U.S. History – WWI  European Conflict
I.
The “MAIN” Causes
a. M

Militarism
b. A

Alliances
c. I

Imperialism
d. N

Nationalism
II.
Road to World War
a. The Balkan Powder-keg
i. as the Ottoman Empire continued to break up, nationalism prevailed in the
Balkans
ii. the relatively “new” independent states continued to stir up nationalistic feelings
1. Serbia led the way with a dream for a unified Slavic region
2. Russia will ultimately back this “Pan-Slavism”
iii. Series of conflicts break out in the Balkans
1. ending in the need for an international conference
2. the British-sponsored conference found in the favor of Austrian control
over various parts of the Balkans
3. however, the Serbs did not want to give up parts of the newly Austrian
territory
4. Austria issued the Serbs an ultimatum and the Serbs withdrew their
forces from the region
5. many Austrians wanted to do away with the Serbs altogether, but the
Austrian Emperor and the heir to the throne (Archduke Francis
Ferdinand) did not want to do that
b. “The Spark”
i. June 28, 1914
1. Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie were
assassinated by a group of Serbian revolutionaries (“Black Hand”)
2. Austria made Serbia fully to blame
ii. Austria sent Serbia an ultimatum – cede its entire state and accept the blame for
the murder and all would be well
1. Serbia agreed to some of the terms, but not all
2. Austria declared war on Serbia
3. Another Balkan “summer war” ???
c. “Tangled Alliances”
i. Germany gave Austria a “blank check” encouraging them to do whatever was
necessary to keep strong and powerful, coming to Austria’s defense
ii. due to Pan-Slavism, Russia came to Serbia’s defense…
1. Russia even attempted to work with Germany on the situation, but
Germany refused to back down
2. Russia began to mobilize
iii. upon Russia’s mobilization, France came to Russia’s aid
1. Germany foresaw a two-front war…
2. believed the western front to be easier to deal with, then work on the east
3. Schlieffen Plan – Germans would attack France before Russia was ready
4. Germany believed that getting to France meant putting troops in Belgium
– Belgium had been declared neutral and countries were to respect that
5. Germany refused to recognized Belgium’s neutrality and marched
through anyway…invading France
iv. Britain came to France and Belgium’s defense
v. the “Great War” had begun…
III.
Slaughter and Stalemate (1914-1918)
a. rival sides
i. Central Powers = Germany and Austria-Hungary (later joined by Ottoman
Empire)
ii. Allied Powers (Triple Entente) = Russia, France, & G.B. (later joined by Italy
and Japan)
b. quick victory was expected by both sides
i. Allied Powers possessed the numbers, resources, and command of the sea
ii. Central Powers possessed internal lines of communication and having launched
the first attack
c. trench warfare! (really associated with the western front!)