
movement
Balkan Crisis, 1908



By the Treaty of Berlin (1878), AustriaHungary had the right to occupy and
administer Bosnia.
In 1908, Austria fully annexed Bosnia.
Serbia protested
– Wanted to get part of Bosnia and a port on the
Adriatic Sea

Serbia called up its army to demand a strip
of land across Bosnia to the Adriatic Sea.
Serbia was supported by Russia, which
proposed a conference. Austria Hungary
and Germany said that a conference wasn't
necessary.
Balkan Crisis, 1908
Germany supported Austria-Hungary
and threatened war.
 Russia and Serbia were forced to back
down and humiliated.
 Serbia was forced to agree publicly to
Austria's annexation. The Kaiser
boasted that he had stood by Austria 'in
shining armour'.

Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911
At Algeciras (1906), Germany was forced
to keep out of Morocco and the French
Foreign Legion went in.
 In 1910, France made a huge loan to
Morocco, and took control of customs
and taxes.
 In March 1911 there was a rebellion in
northern Morocco. The French sent an
army to defend.

Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911

In June 1911, the Germans announced that
they needed to protect German citizens in
southern Morocco
– Even though there were no German citizens in
southern Morocco


In July 1911, Kaiser Wilhelm sent the
gunship Panther to Agadir. It 'rescued' ONE
German.
There was an international crisis - war-fever
in Germany and Britain. David Lloyd George
gave speech attacking Germany and
promised support for France.
Second Moroccan Crisis
Nov 1911: Treaty of Berlin - Germany
was forced to remove the gunship and
accept instead a small piece of land in
the Congo. Morocco became a French
colony.
 German resentment: Wilhelm said: 'these
events have shown the German people
where its enemy is'.
 One historian wrote: 'the Kaiser was
determined not to be the loser in the next
crisis'.

Balkan Wars, 1912-13

Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece & Montenegro
formed The Balkan League to drive the
Ottoman Empire out of Europe starting the
First Balkan War

Treaty of London (1913) ended the war and
changed territories in the Balkan region

Serbian territory expanded and Austria was
threatened

In the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria
attacked Serbia & Greece because it was
unhappy about its territory from the 1st war
The Trigger of WWI

Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

On June 28, 1914, Archduke FranzFerdinand and his wife Sofie visited
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia
– Franz Ferdinand was heir to Austrian throne
– Bosnia was annexed by Austria in 1908
June 28th was Serbia's National Day and
the visit was an insult to Serbia
 Young Bosnian Serbs linked to the Black
Hand lined up to assassinate him as he
drove along the Appel Quay in Sarajevo.

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

One bomb was thrown, missing the Archduke,
but wounding others
 The Archduke continued on to a reception at City
Hall and afterwards decided to go to the hospital
to see the wounded
 They were to go a different route, but no one told
the driver, so he turned into Franz Josef Street,
then stopped the car... in front of Gavrilo Princip,
who shot Franz Ferdinand and Sophie.
 The assassination caused horror, but not an
international crisis at first. Austria provoked the
international crisis by sending Serbia an
ultimatum on July 23, 1914.
Countdown to War
28 June – Assassination of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
 23 July – Austria issues ultimatum to
Serbia
 28 July – Austria declares war on Serbia
 29 July – Russia orders troop
mobilization
 30 July – Germany mobilizes &
demands Russia stop mobilization

Countdown to War
1 Aug – France mobilizes; Germany
declares war on Russia
 2 Aug – Russia declares war on
Germany
 3 Aug – Germany declares war on
France
 4 Aug – Germany invades Belgium;
Britain declares war on Germany
 6 Aug – Austria-Hungary declares war
on Russia
 10 Aug – Britain and France declare war
on Austro-Hungarian empire

Factors in Austria’s decision for war

Preservation of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire
 Reliance on Triple Alliance (mainly
Germany)
 Belief that victory would be quick &
decisive
 Influence of growth of military power and
military planning
 Desire to stop spread of Serb nationalism
 Willingness of its leaders to take a risk
Factors in Russia’s decision for war

National feeling (support for the Serbs)
 Military power & preparation (required early
mobilization)

Alliance network (help from France &
Britain)


Need to support the Russian Empire
Humiliation in foreign affairs in 1905
(Russo-Japanese War led to revolution –
needed victory to support Tsar)

Willingness of Russian leaders to take a
risk & expectation of quick victory
Factors in France’s decision for war
Concern over Germany’s challenge to
its empire
 Build up of military power
 Hoped for support from Russia and
Britain
 Strong nationalism
 Wanted return of Alsace-Lorraine
 Confidence in plan of attack made war a
good risk

Factors in Britain’s decision for war
Treaty obligations (with Russia &
France AND Belgium)
 National feelings (patriotism)
 Security of Britain (end German navy)
 Military power (had strong navy)
 Need to maintain balance of power in
Europe
 War was an acceptable risk

For you to consider:
– The effects of alliances, international
markets, industrialism, imperialism and
nationalism during this time period.
– Other economic, ideological, political
and religious causes of the war.
– Was this war truly inevitable? Were
there possible steps that could have
been taken to avoid war?