Causes of World War I

Hear ye, Hear ye

The TeamsThe Allies (also called the Triple Entente)

• France

• Great Britain

• Russia

• The United States (joined later in 1917)

The Central Powers (also called the Triple Alliance)

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Italy

• The Ottoman Empire (joined later)

Causes of World War I

WWI started in 1914 and ended in 1918.

There are 4 main causes of World War I:

• Nationalism

• Industrialism

• Imperialism

• Secret Treaties

Cause #1: NationalismThe belief that your country is the best and would fight to prove it

By 1914

• Europe had not had a major war in a while

• Most countries were doing pretty well

• There were a lot of grudges between countries

• Germany and France (Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871)

• Russia and Ottoman Empire (wars on and off, 1760s, 1870s)

• Austria-Hungary and Russia (on and off war,1730s, 1760s, 1810s)

• Germany and EVERYONE (the Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm was kind of a jerk, attempted to steal colonies from France, threatened war often)

• Most people thought their country was the best in the world and were willing to prove it

Rosie the Riveter

Cause #2: IndustrialismMaking things better and faster with machines• Over the past few decades, machines

started making things better.

• Led to better ships, supplies, materials… and then weapons

• With more products comes a lot more money for industrialized nations

• With relative peace in Europe, countries are making A LOT of bigger and more powerful weapons… and are now ITCHING to use them in combat.

• Leads to heavy militarization• A heavy emphasis on the military

• Before, the country with the most soldiers would likely win.

• Nations with smaller populations can now make awesome weapons and win against bigger nations.

HEAVILY-INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS BY 1914

Germany (best industry in the world)Great BritainAustria-HungaryThe United StatesFrance

Cause #3: ImperialismWhen a country adds overseas land to their empire. • Many countries were EMPIRES at this time,

meaning that they were in charge of other countries around the world.

• There was a lot of money to be had in owning other countries, created competition.

• The more land you acquired, the better and more powerful your country was.

• All their resources are yours!!!

• Diamonds in southern Africa

• Gemstones in Asia

• Oil in Middle East (lubricated machines)

• Fishing in coastal areas (whale oil powered lamps and lubricated machines)

• Taxes on local populations

• Countries were competing with each other since the “Scramble for Africa”

• At least 1 country upset because they didn’t have a large empire (Germany)

Cecil Rhodes: The world’s biggest jerk!

COUNTRIES WITH LARGE EMPIRES

Great Britain (world’s largest empire)

• “the sun never sets on the British Empire”

France

The Ottoman Empire

Russia

Cause #4: Secret Alliances

• Because of the peaceful time, nationalism, and the new weapons… Countries formed alliances with each other

• Made in secret, very confusing

• No one knew who was allied with who

• Why a problem?• Countries competing for

resources

• Grudges from previous conflicts

• If war starts, you don’t know who has your back.

ALL OF THIS LEADS TO…• Long-standing grudges (everyone hates Germany, everyone looks down on

the Ottomans)

• Confusing treaties

• “If you Germany is attacked by Russia, Austria-Hungary will provide monetary aid but will not arm her troops unless Great Britain mobilizes. If Austria-Hungary provides resources, then Germany will add 20,000 troops to defend the southern border against a French attack…”

• “My country can totally beat up your country”

• Just dying to try out their new weapons (machine guns, artillery, battleships, etc)

• Europe is ready for war… all that is needed is a spark to set it all off…

• To Be Continued…

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING1. When did WWI occur?

2. What were the belligerents of WWI?

3. What were the

• 1914 Summer- Austria-Hungary Empire

• “The Sick Man of Europe” (empire is much weaker than other empires)

• Empire of hundreds of ethnic groups, all wanting more independence

• Emperor Franz Joseph a stern, military guy

• “Crush all who oppose”

• “…but he’s getting old”

THE SPARK

THE TALE OF ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND AND GAVRILLO PRINCEP

• Archduke of Austria-Hungary

• Next in line when Emperor dies

• Serbia wants its own nation, Emperor Joseph refuses and puts down riots

• Serbia worried that Franz will be just as cruel when he takes over

• Franz Ferdinand

• Very decent human being

• Made plans to dissolve Austria-Hungary Empire and form a “United States” type government where each group got its own nation

• Would have been an outstanding ruler and give his people independence (wanted to divide up empire into a “United States of Austria”

FRANZ FERDINAND

He doesn’t even see it coming…

• Many ethnic groups protesting, rioting, pushing for a country of their own

• Many groups are formed for rebellion, many terrorist groups to fight back.

