The Causes of WW1

•Militarism

•Alliances

•Imperialism

•Nationalism

•Significant individuals

Militarism 1.

• Germany was competing with the UK to build battleships.

• The British feared an attack on their Empire

Militarism 2.

• Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies

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 that war would spread if started.

Imperialism

• All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory.

• The British feared Germany in Africa.

• The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkans

Nationalism

• 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.

The Crisis or…..

• 28 June 1914

• Heir to Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.

• Capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed by Austria.

• Hotbed of Slav nationalism

…the Spark that Ignited the Explosion

-The intention of the visit was to let

the Balkan States know that

Austria-Hungry was “there”

- The heir arrived with his wife

Sophie

-Their 3 children remained in

Austria-Hungary

28 June 1914

• “Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke

• Bomb attempt fails in morning

• Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in their car in the afternoon.

• Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists.

Significant Individuals 1

• Kaiser Wilhelm II

• Built up German army and navy

• Aggressive foreign policy

• Determined to make Germany a top nation.

• Distrusted by other powers

• Gave Austria a “blank check”

• Willing to go to war

Significant Individuals 2

• Count Berchtold

• Austrian Prime Minister.

• During the July Crisis, decided on a very tough ultimatum for Serbia

Significant Individuals 3

• Bethmann Hollweg

• German Prime Minister

• Gave very strong support to Austria during the July crisis while Kaiser was cruising on his yacht

Significant Individual 4

-Tsar Nicholas Romanov II

-Felt that Russia was honor bound

to protect her “Slavic” brothers

-Ordered Russian mobilization

-tried to reason with Wilhelm

-refused to stand down

“There is no justice

among men.”

Significant Person 5

-Great Britain is a constitutional

monarchy

-George visited the western front

several times

-changed the ruling name of his

family from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

to Windsor as it remains today

“I have many times asked myself whether there can

be more potent advocates of peace upon earth through

the years to come than this massed multitude of silent

witnesses to the desolation of war.”

The Response

• 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

Why did Britain get involved?

• Britain had connections with France and Russia.

• Only “friendly agreements” but French and Russians given impression Britain would fight.

• The Schlieffen Plan helped push Great Britain to act

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.

Britain’s Reaction

• 1838- UK had signed a Treaty to protect Belgium.

• Britain also wary of Germany controlling Channel ports.

• Did not want Germany to defeat France and dominate Europe. Would Britain be next?

• UK issued ultimatum to Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium. War declared August 4 1914

Kaiser Wilhelm II