Marching Toward

WarChapter 29, Section 1

Adapted from: Ms. Susan M. Pojer and Mr. Gregory Yankey

Aggressive Nationalism

IntroductionO Efforts to ban war and achieve a

permanent peace had been gaining momentum in Europe since the middle of the 19th century.

O Some Europeans believed that progress had made war a thing of the past.

Rising Tensions in Europe

O Below the surface of peace and goodwill, Europe witnessed several gradual developments that would ultimately help propel the continent into war.

M.A.I.N.

The Rise of Nationalism

O Europe enjoys peace in late 1800s but problems lie below the surface

O Growing nationalism leads to competition among nations

O Nationalism in the Balkans leads many groups to demand independence

The Balkan Wars: 1912-1913

The Balkans in 1914

Imperialism and MilitarismO Imperialism, and the quest for colonies

sometimes pushed European nations to the brink of war and intensified the sense of rivalry and mistrust.

O The nations of Europe took pride in having strong militaries and being prepared for war. This led to a dangerous arms race.

O Glorifying military power is called militarism.

Tangled AlliancesO Growing rivalries and mistrust had led to

the creation of several military alliances among the Great Powers as early as the 1870s.

O This alliance system had been designed to keep peace in Europe. But it would instead help push the continent into war.

Bismarck Forges Early PactsO Germany’s Otto von Bismarck works to

keep peace in Europe after 1871O Believes France wants revenge for loss in

1870 Franco-Prussian WarO Seeks to isolate the French with a series of

treaties and alliances:O Signs treaty with Russia in 1881O Forms Triple Alliance in 1882

O Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Shifting Alliances Threaten PeaceO Kaiser Wilhelm II becomes German ruler,

dismisses BismarkO Foreign policy changes begin in 1890 with

dismissal of BismarckO Alliance with Russia dropped; Russia then allies

with FranceO Efforts to strengthen German navy, which alarms

Britain

O Britain, France, Russia form Triple Entente (alliance) in 1907

Triple Alliance (1881)

The Alliance System

Triple Entente: Triple Alliance:

Two Armed Camps!Allied Powers: Central Powers:

The Major Players: 1914-17

Nicholas II [Rus]

George V [Br]

Pres. Poincare [Fr]

Allied Powers:

Franz Josef [A-H]

Wilhelm II [Ger]

Victor Emmanuel II [It]

Central Powers:

Enver Pasha[Turkey]

Military AlliancesBefore World War I

Crisis in the BalkansO This mountainous

peninsula in the southeastern corner of Europe was home to an assortment of ethnic groups. With a long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic clashes, the Balkans was known as the “powder keg” of Europe.

A Restless RegionO By the early 1900s the Ottoman Turks had

declined and the peoples of the Balkans had formed new nations: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.

O Serbia had a large Slavic population and was supported by Russia.

O In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian leaders were outraged and tensions between the two nations rose.

A Shot Rings Throughout Europe

O On June 28, 1914 the heir to the throne of Austria, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, paid a visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Foolishly, they were riding in an open car.

Historical Artifact

O The blood stained uniform of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Assassination and Ultimatum

O The couple was shot by 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist member of the terrorist organization Black Hand.

Location of Assassination

Historical Marker

Ultimatum

O Austria delivers an ultimatum to Serbia with numerous demands on July 23, 1914. Serbia agreed to most of the demands trying to avoid war.

The War BeginsO July 28, 1914: Austria rejects Serbia’s

offer of most of the demands and declared war on Serbia.

O Russia, the protector of Serbia, mobilizes its forces toward the Austrian border.

Who’s To Blame?