• The Black Hand

• Small terrorist cell in Serbia

• Discovers Archduke Franz Ferdinand coming to capital city, Sarajevo, to “inspect the local troops”

• “Happening” to visit on the day of Serbia’s “rebellion holiday”

• Celebrate nearly overthrowing Austrian rule

• Assume this is a cover to investigate the riots

• Form a plan to kill Franz during his parade through town with bombs.

• Young Gavrilo Princep is the “gunman”

• Responsible to kill Archduke if bombs fail.

THE BLACK HAND

• Archduke visits

• Never been to Sarajevo before

• Streets crowded with spectators

• Black Hand members line the rooftops with their homemade bombs

• Bombs bounce off his car and blow up in the crowd.

• Archduke shows his character

• Orders his officers to help the wounded, unconcerned for himself.

• Gets out to help too.

• Escape

• Gavrilo approaches on foot with pistol, Archduke’s car drives off.

ASSASSINATION THAT STARTED A WAR

• Gavrilo missed his chance

• leaves, walks a few blocks, stops at a corner stand to buy a roast beef sandwich.

• Archduke’s men get lost

• Never been to Sarajevo before

• Zigzagging frantically through the alleyways of Sarajevo to escape.

• Gavrilo purchases sandwich, turns to see a confused cavalcade of cars coming towards him.

• Hanging out the side of the front car is the confused Archduke

• Less than 10 feet away the car stops to get directions.

• Gavrilo walks up and makes the kill, shooting both shots of his pistol

• Killing the Archduke and his wife

• Kids are instantly made orphans.

FATE

Some people are just destined to die

• Austria-Hungary demands the guilty parties

• Serbia refuses to turn over prisoners, swear to punish the culprits themselves.

• AND NOW THINGS GET INTERESTING…• Russia steps in

• Pushing for more land from the eroding A-H Empire for years

• Claiming they are the “Protector of all Serbs”

• Opportunity to add Serbia to Russian lands

• Germany gives Austria-Hungary a “blank check” of support

• “We will stand by you no matter what and support you unconditionally against Russia if war starts”

• Kaiser Wilhelm immediately goes on holiday.

• Leaders of Russia and Germany are relatives even

• Germany feels disrespected by Europe, not able to get imperial land during “scramble”, has tried to steal land from others in the past.

• Austria-Hungary sends ultimatum to Serbia

• Turn over prisoners by midnight or else

THE SPARK

Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany

• June 28th 1914- Franz Ferdinand assassinated

• July 5th- Germany gives “blank check”

• July 23rd- Austria-Hungary gives ultimatum

• July 31st- Germany warns Russia to stop mobilizing army, Russia promises they are mobilizing against A-H only.

• August 1st- GERMANY DECLARES WAR ON RUSSIA

• August 3rd- GERMANY DECLARES WAR ON FRANCE

• August 4th- Germany invades Belgium to cross into France, BRITAIN DELCARES WAR ON GERMANY

• August 7th- British forces arrive in France, both Britain and France lose in a battle against the Germans.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS TO START WWI

WHAT HAPPENED?• Germany was forced to fight enemies on

both the east (France) and west (Russia) borders.

• Schlieffen Plan

• Plan to overwhelm France (smaller than Russia) so they can fully focus on the larger enemy, Russia.

• Russia thought to be the more dangerous of the 2.

• Trenches in the east (no progress) and Germany was doing very well against Russia until…

“They had to fight on BOTH sides?”

WHAT HAPPENED?• France and Germany locked up on their shared border and

TRENCH WARFARE began!

• They had to hide in trenches cuz of machine guns.

• Lots of people died, neither side had advantage.

• Heavy Casualties

“There isn’t much room in that there trench!”-

Battle of the Somme France and Britain vs. Germany

• Close to 1 million casualties 1916: July - November

MAJOR BATTLES AND ISSUES

BATTLE OF VERDUNFrance vs. Germany

• Almost 1 million casualties 1916: Feb - December

• 1914-1915

• Britain and France vs. Germany

• Large first attack of British/French failed, massive retreat from the Germans.

• Germans pursued

• First time chemical weapons used in combat.

