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The First

World War

The First World War:


What?
War involving nearly all the nations of the world
Great War or War to End all War
Not called WWI until after WWII

When?
1914-1918

The War to end All Wars


Great war was believed to be the War that would end all other wars. Do you
believe this to be possible?

Why?

Long term causes


Nationalism
Imperialism
Alliance system
Militarism

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie,


Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28,
1914

Short term causes


Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Short term
causes of WWI

The direct cause of WWI was theassassination of Archduke Franz


Ferdinandat Sarajevo on28 June 1914. However historians feel
that a number of factors contributed to the rivalry between the Great
powers that allowed war on such a wide-scale to break out.
A major historical debate still rages about who has the ultimate
responsibility for the outbreak of war.

Causes of WWI

Nationalism
Nationalism is a sense of pride in and love of ones nation. It grows out of an understanding that the
people of a nation share a common language, culture and history. In Europe, nationalism played an
important role in the lead-up to World War I.

There was an intense nationalism in most of the Great powers.


Weltpolitikor the desire for world power status was very popular in Germany.
The French desire for revenge over Alsace and Lorraine was very strong.
In Britain Imperialism and support for the Empire was very evident.

This nationalism meant that there was little resistance to war in these countries. Many welcomed what
it was felt would be a short victorious war.
The outbreak of war was greeted by cheering crowds in Berlin, Vienna and Paris. As A P J Taylor wrote
the people of Europe leapt willingly into war.

Causes of WWI

Another factor that led to tensions between


European countries in the lead-up to WWI
was imperialism. Imperialism is the policy of one country extending its territory to create an
empire, usually for financial and strategic reasons.
European powers, such as Britain, Spain, France and Portugal, had colonised
much of the world, including North and South America, Australia and parts of Asia, between
the 15th and 19th centuries. By the late 19th century, European nations were engaged in
a new wave of imperialism, often called the scramble for Africa.
The main rivals in the race for new colonies this time were Britain, France and
Germany. Britain had the largest colonial empire, with colonies and dominions (such as
Australia) all over the world. France also had many colonies around the world. Germany,
however, had only been a unified nation since 1871 and was still trying to build a large
colonial empire when war broke out.

In 1905, and again in 1911, Germany attempted to block further colonial


expansion by France by sending troops to take control of a number of French colonies in
North Africa. In both cases, France, with Britains support, resisted Germanys attempts,
resulting in the defeat of Germany.

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Causes of WWI

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Alliance System
European nations began forming military alliances with one another to
maintain a balance of power. The alliances created an excessively rigid
diplomatic framework.

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Before 1914 Europe's main powers were divided into two armed camps by a series
of alliances. These were
The Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (1882)
The Triple Entente of Britain, Russia and France (1907)
Although these alliances were defensive in nature, they meant that any conflict
between one country from each alliance was bound to involve the other
countries.
The main rivalries between the powers were:
Germany and France over Alsace. This division made an alliance between both
countries impossible.
Russia and Austria over the Balkans.
Britain and Germany over their navies and economic power.

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Triple Entente
Name
Britain

France

Russia

Head of State
King George V (1910 1936)
Constitutional Monarchy
President Raymond
Poincaire
Parliamentary Democracy

Allies
France, Russia

Tsar Nicholas II (18941917)


Monarchy

Britain, France

Britain, Russia

Disputes
Naval arms race
economic rivalry with
Germany
Wanted the return of the
provinces of Alsace and
Lorraine from Germany
Rivals with Austria for
control of the Balkans
Strained relations with
Britain.

Triple Alliance
Germany

Kaiser Wilhelm [William] II


(1888-1918)
Constitutional Monarchy

Italy, Austria- Hungary.

Austria- Hungary

Kaiser Franz Joseph (1848- Italy, Germany


1916)
Constitutional Monarchy

Rivalry with Russia over


the Balkans, Territorial
disputes with her ally, Italy

Italy

King Victor Emmanuel III


(1900-1946)
Constitutional Monarchy

Disputes with France in


North Africa.
Large Italian communities
lived in the Austrian
Empire.

Austria, Germany

Rivals with France over


Alsace, Britain over her
navy.

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Causes of WWI

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Militarism
In all of the Great powers, military spending increased
greatly in the years prior to the war.
All except Britain had conscription.
Over 85% of men of military age in France and 50% in Germany had served in the army or navy.
France had the highest proportion of its population in the army.
The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914.
The rivalry between the powers led to a building up of weapons and an increase in distrust.
Colonial rivalry had led to anaval arms racebetween Britain and Germany. This had seriously worsened
relations between both countries. The British-German dispute also led to greater naval co-operation
between Britain and France.
In 1880 Germany had 88.000 tonnes of military shipping, Britain 650,000; by 1910 the figures were
964,000 and 2,174,000 respectively.

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Where?

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Thinking Slide:
Should we tell the story of WWI with Germany as the bad
guy? Explain.

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