The MAIN Causes of WW1

1
The MAIN Causes of WW1

• Militarism
• Alliances
• Imperialism
• Nationalism

2
Militarism

• Definition the policy of building up military
  forces and threatening aggression.
• Militaries were used to protect global empires.
• Britain ruled the waves, while Germany had the
  most powerful army in Europe.

3
Militarism

• Germany began challenging Britains naval
  strength, prompting an all out arms race.

4
Alliances

• As tensions rose in Europe, countries began to
  form protective alliances.
• The alliances were meant to keep the peace but
  had the effect of turning Europe into a powder
  keg, ready to explode. If conflict broke out,
  it was sure to flame right across the continent.

5
Imperialism

• At the turn of the century, all the great
  European powers were competing for colonies /
  territory.
• Germany was a relatively new country and began to
  look for its own colonies to control.
• The British, French, and Russians all feared
  German aggression toward their colonies, creating
  major tension among the countries.

6
Nationalism

• Definition Having intense pride in your country
  and being willing to defend it.
• Nationalism combined with imperialism to fuel the
  European race for overseas colonies. These
  colonies would bring the mother country great
  economic wealth, military power, and national
  pride.

7
The Trigger

• 28 June, 1914. Heir to Austrian (German ally)
  throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.
• Sarajevo has been recently taken over by Austria
  but is a hotbed of Slavic nationalism.
• These nationalists are supported by Serbia and
  Russia.

Seal of the Black Hand group
8
The Trigger Continued

• Black Hand terrorists attack the Archduke.
• After a bomb attempt fails in morning,
  nineteen-year-old Gavrilo Princip shoots the
  Archduke and his pregnant wife later in the
  afternoon.
• Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists.

9
Timeline to Disaster

• The Alliance system now comes into play, as the
  Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a
  tough ultimatum.
• Serbia agrees to all but two terms of the
  ultimatum.
• Russia then mobilises her troops to support
  Serbia. Germany demands that Russia stands her
  armies down.
• Germany declares war on Russia, while France
  declares war on Germany.

Demands must be put to Serbia that would be
wholly impossible for them to accept
10
The Schlieffen Plan

• Germany launches an attack on France through
  Belgium.
• Belgiums ally is Britain, who along with her
  colonies (including Canada), are now at war.

11
The Schlieffen Plan Cont

• Germany has a military plan to defeat both France
  and Russia, The Schlieffen Plan.
• The idea is to aim a knock out blow at France
  while the Russians slowly get ready. Once France
  is defeated, Germany can focus its full might on
  the Russians.
• The plan calls for a back door attack through
  Belgium to avoid heavy French frontal defences.
• The plan ultimately fails and the chance for a
  short war disappears.

12

• Both sides then dig into the ground in
  preparation for winter.
• Soon, two lines of trenches snake their way clear
  across Europe, grinding the fighting to a halt
  and introducing the world to a brand new kind of
  warfare- trench warfare.