NB #2: World
War I Causes
(Have NB#1 Map On Desk)
Pay attention to video clips and
explanations of slides to fill out
note taking guide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tletwavDMgM 7 minute summary of MAIN
4 MAIN Causes of World War I – Built up for decades before 1914
All the countries of
Europe built up their
armies and navies. In
1914, their armed forces
stood like this:
• Germany: 2,200,000
soldiers, 97 warships
• Austria-Hungary:
810,000 soldiers, 28 warships.
• Italy: 750,000 soldiers, 36
warships
• France: 1,125,000 soldiers,
62 warships
• Russia: 1,200,000 soldiers,
30 warships
• Great Britain: 711,000
soldiers, 185 warships
As each country
increased their armies,
all the others felt obliged
to increase their armed
forces and establish
alliances to keep the
‘balance of power’.
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•
•
•
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Land of Hope and Glory,
mother of the free...
God who made thee mighty,
will make thee mightier yet.
The words of Land of Hope and
Glory, English ballad sung by
British people at the parades.
Germany, Germany above all,
over everything in the world,
When it steadfastly holds
together, offensively and
defensively.
The words of the German national
anthem, Deutschland über Alles
The Balkans are a “Powder
Keg” for Conflict
The Balkans is the name used to describe
an area in southeastern Europe that was at
the crossroads of Catholic, Orthodox
Christian and Muslim influence where
religious tensions had existed for
centuries.
The Balkans were also home to many
different ethnic and language groups
that had long standing conflicts and
alliances with larger, more powerful
neighboring empires.
Nationalism was a powerful & dividing
force in the Balkans and had grown due
to many wars & changing borders in the
region. Various Balkan ethnic &
religious groups wanted their own
independent nations.
Serbia’s desire to control Bosnia created tensions
among allies: Russia (Serbia) vs. Austria-Hungary (Bosnia)
Serbia was small independent republic (allied
with the Slavic Russian Empire) that wanted
to unite all Slavs in the Balkans into one
nation of people with similar ethnic and
religious backgrounds.
Bosnia was an ethnically and religiously
mixed Balkan region controlled by the
Austro-Hungarian Empire (an ally of the
powerful German Empire). Some Slavs
living in Bosnia wanted to join Serbia.
Balkan “Powder Keg” Explodes!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtdSoeYQYk (40-43)
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visits Sarajevo, Bosnia on
June 12th, 1914
• He and his wife were assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip
• Austria-Hungary wants to punish Serbia
• “July Crisis” breaks out as allies of Serbia and Austria decide what to do
Alliance System (ironically meant to prevent war) kicks in
and quickly escalates events in summer of 1914 – see NB #1 maps
Explain how this cartoon illustrates
the situation that caused of World War I in 1914
Explain how this cartoon illustrates
the situation that caused of World War I in 1914
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Pro War Attitudes at the Start of WWI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtdSoeYQYk
PBS: The Great War Documentary (46-50):
What does the film clip show about the attitudes
of people in various nations across Europe as
World War I began?
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/378585/All-Quiet-On-The-Western-Front-Movie-Clip-Life-Of-The-Fatherland.html
1930 version of All Quiet on the Western Front classroom scene (4 min)
What does this scene illustrate about the attitudes of the German students at the onset of World War I?
World War I Summary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3UjJ5kxiLI 6 Minute Cartoon Summary of WWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XPZQ0LAlR4&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9&index=36 “Crash Course” Summary of WWI
• When: July, 1914
• Who:
to November, 1918
* Major Allied Powers:
Great Britain, France, Russia
- Later Italy & USA
• Major Central Powers:
Germany, Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary
• How:
Huge scale attacks with new deadly technology including mechanized
weapons, chemical weapons, long range artillery and air power
• Where: Most battles in Europe (Western & Eastern Fronts) with some conflict
in colonial holdings across Africa & Asia.
• What Resulted:
- 8.5 million soldiers died & 20+ million injured…millions of civilians casualties as well
- Europe economically devastated, socially embittered & politically unstable
- Treaty of Versailles ending WWI fails to solve issues that caused war and leading to an even bigger
conflict (World War II) 20 years later