Marching Toward WarMarching Toward War

Chapter 29, Section 1Chapter 29, Section 1

IntroductionIntroduction

Efforts to outlaw war and achieve a Efforts to outlaw war and achieve a permanent peace had been gaining permanent peace had been gaining momentum in Europe since the middle of momentum in Europe since the middle of the 19the 19thth century. century.

Some Europeans believed that progress Some Europeans believed that progress had made war a thing of the past.had made war a thing of the past.

Yet in little more than a decade, a massive Yet in little more than a decade, a massive war would spread across the globe.war would spread across the globe.

Rising Tensions in EuropeRising Tensions in Europe

Below the surface of peace and Below the surface of peace and goodwill, Europe witnessed several goodwill, Europe witnessed several gradual developments that would gradual developments that would ultimately help propel the continent ultimately help propel the continent into war.into war.

The Rise of NationalismThe Rise of Nationalism

The growth of The growth of nationalismnationalism—deep —deep devotion to one’s nation—caused intense devotion to one’s nation—caused intense competition among the competition among the Great PowersGreat Powers: : Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France.Russia, Italy, and France.

The Great Powers competed for markets The Great Powers competed for markets and territory.and territory.

Intense nationalism in the nations of the Intense nationalism in the nations of the BalkansBalkans led to demands for independence led to demands for independence among Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and among Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and others.others.

Imperialism and MilitarismImperialism and Militarism

ImperialismImperialism, and the quest for colonies , and the quest for colonies sometimes pushed European nations to sometimes pushed European nations to the brink of war and intensified the sense the brink of war and intensified the sense of rivalry and mistrust.of rivalry and mistrust.

The nations of Europe took pride in having The nations of Europe took pride in having strong militaries and being prepared for strong militaries and being prepared for war. This led to a dangerous war. This led to a dangerous arms racearms race..

Glorifying military power is called Glorifying military power is called militarismmilitarism..

Tangled AlliancesTangled Alliances

Growing rivalries and mutual mistrust had led to the creation of several military alliances among the Great Powers as early as the 1870s. This alliance system had been designed to keep peace in Europe. But it would instead help push the continent into war.

Bismarck Forges Early PactsBismarck Forges Early Pacts Between 1864 and 1871, Prussia’s blood-

and-iron chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, freely used war to unify Germany.

Bismarck saw France as the greatest threat to peace.

His goal was to isolate France and leave it without allies.

In 1879, Bismarck formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary.

In 1881, Italy joined this alliance forming the Triple Alliance.

Triple Alliance (1881)Triple Alliance (1881)

Shifting Alliances Threaten PeaceShifting Alliances Threaten Peace

In 1890, Germany’s foreign policy changed dramatically. That year, Kaiser Wilhelm II—ruler of Germany—forced Bismarck to resign.

Wilhelm let his nation’s treaty with Russia lapse in 1890.

Russia formed a military alliance with France in 1892 and 1894. Such an alliance had been Bismarck’s fear.

Picture of Kaiser Picture of Kaiser Wilhelm IIWilhelm II

Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace (continued)(continued)

Kaiser Wilhelm II starts a shipbuilding program to make the German navy equal to the British fleet.

Alarmed by this, England forms the Triple Entente with France and Russia.

Therefore, there are two rival camps in Europe: the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.

Military AlliancesMilitary AlliancesBefore World War IBefore World War I

Crisis in the BalkansCrisis in the Balkans This mountainous

peninsula in the southeastern corner of Europe was home to an assortment of ethnic groups. With a long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic clashes, the Balkans was known as the “powder keg” of Europe.

A Restless RegionA Restless Region

By the early 1900s the Ottoman Turks had By the early 1900s the Ottoman Turks had declined and the peoples of the Balkans declined and the peoples of the Balkans had formed new nations: Bulgaria, Greece, had formed new nations: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.

Serbia had a large Slavic population and Serbia had a large Slavic population and was supported by Russia.was supported by Russia.

In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia and In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian leaders were Herzegovina. Serbian leaders were outraged and tensions between the two outraged and tensions between the two nations rose.nations rose.

A Shot Rings Throughout Europe A Shot Rings Throughout Europe

On June 28, 1914 On June 28, 1914 the heir to the the heir to the throne of Austria, throne of Austria, Archduke Franz Archduke Franz FerdinandFerdinand and his and his wife wife SophieSophie, paid , paid a visit to Sarajevo, a visit to Sarajevo, the capital of the capital of Bosnia. Foolishly, Bosnia. Foolishly, they were riding in they were riding in an open car.an open car.

Assassination and UltimatumAssassination and Ultimatum

The couple was The couple was shot by 19-year-old shot by 19-year-old Gavrilo PrincipGavrilo Princip (right), a Serbian (right), a Serbian nationalist member nationalist member of the terrorist of the terrorist organization Black organization Black Hand.Hand.

Location of AssassinationLocation of Assassination

Historical MarkerHistorical Marker

UltimatumUltimatum

Austria delivers an ultimatum to Austria delivers an ultimatum to Serbia with numerous demands on Serbia with numerous demands on July 23, 1914. Serbia agreed to July 23, 1914. Serbia agreed to mostmost of the demands trying to avoid war.of the demands trying to avoid war.

Historical ArtifactHistorical Artifact

The blood stained The blood stained uniform of uniform of Archduke Franz Archduke Franz FerdinandFerdinand

The War BeginsThe War Begins

July 28, 1914: Austria rejects Serbia’s July 28, 1914: Austria rejects Serbia’s offer of most of the demands and offer of most of the demands and declared war on Serbia.declared war on Serbia.

Russia, the protector of Serbia, Russia, the protector of Serbia, mobilizes its forces toward the mobilizes its forces toward the Austrian border.Austrian border.