World War I, aka “The Great War” Long and Short-term Causes

1. World War I, aka “The Great War”Long and Short-term Causes

2. Do Now • Make two columns in your notebook. • In one column, write down what you know about World War I. • In the second column, write down any questions you have about WWI.

3. Web Quest: Causes of WWI • Using the worksheet provided, determine the causes of World War I. • This time around, you may ONLY use the resources listed on the NH Media/Library page. • www.northernhighlands.org • Click “Our School”- Follow Library Link • Use any resource on that page (Research tools by Subject is a good start)

4. Essential Questions • To what extent should the United States be involved in foreign affairs? • “Directly” vs. “Indirectly” Affected • When American lives are threatened, how should the government respond? • Should America go to war to make the world “safe for democracy”? • Why is this called “World War I” and why do we need to be aware of “hindsight”?

5. “Causes” Web Quest • Throughout this unit, consider how • militarism (my muscles are bigger than yours) • Alliances (“Friends” vs. “enemies”) • imperialism (extend “our” influence) • nationalism (we are right; we are autonomous) …..contribute to conflict?

6. Militarism • Use of force • England’s Navy was apex of military power • Other countries expanded military to “keep up” (inc. US)

7. Alliances • How/why they were formed • How they pulled countries into conflict

8. Imperialism • “Race” to extend power and influences over other lands • Justification: • Countries “needed” economic and political influence? • “Civilize” the “uncivilized”?

9. Review: Scramble for Africa1880- 1914 Wave of Imperialism caused a “Scramble for Africa”

10. Nationalism • Allegiance to country = Desire for autonomy • Slavs in the Balkans vs. Austria-Hungary • The “Power Keg”- Balkan Wars • The Black Hands and the “Spark”- Assassination The countries beneath the pink lines desired independence and autonomy- Slavic Nat’l

11. The MAIN Causes • **Keep MAIN in mind as we go through the story of Western and Eastern Europe from 1870s-1910s)***

12. NOW (2012-2013)

13. Then (Circa 1900)

14. What was going on in Europe circa 1870-1900?: Western Europe • Franco-Prussian War (1871)- Prussia defeats France and demands Alsace-Lorraine • Retribution pay extremely high • German occupation of France until $$ paid • Subsequently, Germany becomes united as an empire • As a result, there is now a rivalry between Germany and France (France wanted to dominate Europe.. As did everyone else)

16. What was going on in Europe circa 1870-1900: Western Europe? • How did M.A.I.N. manifest itself in politics and society in Western Europe, specifically during this conflict? • Ripple effect… started in Western Europe.. Where is it headed next?... Eastern Europe

17. What was going on in Europe circa 1870-1900: Eastern Europe? • Mostly controlled by Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire (non-slavic), and Russia (slavic) • All three vying for power • Also fighting against subgroups who want independence • Ottoman Empire, “sick man of Europe”, is slowly deteriorating –Slavs getting taste of nationalism • Weakness encourages uprising, so political tension in this area rises

18. Wanted to be independent: • Serbia, Montenegro, Romania (O-E) • Bosnia-Herz (A-H)

19. Road to World War I: The Birth of “Entangling Alliances” Balance of power erupted • During the Franco-Prussian War (1871), “Germany” was gaining power at the expense of France • Deeply engrained conflict between France and Germany • Fear of France on the part of Germany- want to keep them isolated to minimize their chance for rebuttal • **need for an alliance**

20. Entangling Alliances:What do you notice about this political cartoon?

21. Entangling Alliances • 1873: Three Emperor’s League is formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia • Reasons for alliance? • “Teammates” against France • Bismarck (Germany) plays peacemaker between Russia and Austria-Hungary (both want power in the Balkans- Russia is protector of Slavic Nat’l) • This doesn’t last long…

22. Entangling Alliances • Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878)- Slavic national uprising in Balkans… why Russia against Ottomans? • Russia is “protector of the Slavic interests” • Russia wins: Treaty of San Stefano • Russia gets to occupy Bulgaria (use ports) • Romania, Montenegro, Serbia = independent (1878) Remember this map?….

23. Russo-Turkish War (1877-79) • Russia’s success alarms Austria-Hungary • Why??

24. Germany concerned…again • As was the case with France, Germany feared another power (this time Russia) challenging their status as the “most powerful nation in Europe” • Congress of Berlin- Reorganize Balkan States • Reverses Treaty of San Stefano = Russia mad • Russia’s victories in the war upset the balance between Austria and Russia in the Balkans

25. Russia gets angry • Germany now has France and Russia upset • New rivalry w/ Russia = Austrian-German Alliance (aka Dual Alliance) (1879) • combat pan-Slavic nationalism and check Russia’s power • Italy later rejoins for protection (competing against France and Britain in Mediterranean; AH and Germany want to make sure Italy is on THEIR side)

26. What happened to Three Emperor’s League?? • Russia, Germany, and Austria- Hungary were supposed to be buddies • Bismarck (Germany), being the diplomat that he was, cajoled Russia and Austria-H (who are competing in the Balkans) to renew their alliance in the *updated* : • Alliance of Three Emperors (1881-1887) • was simply a balancing act to keep Russia on its good side • Nutshell: ????

