The Causes of WW1

•(NOTE :this acronym is to help your remember the causes but we will discuss them in a different order!)

•Militarism•Alliances•Nationalism•Imperialism•Assassination

MANIA!

The Trigger: Assassination

Trigger: an event that creates an immediate reaction

In the case of WW1, the trigger is:

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 

Read the article and answer the questions

Video clip: The assassination

• Please watch the clip about the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

• We will discuss this and review the details tomorrow.

• Consider how NATIONALISM played a role in the assassination.

Cause 1: Nationalism• This was an age when all nations wanted

to assert their power and independence.

• In Europe Slavs ( any member of the people of eastern Europe who speak a Slavonic language), aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.

Serbia’s national flag

The Balkans are referred to as having been the “POWDER KEG OF EUROPE”

Key points from the film

• Mid 19th century, Ottoman empire’s control in the Balkans is waning.

• Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania become independent.

• Bosnia, while still part of Ottoman empire, is placed under Austria-Hungary’s control. This is resented by large Serbian-Slav minority in Bosnia.

1908- Chaos in Turkey allowed perfect opportunity for A-H (with the support

of Germany) to annex Bosnia into Hapsburg Empire.

• Serbia is upset and appeals to Russia for help.

Russia Doesn’t Help• Weak from war with Japan, cant risk

another military conflict, especially since the German’s are backing A-H.

• Russians though, are determined that next time such a situation arises they will do whatever they can to help their fellow Slavs

• Serbian Nationalists in Bosnia, feeling alone, decide to take matters into their own hands

1911- The Birth of the Black Hand

• Colonial Dragutin Dimitrijevic (also known as Apis )

• Terrorist group, fighting in

• the name of

• Slavic nationalism. Several attempts to assassinate important A-H leaders.

Meanwhile: Sept 12 1912

• Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro ally to drive the Turks out of the Balkans.

• They are successful but bicker amongst themselves about the reassignment of territory, which causes a war in the Balkans.

• At the end of all this, Serbia emerges 2X its original size.

Serbian Pride at a High

• A-H isn’t happy about Serbia’s new size, but has no backing from its German friends at this point in time.

• Serbia’s confidence is high, as is A-H’s humiliation.

• Apis (in Bosnia) decides now is a great time to strike more blows at Austria-Hungary in the name of Slavic pride.

Black hand tries to assassinate the Governor of Bosnia in January of 1914. Unsuccessful. But, another opportunity arises as news of Franz Ferdinand's visit comes.

Franz Ferdinand• Heir to A-H.

• Recognized that his to-be empire had many minorities who desired independence, and thought that if power was decentralized, minorities would be happier.

Franz Ferdinand Cont’d

• Black Hand doesn’t want this to happen, because it will make it more difficult to annex Bosnia and make it part of Serbia.

• The solution? Kill him!

• -------start writing in next section-----

• Assassins trained in Serbia and smuggled back into Bosnia.

The Assassination Team• Nedeljko Čabrinović*

• Vaso Čubrilović

• Veljko Čubrilović

• Trifko Grabez*•

The Assassination Team Cont’d

• Danilo Ilić

• Cvjetko Popović *

• Gavrilo Princip*

• Muhamed Mehmedbašić *

June 21 1914

• Franz Ferdinand spends a week in Bosnia to oversee military exercises.

• June 28 1914, goes to a reception, he and his wife are in the second of 6 cars with the tops down.

• No military lining the streets as the cars make their way to the city hall.

Attack!• 1st bomber panics

• One, Čabrinović, throws but misses. It hits the hood of FF’s car, bounces off and explodes on the car behind him.

• Now alert, Franz Ferdinand’s driver speeds up to get away, the next bombs cant get to them

• Franz Ferdinand is upset but alive. He makes it to the city hall to listen to the mayor’s speech.

A Hungry Princip Gets Lucky

• Gavrilo Princip was hungry and had nothing to do while FF was in the city hall so he went to get a sandwich.

• In an amazing coincidence, after the reception, the Archduke’s car stops right in front of Princip as he is eating his sandwich!

