World War I:The Stage is Set

Efforts for Peace

• By the early 1900s many efforts were underway to end war Europe

– 1896 Olympic Games in Athens

– Creation of the Nobel Peace Prize

– Universal Peace Conference of 1899

Explosive Material for World War I

M: Militarism

A: Alliances

I: Imperialism

N: Nationalism

Explosive Material for World War IGerman attempts to gain colonies annoy and frighten France, Britain and Russia

French unhappy at the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 (Franco-Prussian War)

Aggressive Nationalism

• At the same time major struggles took place between France, Germany and other new nations

• France is still bitter after the lose of land caused by the Franco-Prussian War

• Pan-Slavism brings the nationalist movement to the Baltic States

Explosive Material for World War IGerman attempts to gain colonies annoy and frighten France, Britain and Russia

French unhappy at the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 (Franco-Prussian War)

Austria and Russia competing for influence in the Baltic Region

Conflicts Caused by Imperialism

• 1905 and 1911 competition for colonies once again caused conflicts with Germany and France

• Growth of Germany starts to put fear in the British government– Great Britain started to support France

– Social Darwinism pushes military growth

Explosive Material for World War IGerman attempts to gain colonies annoy and frighten France, Britain and Russia

French unhappy at the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 (Franco-Prussian War)

Austria and Russia competing for influence in the Baltic Region

Two Alliance system in Europe

European Alliances

• Triple Alliance– 1882 Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungry

• Triple Entente– 1894 France and Russia– 1904 France and Britain signed an entente

lead a military pack– Britain soon signed a entente with Russia

Explosive Material for World War IGerman attempts to gain colonies annoy and frighten France, Britain and Russia

French unhappy at the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 (Franco-Prussian War)

Austria and Russia competing for influence in the Baltic Region

Naval rivalry between Britain and Germany

Arms race between Germany and France

Two Alliance system in Europe

Militarism-Building up armed forces, getting ready for

war• Britain’s large navy struck fear in Europe

• France wanted revenge on Germany because of the loss in the Franco-Prussian War.

• Germany wanted to build a stronger military to help increase imperialistic ideas– Britain did not like this idea

Explosive Material for World War IGerman attempts to gain colonies annoy and frighten France, Britain and Russia

French unhappy at the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 (Franco-Prussian War)

Austria and Russia competing for influence in the Baltic Region

Two Alliance system in Europe

Naval rivalry between Britain and Germany

Arms race between Germany and France

The Match: The assassination at Sarajevo

The Start of WWI

• June 28 Archduke and Heir to the Austrian thrown Francis Ferdinand and his wife took a visit to the Capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo

• June 28 is a special date in Serbian History– 1389 Serbia was conquered by the Ottoman Empire– 1912 Serbia Frees themselves from Turkish Rule

The Assassination

• Serbian Terrorist group the Black Hand successfully assassinated the Archduke and his wife

• Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph was outraged but he was hesitate to go to war– However his Government wanted to destroy

the Serbian government

The Ultimatum

• Austria sent the Serbs an ultimatum– Serbia only agreed to a couple of the ultimatums– July 28, 1914 Austria declares was on Serbia

• Germany supports Austria– Germany supports the harsh stand on the Serbs and promises

to back the Austrians War

• Russia supports the Serbs– Russia begins to mobilize in order to support their little Slavic

brother– Russia asks for France to help

• France sees it as a chance get back at Germany for the Franco-Prussian War

Explosive Material for World War IGerman attempts to gain colonies annoy and frighten France, Britain and Russia

French unhappy at the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 (Franco-Prussian War)

Austria and Russia competing for influence in the Baltic Region

Two Alliance system in Europe

Naval rivalry between Britain and Germany

Arms race between Germany and France

The Match: The assassination at Sarajevo

Germany’s war plan was not flexible

Schlieffen Plan

• General Alfred von Schlieffen had developed a plan to avoid a two front war

• Schlieffen’s plan was to invade France and win a quick battle, then turn to Russia

• The plan to invade France meant a trip through Belgium– Belgium was supported by England and on August 3rd

Germany invaded Belgium and England Declared War on Germany