MANIA- Causes of WWI

MANIA- Causes of WWI

How did militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism, and assassination conflate to spark the Great War?

Militarism

Glorification of the military- armed forces and the readiness for war dominated national policies in Europe.

Alliances

Nationalist tensions and imperialist competition caused European leaders to form alliances to create powerful combinations that no one would attack.

Alliances- Triple Entente

• feared Germany wanted to dominate Europe

• Britain, France, Russia

Alliances- Triple Alliance

• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

• Kaiser William II of Germany did not renew its alliance with Russia

• Block France from gaining territory from Germany

Alliances-Secrets

• BUT . . .

• Italy had a side treaty not to attack France

• Germany made a treaty with the Ottoman Empire

• Britain had a treaty to protect Belgium and keep it neutral

• Russia agreed to protect Serbia

• Britain started a relationship with Japan

Nationalism

• Germany proud of nation's success

• France bitter about its lost territory (Alsace- Lorraine)

• Russia- Pan Slavism- supports all Slavic nations including new Serbia

• Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire worried about minority ethnic group rebellion

Imperialism

Economic rivalries based on success in the colonies and trade enterprises. Competition in the colonies was fierce and fear- based.

Assassination

• Balkan Powder Keg

• Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Bulgaria took land from Turkey and fought over it

• Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to Austria Hungary, traveled to Serbia, a nation trying to gain independence from Austria- Hungary

• Gavrilo Princip was a Serbian nationalist and shot the Archduke and his wife

Multiple Choice

The European nations formed two great alliances because they wanted to

• promote trade and commerce.

• create a single, unified government.

• protect themselves from their enemies.

• be prepared for the coming of World War I.

Multiple Choice

Imperialism increased tensions in Europe because

• countries built up their military to protect their colonies.

• colonies were threatening to invade Europe.

• colonies were building their own military alliances.

• emperors needed more soldiers to defend their capital cities.

Multiple Choice

How did Austria’s alliance with Germany affect Austria’s reaction to the assassination of Francis Ferdinand?

• It prompted Austria to take a firmer stand against Serbia.

• It prompted Serbia to send Austria an ultimatum.

• It prompted Austria to go to war with Germany.

• It prompted Austria to negotiate with Serbia.