The Great War

“The War to end all Wars”

LONG RANGE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

WARM UP:• What causes countries to go to war?

• Why do we fight?

• What role does foreign policy have in wars?

• Turn & Talk: Share ONE response with your partner

CAUSE: NATIONALISMNationalism: loyalty and devotion to a nation. Placing emphasis on the promotion of one’s own culture and interests above other nations.

• Excessive nationalism brought hatred and ill feelings between nations.

• National prestige…minor threats considered an insult to a nations honor

• Pan-Germanism = Germans felt they should be the champions of the world.

CAUSE: IMPERIALISM• The Great Powers (Britain, France, Germany,

Russia, Italy, Austria) competed for territories in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Each country trying to build up their own empires.

CAUSE: MILITARISM• Militarism: a policy of aggressive military

preparedness. Glorification of military ideals and use of a “military class” to run a country.

BRAINSTORM ON YOUR PAPER

• What is one advantage of a militaristic nation?

• What is one disadvantage of a militaristic nation?

• Turn & Talk: Share your responses with your partner

CAUSE: ALLIANCES• If one nation in an alliance was attacked, the

others would come to their defense.

• Treaties were occasionally settled in secret, and many citizens did not know what their countries were doing behind closed doors.

ALLIANCES: IMMEDIATE CAUSE• The assassination of Archduke Francis

Ferdinand of Austria set off a chain reaction of war declarations throughout Europe.

• France, Great Britain, and Russia

• Joined later…Greece, Italy, Portugal, United States, etc…

• Austria-Hungary, Germany

• Joined later…Ottoman Empire

DIVISION OF EUROPECentral Powers Allied Powers

THE UNITED STATES RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WWI

• What did George Washington tell future presidents in his farewell Address?

• President Wilson issues a Proclamation of Neutrality at the start of the war in 1914.

• Many Americans are pro-Allied Powers

British heritage

France gave us aid in Rev. War

THE ART OF PERSUASION• Propaganda: a campaign used to create

support for your side. Information or rumors used by a group or government to promote it’s own cause or to attack and damage an opposing cause.

• Information may or may not be true. Purpose is to persuade to adopt a view or take action.

• Germany was increasing its empire through militarism, and world-wide trade.

• United States (especially business owners) see this as threatening.

• Germany attacks Belgium (neutral country)

ANTI-GERMAN PROPAGANDA

CLOSING: EXIT SLIP

• Which two long term causes do you believe had the biggest impact on WWI and why?