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Causes of WWI
U.S. Wars and Conflicts
Ron Piper
•Militarism
•Alliances
•Imperialism
•Nationalism
•Economics
•Significant individuals
Militarism 1.
• Germany was competing
with the UK to build
battleships.
• The British feared an
attack on their Empire
Militarism
• When a nation’s armed forces come to dominate a
country’s national policy
• It is also a glorification of the military and war itself
1910-1914 Increase in Defense
Expenditures
France
10%
Britain
13%
Russia
39%
Germany
73%
Militarism 2.
• Germany was competing
with Russia and France
to expand their armies
1880
1914
• Germany 1.3m 5.0m
• France
0.73m 4.0m
• Russia
0.40m 1.2m
Alliances
• Economically at
first, were the
alliances created.
• Signed treaties in
which each nation
involved pledges to
defend the other if attacked by an aggressor
• Basically, countries agreed to help each
other monetarily or militarily.
A
lliances
Triple Entente:
Triple Alliance:
Great Britain
France
Russia
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy
Alliances
• By 1914 all the major
powers were linked by
a system of alliances.
• The alliances made it
more likely that a war
would start.
• Once started, the
alliances made it more
likely to spread.
Imperialism
• Domination by one country over the
political, economic, or cultural life of
another country or region
• Due to the Industrial Revolution of the
1800s, some European nations had a large
portion of the world under their control
Imperialism cont.
• All the great powers were competing for
colonies / territory.
• The British feared Germany in Africa.
• The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in
the Balkans
Imperialism and Colonial Rivalries
• After 1870, the European nations began to acquire
colonies in Asia, Africa and the Pacific
• Colonial rivalry led to:
– strained relations among the European powers. In Africa,
all the European powers except Austria and Russia had
colonies there. Thus there were many clashes among
France, Britain, Germany and Italy.
– the formation and strengthening of alliances and ententes.
(indirectly)
– an intensification of the arms race.
– much hostility among the powers.
Nationalism
• Pride and patriotism in one’s nation
• In terms of WWI, nationalism became
aggressive and subsequently (because of
this) a major cause of international tension
• Independent nations desired dominance
and prestige and as these powers tried to
dominate each other in Europe, their
rivalries may be regarded as one of the
causes of the First World War
Nationalism cont.
• This was an age when all nations wanted to
assert their power and independence.
• In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and
Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.
Serbia’s
national
flag
Nationalism cont.
“Germany must have
• Kaiser Wilhelm II
its place in the sun”
world belongs to
• Built up German army and “The
defend the other if attacked by an the strong.”
navyaggressor
Basically, foreign
countries agreed
• Aggressive
policyto help
each other
• Determined to make
Germany a top nation.
• Distrusted by other powers
Economics
•
•
•
•
The Triple Entente
The Triple Alliance
Colonialism and Imperialism
Germany left out
Allies:
November 1914
Pop/Mil
$ billion
UK, France, and Russia
793.3
1096.5
November 1914
Pop/Mil
$ billion
Germany and Austria
151.3
376.6
$ per capita
1,382
Central Powers:
$ per capita
2,489
Assassination
• The “spark” that started WWI
• On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, heir to the Austria Hungarian
Throne was assassinated by Gavrilo
Princip, a Serbian nationalist who believed
that Bosnia should belong to Serbia
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie at
Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914
• Gavrilo Princip after his
assassination of
Austrian Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
Significant Individuals 1
• Count Berchtold
• Austrian Prime
Minister.
• During the July
Crisis, decided on a
very tough
ultimatum for Serbia
“Were the Serbs to
agree to all the
demands, this would
not be to my liking”
Significant Individuals 2
• Bethmann Hollweg
• German Prime Minister
• Gave very strong support
to Austria during the July
crisis while Kaiser was
cruising on his yacht
“The Austrian demands
are moderate. Any
interference by Britain,
France and Russia would
be followed by
incalculable
consequences”
The Crisis 1.
• 28 June 1914
• Heir to Austrian
throne Franz
Ferdinand visits
Sarajevo.
• Capital of Bosnia,
recently grabbed by
Austria.
• Hotbed of Slav
nationalism
Seal of the
Black Hand
group
The Crisis 2.
• “Black Hand” terrorists
attack the Arch Duke
• Bomb attempt fails in
morning
• Gavrilo Princip shoots
Archduke and wife in
the afternoon.
• Austrians blame Serbia
for supporting
terrorists.
The Crisis 3.
• Austrians, supported by
Germany, send Serbia a tough
ultimatum.
• Serbia agrees to all but two
terms of the ultimatum.
• Russia mobilises her troops to
support Serbia
• Germany demands that Russia
stands her armies down.
• Germany declares war on
Russia
“Demands must be
put to Serbia that
would be wholly
impossible for them
to accept …”
Why did Britain get involved?
• Britain had Ententes with
France and Russia.
• Only “friendly
agreements” but French
and Russians given
impression Britain would
fight.
• The Schlieffen Plan
Sir Edward Grey
British Foreign Secretary
… “There’s some devilry
going on in Berlin”
The Schlieffen Plan
• Germany’s military
plan to defeat France
and Russia.
• “Knock out blow”
aimed at France first.
• Avoid French
defences by invasion
of Belgium.
• Germans thought
Britain would not
intervene.
The Point of No Return
• Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death
and declared war on Serbia.
• Germany pledged their support for Austria Hungary.
• Russia pledged their support for Serbia.
• Germany declares war on Russia
• France pledges their support for Russia
• Germany declares war on France
• Germany invades Belgium on the way to
France
• Great Britain supports Belgium and declares
war on Germany
Allied Powers:
Great Britain
Central Powers:
Germany
France
World War I
Austria-Hungary
Russia
Ottoman Empire
Italy
Britain’s Reaction
• 1838- UK had signed a
Treaty to protect
Belgium.
• Britain also scared of
Germany controlling
Channel ports.
• Did not want Germany to
defeat France and
dominate Europe.
Britain next?
• UK issued ultimatum to
Germany to withdraw
troops from Belgium.
War declared August 4
1914