Princip Fires 2 Fatal Shots

Overall, Slavic nationalism has contributed to World War One, as the successful assassination attempt of Ferdinand by nationalist Bosnian-Serbs (BLACK HAND) sets off a chain of events that will change the world forever. We will see its unfolding over the next few slides.

Austria is… furious?

• Though stunning, Franz Ferdinand's death was not viewed by most Europeans as an event that would lead to general war.

• In Austria-Hungary, where the politically moderate archduke was not well-liked, the government elected instead to use the assassination as an opportunity to deal with the Serbs.

• Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for supporting terrorists.

The Ultimatum

• A-H, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum.

• Serbia agrees to all but one term of the ultimatum, and A-H declares war on her

• Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia

• Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down.

• Germany declares war on Russia

“Demands must be put to Serbia that would be wholly impossible for them to accept …”

Significant Individual: Count Berchtold

• Austrian Prime Minister.

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

“Were the Serbs to agree to all the demands, this would not be to my liking”

Cause 2: Alliances• Before the assassination of the archduke

countries had a complicated system of secret treaties that would bound them together to come to each other’s aid in the

event of attack. Not just Germany, A-H, Serbia and Russia…

Up until this point they had never really had to use these alliances.

• However, within hours of the assassination these alliances came into effect as Austria-Hungary declares war. This set off a chain reaction that worked its way through every chain of the alliances ( Domino effect)

Homework:• Prior to WWI, who was allied with who?

Check out the handout.

• How did alliances contribute to the start of WW1? Create a timeline. Due tomorrow. Use the sheet given to you and visit the website listed.

• Do the activities listed on the map that has been given to you. You will need the help of the internet and coloured pens/pencils.

http://www.loyno.edu/~seduffy/MapImages/Austria-Hungary1867-display.jpg

Causes 3 & 4: Imperialism and Militarism

• Are intertwined.

• Both serve to heighten tensions and create enemies, alliances .etc

Cause 3: Imperialism

• Definition: When one country takes over another country to build an empire.

• Land equals power. Which countries are the most powerful at the turn of the 20th c?

• Why would a country want to take over another country?

Imperialism

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

• The British feared Germany in Africa.

• The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkans

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cfford/342WorldHistoryModern.html

Cause 4: Militarism

• During the 1800’s the Industrial Revolution was happening in Europe.

• With the invention of factories, weapons were less expensive to produce allowing countries to improve and buy them in mass quantities.

• Countries were also experimenting with new weapons such as airplanes, tanks, chemical warfare.

Cause 3: Militarism (arms race)

• Definition: Making your military bigger and better than other countries.

• Why would you want your military bigger than other countries?

• What problems can arise when compete against other countries military strength?

Militarism creates tension

• Germany was competing with the UK to build battleships.

• The British feared an attack on their Empire

Militarism creates tension

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

1880

1914

• Germany 1.3m 5.0m

• France0.73m 4.0m

• Russia 0.40m 1.2m

Militarism – Per Capita Militarism – Per Capita Expenditures Expenditures on Armamentson Armaments

18701870 18801880 18901890 19001900 19141914

Great Great BritainBritain

3.543.54 3.463.46 3.843.84 12.612.6 8.238.23

FranceFrance 2.922.92 4.024.02 4.664.66 5.215.21 7.077.07

RussiaRussia 1.281.28 1.51.5 1.261.26 1.441.44 3.443.44

GermaGermanyny

1.281.28 2.162.16 2.82.8 4.064.06 8.198.19

AustriaAustria 1.081.08 1.701.70 1.51.5 1.461.46 3.103.10

ItalyItaly 1.381.38 1.741.74 2.522.52 2.342.34 3.163.16

German Militarism

• Kaiser Wilhelm II

• Built up German army and navy

• Aggressive foreign policy

• Determined to make Germany a top nation.

• Distrusted by other powers

“Germany must have its place in the sun”“The world belongs to the strong.”

Why did Britain get involved?

• Britain had Ententes with France and Russia.

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

• The Schlieffen Plan

Sir Edward GreyBritish Foreign Secretary … “There’s some devilry going on in Berlin”

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 scared of Germany controlling Channel ports.

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

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