1914-1918

Conventional View1. Nationalism – Devotion to one’s nation

Created a competition among the great powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy and France)

2. Imperialism Search for raw materials and new markets Competition between nations brought them to

the brink of war

Bismarck wanted a war in order to complete German unification.

Why? Germany defeats France Peace agreement places huge payments

on France Loss of Alsace-Lorraine (German

Speaking) Creates a huge hatred a between France

and Germany

In order to preserve German power -Isolate France

The Triple Alliance (1882) Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary

Bismarck made an alliance with Russia but when the emperor of Germany Wilhelm II dismissed Bismarck he let alliance treaty with Russia lapse

France seized opportunity and formed an alliance with Russia

Militarism-

Led to an Arms race Wilhelm II wanted to build a modern navy

equal to that of Great Britain. By 1914 European powers had large

standing armies Stressed the ability to mobilize quickly in

case of war.

In response to Germany’s desire to build a navy

Great Britain does not want power challenged so joined the alliance with France and Russia – Triple Entente

As the Ottoman Empire collapsed the Balkan region inflamed in nationalist uprisings.

Emergence of new nations Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia.

Serbia had a mostly Slavic population wanted to include all Slavs in its borders.

1980 Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina (mainly Slavic populations)

Tensions between Austria and Bosnia

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria paid a visit to Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia

Assassinated by Gavrilo Princip Black Hand – A Serbian nationalist terrorist

group. With the goal of ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule.

Since Princip was Serbian the Austrians used the assassination as an excuse to punish Serbia.

Austria gave Serbia a list of demands The Serbian government had 48 hours in

which to agree Serbia agreed to all of them except one: That

Austria could send investigators into Serbia to investigate assassination. Serbian government saw this as an attack in its sovereignty.

To what extent did each cause significantly lead to war?

Imperialism- Militarism- Nationalism – Alliance system-

Alliance system kicks into Gear Austria declares war on Serbia Russia is Serbia’s ally Russia began

mobilization of forces towards Austrian border.

Germany viewed the Russian mobilization as an act of war and declared war on Russia and France.

Great Britain Declares war on Germany

Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria

Allies Great Britain France Russia (leaves war

1917) Japan Italians (leave

Triple alliance wait and see attitude)

US enters 1917

The Big Four- leaders that designed the Versailles Treaty -peace agreement to end WWI

Woodrow Wilson - USA Georges Clemenceau - France David Lloyd George – GB Vittorio Orlando – Italy US did not want a punishing agreement;

Britain and France wanted to punish Germany and strip it of its war-making capabilities.

Called for; End of secret treaties Freedom of the seas Free Trade Reduced navies and armies Adjustment to colonial claims to the

benefit of those who were colonized

Changing borders and the creation of new nations in Europe.• Based on self-determination - Allowing people

to decide for themselves under what kind of government they wished to live.

League of Nations – an international body to negotiate peacefully solutions to world conflicts.

How did Wilson’s vision address and attempt to remedy the causes of WWI?

War Guilt Clause – Pay huge reparations to the Allies $33

Billion Germany had to return Alsace-Lorraine to

the French Limits the size of German army;

prohibited making of weapons Stripped of all colonies (became

mandates of the League of nations) Formation of the League of Nations

The break up of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.

New nations- Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.

The Break up of the Ottoman Empire British Mandates – Iraq, Palestine,

Transjordan French Mandates – Syria and Lebanon

Germans felt unduly punished for the war.

Humiliated as a nation. Africa and Asian nations were embittered

because Allies disregarded their desire for independence.

The mandate system continued Western imperialism.

Japan and Italy gained less territory than they desired.

New level of destruction and death on both a global and never before seen scale.

Fall of four empires; German; Ottoman; Austria-Hungary; Russian.

Huge war debt and severely weakened economies.

Peace Agreement that leads to war.