WORLD WAR I

An Analysis of the Causes of the Great War until 1914

State of Europe, Year 1900

Formation of Germany as a power in Europe (1871)Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

Italian state forms (1861) Ottoman Empire “sick man of Europe”

Balkan states emerge Globalization

Colonization of Asia and Africa

Militarism

International tensions = need for large militaries

Industrial Revolution and Technological advancesProduced more and better weapons

○ Ex. Dreadnaughts, 12” guns, machineguns, steam engines, steel, railroads, submarines

German and British rivalryNaval arms race

Innovations of War

Alliance Systems

Otto von Bismarck’s treatiesUsed alliances to deter war following the

Franco-Prussian War○ Dual Alliance (1879)○ Emperors’ League (1881)

Triple Alliance 1882Germany, Austria-Hungry, and Italy

Triple Entente 1907France, Russia, and Great Britain

○ French feared war with Germany

European Alliances as of 1914

Imperialism

Continued expansion and protection of colonies established in the 18th and 19th centuries

Race for colonies in Asia and Africa British, French, Dutch, US, Japan and

Russia have large holdings Germany only has a small portion in Africa

Russia’s need for a “warm water” portConflicted with Europe for territory in the

Balkans

Imperialism cont.

Nationalism

Formation of Germany (1871) and Italy (1861)Transformed the balance of European Power

Self-determination of ethnic Slavs within Austria-HungryEthnic Slavs wanted to become part of

SerbiaBulgarian Independence (1885)

National pride forced nations to prove themselves on the international scene

Crises that Challenge Europe

Berlin Conference 1878 Established Balkan countries

○ Russia, Great Britain, Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungry all had interests in the region

Moroccan CrisisAsserts German naval and industrial power Tests British-French alliance

Balkan Wars 1912-1913Russia backs downStops Serbia from having a coastlinePushes Europe closer to the brink of War

The “Powder Keg” Explodes Assassination of Archduke Francis

Ferdinand on June 28,1914 by the Black Hand

Francis Ferdinand

Assassination of Francis Ferdinand

Declaration of war Following the assassination Austria-Hungry

wanted to punish SerbsBlank Check

○ False assumptionsUltimatum

Austria-Hungry declares war July 28th 1914 Mobilization of Europe

Russia stations troops along Austro-Hungarian Boarder○ Germany Declares war on August 1st 1914 and

Aug. 3rd against France

Onset of War 1914 Germany invades France

Schiefflen Plan ○ Maginot Line ○ Declaration of war by Great Britain

The Battle of the MarneEnsures a long war “Race to the Sea”

Russian InvasionGalicia Campaign and Battles at Tannenburg and

Masurian LakesRussia and Austria lose heavily

Western Front (1914)

Eastern Front (1914)

WWI -1914 Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungry,

Bulgaria, and Ottoman EmpireWell trained German TroopsIndustrializationRailways and Arms stockpiles

Allied Powers – Russia, France, Great Britain (joined by US in 1917)French have best trained officersGreat Britain’s blockade of Germany

○ Control the watersRussian army is ineffective

WWI – 1914 cont.

A revolution in warfare occursResults in high death rates

○ New destructive technology○ Old strategies of pre-industrial era are not

effective

Citations O'Neil , Timothy. "WWI: Origins of the Great

War." HST 106 Lecture. Mount Pleasant . 12 Jan 2011. Lecture.

Mazour, Anatole Gregory, and John M. Peoples. "World War I and the Russian Revolution altered the Course of History." World history: people and nations. Annotated teacher's ed. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990. 638-644. Print

Northwest Europe 1914: German Withdrawal to the Aisne and Stabilization of The Front . 2009. Map. Wikipedia.org

Central Europe 1914: Eastern Front 1914. 2006. Map. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Australian Infantry Small Box Respirators Ypres 1917. 19.17. Photograph. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Vickers WWI. 1957. Photograph. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Fokker Dr1 on the Ground. 1918. Photograph. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Francis Ferdinand. 1914. Photograph. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Partition of Africa 1885-1914. 2008. Map. Wikispaces.net. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Imperialism in Asia 1914. 2008. Map. Wikispaces.net. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Gavrilo Princip Assassinates Francis Ferdinand . 1914. Painting. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Francis Ferdinand. 1914. Photograph. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Partition of Africa 1885-1914. 2008. Map. Wikispaces.net. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

Imperialism in Asia 1914. 2008. Map. Wikispaces.net. Web. 27 Feb 2012.

HMS Dreadnought Guns. 1922. Photograph. Wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Feb 2012.