27. Reinsurance Treaty (1887) • Alliance of Three Emperors disturbed by Balkan conflicts involving AH • Reinsurance treaty (Russia-Germany) provided for neutrality in the case that either became involved in a defensive war • Why? • Attempt by Germany to keep everybody on its good side • Keep France out of European Diplomatic relations • Prevent Germany from having to fight against AH if Russia attacked

28. Bismarck’s Dismissal (1890) • All of these alliances were done by Bismarck leading Germany • His main concern: protect German interests by playing “peace maker” • Kaiser Wilhelm wasn’t as quick to be “friends” with everyone for the sake of Germany • Hated Russia- let the Reinsurance Treaty lapse

29. Where’s France?? • While all of this is going on, France is watching Germany play puppet-master • France, eager to check German power, invests in Russian railroads • Russia, now no longer in an alliance with Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II, needs support in the Balkans • Russia is now rivals with Ottoman Turks (Russo-Turkish War), Austria Hungary (both vying for power), and Germany (Wilhelm II is not as friendly as Bismarck was)

30. Review: Who is crying? Who is in the middle? Who is the bear?

32. Franco-Russian Alliance (1894) • “Dual Alliance” • Why is this so significant? • What was Bismarck’s intention with his alliances? • Who was Russia formerly allied with?

33. Where’s Great Britain?? • Practicing “splendid isolationism” • Why does Great Britain form alliances all of the sudden? • A few reasons: • Naval Arms race picks up (1898)- Germany is challenging Great Britain’s navy (always the size of two other nations’ fleets combined) • Boer War (1899-1902) – Anti-British sentiment- needs “back-up”

34. Great Britain’s Alliances • Anglo-Japanese (1902) • Entente Cordiale (1904) • France and Great Britain enter “friendly agreement” (no military commitment) and recognize each other’s African holdings (British in Egypt, France in Morocco) • Entente Cordiale becomes Triple Entente when Russia and Great Britain get over issues in Persia and Central Asia (Russian influence was too close to the Suez Canal) • Russia needed friends after they lost the Russo-Japanese War (1905)

35. Kaiser Wilhelm II • Once again, not as “delicate” as Bismarck • Recap: Wilhelm’s major goal was to secure a “place in the sun” for Germany • Wants to “check” the strength of this Entente Cordiale

36. First Moroccan Crisis (1905) • Wilhelm II sends fleet down to Morocco makes a speech to advocate for Moroccan independence • As a response, the Algerciras Conference was held to discuss French claims of Morocco • Everybody supported France, except for Austria-Hungary • In your face, Germany!!! • British and France tighten up, share military info, plan joint operations

37. Second Moroccan Crisis (1911) • Germany doesn’t take rejection well • Wilhelm sends a gunboat, the Panther, down to Africa to protect German interests in Africa • Germans offered to drop their issue with France being in Morocco if they took over French Congo (yeah right) • Only acquired two small strips of land- Germany humiliated yet again.

38. Results of Moroccan Crises • Germany feels ganged up on • This is somewhat true, as their aggressive and militaristic actions were seen as a threat to various countries • Britain and France’s Entente becomes more militaristic • Naval arms race picks up greatly (Tirpitz)

39. Questions to ponder: • How did the dismissal of Bismarck (and the policies of Wilhelm) change the atmosphere of Europe? • Why were alliances against the Germans so imperative at the time?

40. Crisis in the Balkans!!!!!!!! • The “Powder Keg” of World War I • Background info: Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Turks, and Russia all had influence in the region • The “sick man of Europe” had been declining for years now • Russo-Japanese War (1905)- Russia’s loss means focus elsewhere… perhaps Balkans?

41. “Sick man of Europe” • How did surges of nationalism tear apart the Ottoman Empire? Nutshell: • Crimean War (1854): Russia’s attempt to take the Bosporus Straight from Ottomans • 1875- Nationalist revolts break out in Slavic Balkan states ruled by Ottomans • 1877-1879- Russo-Turkish War (Treaty of San Stefano)- Independence for Romania, Montenegro, Serbia--- Remember?!?

42. Balkan Wars- Here comes the Power Keg… • Balkan Crisis (aka Bosnian Crisis) (1908) • Austria and Russia make a deal… • Russia would support Austria annexing Bosnia-Herzegovina • Austria would support Russia’s demand to the Turks to open Dardanelles (for shipping)

45. Bosnian Crisis (1908-9) • Austria moved quickly and Russia did not gained access to Dardanelles (sneaky sneaky) • Russia- mad (Austria just wanted to anger Serbia and check Slavic nationalism) • Serbia- mad (they wanted Bosnia too and they hate Austria-Hungary- Slavic nationalism!!!) • Germany backs Austria!! (Note the year… Russia wasn’t in the place to challenge this after their loss of the Russo-Japanese War [1905])

46. First Balkan War (1912-1913) • The Balkan League is formed in 1912 • Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro • Declare war on Ottoman Empire • Ottomans defeated • Serbia wants to annex Albania, but Austria-Hungary blocks this • Bulgaria claims bulk of Macedonia as a spoil of war- causes the second Balkan War

47. Second Balkan War (1913) • Bulgaria vs. Serbia (originally over Macedonia) • Serbia defeats Bulgaria and seizes most of Albania • Austria (with German support) prevents Serbia from holding Albania – Serbia frustrated by Austria again • Map of Balkans, 1914 • Nationalism takes hold and breaks down Ottoman Empire- could Austria be next?!?!?!

50. Finally… the spark!!!!! • As you know, Serbia now hates Austria-Hungary for exercising too much power against the nationalist pan-Slavic movement • Remember: AH blocks annexation of Albania • A radical group, the Black Hands, of Serbia want to unite Bosnia-Herzegovina and reduce Austrian influence • Who “owns” B-H? Who lives there? • June 28, 1914- Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Bosnian capital, Sarajevo