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WORLD WAR I

This article explores the long-term causes of World War I, including nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the complex system of alliances between European nations. These factors contributed to tensions and rivalries that eventually led to the outbreak of the war.

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WORLD WAR I

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  1. WORLD WAR I THE LONG TERM CAUSES OF THE WAR

  2. NATIONALISM Patriotism or a deep devotion to one’s nation • Positive: builds unity within a country • Negative: competition between nations can arise

  3. Competition from the Industrial Revolution • European countries compete for materials for their factories • Everyone wants markets to sell their products in • By 1850 many countries competed – Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France & Italy - for industrial dominance • Competition especially between the industrial nations of Britain & Germany

  4. Territorial Disputes: France • France never got over their loss of Alsace -Lorraine to Germany during the Franco-Prussian War 1870 (recall Otto von Bismark & unification of Germany)

  5. Territorial Disputes: New Nations • The declining Ottoman Empire began loosing some of the areas they controlled • People within the Ottoman Empire desired independent nations, instead of being controlled • New independent nations of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria & Albania were created • Recallthat Nationalism is also about a desire for an independent area where people share a common heritage

  6. Territorial Disputes: The Balkans • Austria-Hungary & Russia both tried to dominate in the Balkans, a region in southeast Europe

  7. Territorial Disputes: Desired Independence • Ethnic groups within the Austro-Hungarian empire were demanding independence • Outside pressure from Serbia: they wanted to liberate Slavs, & gain access to Adriatic Sea

  8. IMPERIALISM A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries or regions politically, economically, and/or socially

  9. Colonial Holdings in 1914

  10. Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia • Sometimes wars broke out among imperialist nations • Rivalry and mistrust of one another deepened

  11. MILITARISM Policy of glorifying military power & keeping an army prepared for war • European nations believe that to be truly great, they needed to have a powerful military • An arms race began – competition to build the biggest & strongest military with many weapons

  12. Military leaders prepared mobilization plans (strategies to move troops in case of war) • Leaders of the time thought it better to attack first than to wait to be attacked • Having a large & strong standing army made citizens feel patriotic • Militarism also tied to the belief in Social Darwinism (the fittest military power will survive)

  13. ALLIANCES a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes • Alliances were developed as early as 1814 – they were intended to keep peace in Europe

  14. Creation of the Triple Alliance • After the Unification of Germany, Bismark was interested in maintaining peace in Europe • 1879, Bismark formed Dual Alliance between Germany & Austria-Hungary (an anti-France alliance) then 3 yrs later Italy joined  became Triple Alliance

  15. Complicated Alliances • 1887, Bismark signs treaty with Russia (unstable treaty because Austria-Hungary & Russia are rivals – both compete for the Balkans) • 1890, Kaiser Wilhem II takes control of Germany & forces Bismark to resign – did not want to share power & wanted to prove Germany’s power

  16. Wilhem II then allows treaty with Russia to lapse • Russia’s response: formed a defensive military alliance with France • Problem for Germany: now the enemy of both France & Russia • Now they would be forced to fight a two-front war (a war on both its Western & Eastern borders)

  17. Creation of the Triple Entente • Wilhem II wants to make the German navy equal to Britain’s navy • Britain’s Response: • enlarge its own navy • then form alliance of their own with France & Russia – Triple Entente – ensured that Britain would not fight against France or Russia

  18. By 1907 two rival camps existed in Europe • Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy • Triple Entente: Great Britain, France, & Russia

  19. Which alliance might have an advantage? Why?

  20. LONG TERM CAUSES OF WWI just remember the acronym: * M A I N * • M: Militarism • A: Alliances • I: Imperialism • N: Nationalism

  21. 1. The term militarism can best be defined as (1) loyalty to a nation or ethnic group. (2) buildup of armaments in preparation for war. (3) avoidance of military involvement in civil wars. (4) control of territories for economic and political gain.

  22. 2. What was a major cause of World War I? (1) rebellions in colonial lands in Africa and Asia (2) expansion of communism into western Europe (3) militarism in the nations of Europe (4) inability of the League of Nations to keep peace

  23. 3. "Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy Form Triple Alliance" "Serbian Nationalism Grows in Balkans" "Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated in Bosnia" The events in these headlines contributed most directly to the (1) beginning of World War I (2) outbreak of the Cold War (3) development of communist rule in Europe (4) strengthening of European monarchies

  24. 4. The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente contributed to the start of World War I by (1) failing to include Germany and France as members (2) threatening countries in the Western Hemisphere (3) allowing Japanese aggression in Korea (4) increasing tensions between European countries

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