Transcript 11.1 Militarism and WWI

Causes of and the beginning
of World War I
What is our definition of
nationalism???
Nationalism
• Having an intense feeling of pride in one’s
country. The feeling that a specific nation,
language, or culture is superior to all others.
• Became a force for unification in Europe
and throughout the world
– Italy 1840s
– Germany 1870s
– Balkans early 1900s
Imperialism
• The practice of extending a nation’s
power by gaining territories for a
colonial empire
• By the late 1800s, Britain was the
world’s largest imperial power.
– France, Germany, Italy and Russia,
wanted to create similar empires
• Countries struggled over territory in
Europe and throughout the world
– Tension builds
Militarism
• Definition: the glorification of armed strength
• There was a belief that international problems
could be solved through force (i.e. Prussia)
• In the late 1800s European nations built large
armies
– One nation would mobilize – ready army and other
resources for combat
– Other nations would do the same to “keep up”
Militarism (continued)
• Armies grew larger as each nation did not
want to be weaker than its enemies
– Example of the balance of power
• Spending for weapons and fortification of
national boundaries multiplied
Military Preparedness
• Large portion of population received
military training
• Stockpiles of weapons being created to
prepare for conflict  escalation of arms
race
• Larger amounts of national treasuries were
being directed towards military
expenditures
What does militarism mean?
a) Having a big army
b) Glorification of armed strength
c) Military training for a country’s
population
d) Solving problems by force
INCORRECT
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Alliances
• Balance of power – a situation in which the
strength of rival countries or alliances is nearly
equal
– Cause of alliance systems prior to WWI
• 3 Emperor’s League – secret agreement of
neutrality between France, Austria-Hungary, and
Russia
– Persuaded Italy to align with Germany and AustriaHungary
• Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
– Isolated France
Alliances (continued)
• 3 Emperor’s League ended  Russia and
Austria were rivals
• Otto von Bismarck created Reinsurance
Treaty – neutrality w/ Russia again
• Great Britain and Russia recognize each
others spheres of influence and form an
alliance
• Triple Entente – Britain, Russia, France
Alliances (continued)
• Central Powers – Germany, AustriaHungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire
• Allied Powers – France, Russia, Britain,
Italy, and their allies (included U.S.)
What was the agreement for the 3
Emperor’s League?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Protect each other if attacked
Help each other build arms
Neutrality
Loan each other money in crises
INCORRECT
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Britain, Russia, France and their
allies formed what alliance?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Triple Entente
Central Powers
Triple Alliance
Allied Powers
INCORRECT
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Causes of World War I
• Serbia wanted to increase size by
annexing Bosnia-Herzegovina
– Russia supported Serbia
• Pan-Slavism – political and cultural
unity of all Slavs under Russian
leadership
• Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary,
Archduke Francis Ferdinand
assassinated by a Serbian nationalist
Gavrilo Princip **“spark” that started WWI**
• Austria-Hungary declares war on
Serbia – July 28, 1914
Black Hand Symbol
Causes of World War I
(continued)
• Russia backs Serbia and mobilizes troops to
Austro-Hungarian border
• Germany issues ultimatum on Russia to retreat
– August 1st - Germany declares war on Russia
– August 3rd - Afraid that France would side with Russia,
Germany declares war on France
• August 3rd - Britain declares war on Germany after
Germany invaded Belgium
What can be considered the “spark”
that lead to WWI?
a) Serbia’s desire for Bosnia-Herzegovina
b) Russia mobilizing troops to AustroHungarian border
c) Germany’s ultimatum on Russia
d) Assassination of Archduke Francis
Ferdinand
INCORRECT
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Who is this guy???
Let’s move on with the lesson!!
Schlieffen Plan – rapid twopronged attack on France
1st Battle of the Marne
(September 1914)
• German Army was within
25 miles of Paris
• French Troops launched a
counterattack at the
Marne River
• Germans retreated –
abandoned Schlieffen
Plan
• Trench Warfare ensues
• 500,000+ French and
Germans killed or
wounded
Battle of Verdun (February 1916December 1916)
• French Verdun- town with
Forts
• German would advance
and try to “bleed” France
to death- French drove
Germans back
• Longest WWI battle
• Over 250,000 killed
500,000 wounded
• Verdun showed the French
determination as shown by
the sacrifice of its
defenders
Battle of the Somme (July 1 to
November 18- 1916)
• Chief Ally attack
• Goals- kill soldiers,
gain territory, draw
German’s away from
Verdun
• 19,240 British killed
on first day (British
record)
Innovations of Warfare
• Machine gun – lead to trench warfare to
avoid rapid fire
• Tank – British invention, allowed them to
tear through barbed wire
• Airplane – used to observe troop
movements
– Sometimes used for dogfights and bombings
Innovations of Warfare
(continued)
• Submarines – Germans used U-Boats
(underwater boat)
• Poison gas – used by Germans
• Total war – nation turns all resources to aid
war effort
• Propaganda – ideas, facts, rumors spread
deliberately to further one’s cause or
damage an opponent
Discussion Question
Do you think World War I was
inevitable? Why or why not?
Write down your thoughts and ideas to
share with the class!!!