BATTLE OF YPRES (IN BELGIUM)

CHEMICAL WARFARE

WHAT HAPPENED TO RUSSIA?• Russia drops out of the war in 1917.

• War very unpopular in Russia

• Russia the only nation at that time that the people don’t get to vote for ANYTHING

• Millions of Russians dying, lack of modern weapons against German machine guns

• Russians been upset with rulers for a long time, WWI the last straw

• The Russian Revolution begins in 1917 and the government collapses.

• Rioting in the streets!

• The Tsar and family are killed!

• The Bolsheviks (Communists) take over!

• Germany only has to fight on 1 side now.

“A SPECTOR IS HAUNTING EUROPE…”

• Germans developed boats that float under the water.

• Use periscopes to view above the water.

• Stealth, use powerful torpedoes to cause destruction.

• U-Boats

• Gave Germans a HUGE advantage until Allies developed SONAR

U-BOATS

WHERE IS AMERICA?• War wages in Europe from 1914-1917.

All countries beat the tar out of each other… and America stays out of the fight.

• Germans sinking American merchant ships

• Sending supplies to the French and British but not the Germans

• Germans are stopping the supplies from getting to their enemies

• Zimmerman Telegram (1916)

• British intercept telegram

• Germany to Mexico

• “Help us win this war, keep America busy, you can have back all the territory America took from you.

• America joins 1917 and GREATLY influences the outcome of the battle.

“Ya, dats right. America wins!”

CONCLUSION• America helps the Allies

win quickly (1918).

• Germany, Austria-Hungary surrender without ever being invaded.

• Why, then, did they even surrender?

• German people will be confused about this for decades.

Victors• Great Britain

• France

• United States

• (But where’s Russia?)

“We all can’t be winners”

Click icon to add picture

LosersGermany

Austria-Hungary

Ottoman Empire

Italy

RESULTS• Russia becomes the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) when Bolsheviks seize

power and no longer hold voting.

• Europe is destroyed since that is where all the fighting happened, so USA becomes a SUPERPOWER!

• USA is not damaged and has functional factories, able to sell the products needed to rebuild.

Vladimir Lenin, the man who takes over Russia

RESULTS• Austria-Hungary dissolves and becomes the countries of Austria,

Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

• So many ethnicities and nations led by WWI commanders, leads to competition, racism, and a LOT of violence (genocide)

• Bosnia, Croatia

“Dat’s a lotta countries.”

RESULTS• The Ottoman Empire falls apart (most of the land around the

Mediterranean Sea.)

• Many nations are formed under the control of European powers (this will lead to WWII and almost EVERY PROBLEM WE HAVE TODAY)

• Iraq

• Iran (theocracy)

• Saudi Arabia

• Turkey (genocide)

• Greece

• Egypt

• Others

RESULTS• Treaty of Versailles sees Germany as

aggressors and forced to repay damages!

• USA President Woodrow Wilson agrees to peace if his 14 Points are accepted

• Nations agree to create a “League of Nations” to prevent future wars

• All nations are able to decide their own forms of government.

• Germany BANKRUPT… but so is rest of Europe!

• Forced to repay debt, but Europe confiscated all good Germany lands and factories… so how can they repay?

• France takes Rhineland (resource-rich area in western Germany, full of factories)

• Creates an unworkable situation, will lead directly to World War II.

• Germany will want revenge“Germany is forced to swallow a bitter pill.”

ResultsYoung German officer Adolf Hitler (messenger) war hero.

Very mad over end of war. “Germany was never invaded, we never lost!”

Blames Jews for the loss.

Rest of Europe is anti-war and is holding grudges…

Everyone hates Germany, Germany hates everyone else!!

“Man, dat guy’s whack!” –McCray

LAST RESULT, I PROMISE• Because of WWI, USA becomes very rich and powerful… but not for long!

• 1929- Black Tuesday, stock market crashes and the Great Depression begins.

• 1929-1940s (ends after World War II)

• More than 25% of population is unemployed (back when only Dads worked)

“Oh dear…”-very poor woman

• Massive inflation• The value of the dollar falling,

everything costs more• Cost of living expenses like food

and heat, rent.• Banks foreclosed on homes/farms when

payments were late• Banks denied people credit• Everyone took all of their money out of

the banks, causing banks to go out of business• “What happens to my money then?