History WW1 Causes

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nationalism

a deep devotion to one’s nation that promotes unity and can lead to competition or conflict with other nations.

the great powers of Europe

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, France

Causes for tensions among the great powers

1.) Competition for materials and industry

2.) Territorial disputes in Alsace-Lorraine and the Balkans

3.) Imperialism/Militarism

militarism

policy that glorified military power and was used to justify keeping an army ready for war

Otto von Bismarck

Prussia’s chancellor who unified Germany through war, he said Germany was a satisfied power that wasn’t focused on war

Cause of tensions between France and Germany

Bismarck thought that France wanted revenge after the Franco-Prussian War

the Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

the Triple Entente

Britain, France, Russia

Wilhelm II

The ruler of Germany; heightened tensions by letting his treaty with Russia lapse and pursuing a more aggressive foreign policy.

the “powder keg of Europe“

Nickname for the Balkans, as it was the site for nationalist/ethnic uprisings

Franz Ferdinand

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne who was assassinated by the Black Hand

Gavrilo Princip

19 year old Serbian member of the Black Hand and was Ferdinand’s killer

the Black Hand

Terrorist secret society that was behind the murder and wanted to rid Bosnia of Austrian rule

the MAIN causes

1.) Militarism

2.) Alliances

3.) Imperialism

4.) Nationalism

the Dreyfus Affair

in 1894, French Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus was found guilty for espionage off of fabricated documents and forged signatures; part of the historical patern of antisemitism

Examples that Europe and the rest of the world were already a battlefield

1.) Ireland was on the brink of civil war

2.) The massacre of the Herero people by Germany in Southwest Africa

3.) The closure of the university of Hanoi and imprisonment and murder of professors by the French

4.) Boer rebellion

5.) 1905 Revolution in Russia

the Bismarckian System of Alliances

Bismarck established the system to keep the peace in Europe, largely successful in preventing a large war but ended when Wilhelm II cancelled a treaty with Russia

Wilhelm II’s role in bringing Europe closer to war

1.) Cancelled a treaty with Russia so they allied with France

2.) Ordered Germany to become a global superpower

3.) He built Germany’s navy to be the strongest in Europe

Reasons for Archduke Ferdinand’s Assasination

The Hapsburgs annexed Bosnia but Bosnia joining Serbia was a dream of Serbian nationalists but that dream was blocked by Austria, in retaliation they got rid of the heir to the throne

Austria in the decades leading up to WW1

1.) Austria’s emperor was an 84 year old man on his death bed

2.) His foreign minister, Berthold wasn’t evil or stupid but he was weak

3.) They struggled with nationalism in the country and that could’ve broken the country apart

The Balkans in the decades leading up to WW1

1.) The Ottoman Empire got weaker and weaker and rebellions broke out in Ottoman occupied Balkan areas

2.) Nationalism against the empire rose

3.) Austria-Hungary faced hostility from the Balkans

Germany in the decades leading up to WW1

1.) Germany was relatively young (formed 40 years before the war), but was a strong nation

2.) Despite their strength, they were denied all the rights of a great world power, like having colonies

3.) Germany wanted to prevent a Franco-Russian alliance

4.) Kaiser Wilhelm II moved Gernamy towards an expansionist stnafce

Russia in the decades leading up to WW1

1.) Alexander II led Russia who got rid of the serfdom, reformed the court, and pursued peace

2.) He knew Russia was not in a position to engage in European war but he suppressed revolutionaries and separatists\

3.) Replaced by Nicholas II who wasn’t as smart and was easily persuaded

Fay’s Thesis of the origins of the War

While Austria-Hungary was directly responsible for the immediate origins of the war, all of the great powers engaged in militarism, alliiances, imperialism, and nationalism.

Fay’s Thesis on the Treaty of Versailles

Fay’s Thesis didn’t place the blame on one country like the Treaty of Versailles which blamed Germany. According to Fay, it doesn’t make sense for the “victors“ to be blinded through hatred and rage and blame the vanquished

What Serbia could potentially gain from a European war

the achievement of national unity for all Serbs

What Austria could gain from a European wide war

The checking of opponent nationalism and affirming themselves as the strongest great power

What Russia could gain from a European wide war

Control of Constantinople and the straits

What Germany could gain from a European wide war

New economic advantages and restoration of European balance/peace

What France would gain from a European wide war

Recovery of Alsace-Lorraine and stopping Germany

What England could gain from a European wide war

stopping Germany’s navy and militarism gaining control over trade routes and protecting its empire.

Reasons to blame Austria-Hungary

Were first to declare war, designed an impossible treaty/ultimatum

Reasons for Austro-Hungarian Innocence

To get justice for assassination and put down the threat of Serbian Nationalism/Pan-Slavism

Reasons to blame Britain

They never sent a strong warning to Germany that they would take France and Russia’s side; Did not want to endanger the legitimacy of the alliances which led to escalation in Paris and in St. Petersburg

Reasons for British Innocence

He tried to make many alliances with Germany but they failed

Reasons to blame France

Dit it out of anger for Germans after Franco-Prussian war

Reasons for French Innocence

They lost territory (Alsace and Lorraine) and wanted it back

Reasons to blame Germany

Mobilized army through Belgium; second to declare war

Reasons for Germany Innocence

forced to support Austria-Hungary; urged Austria-Hungary to pursue peace with Serbia and wanted to stop the war

Reasons to blame Russia

First major power to order a full military mobilization

Reasons for Russian Innocence

military mobilization was in response to Austria-Hungary's aggression towards Serbia; aimed to protect Slavic nations and maintain stability in the region.

Reasons to blame Serbia

The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was an immediate cause to WW1, first to gear up for war/mobilize army, didn’t help to catch “Black Hand“ members

Reasons for Serbian Innocence

they wanted freedom, they didn’t declare war first and were primarily seeking independence from Austro-Hungarian control, not a whole war

Pasic

Prime Minister of Serbia during the early 20th century, known for his role in Serbian politics leading up to World War I.

Berchtold

Austro-Hungarian foreign minister who played a key role in the diplomatic crisis following the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, advocating for a strong response against Serbia.

Bethmann Hollweg

German Chancellor at the outbreak of World War I, he supported Austria-Hungary's actions against Serbia and was instrumental in the decision-making process that led Germany into the war.

Sergey Sazonov

Russian Foreign Minister who was involved in mobilizing Russia's support for Serbia and played a crucial role in the diplomatic responses to the crisis that precipitated World War I.

Poincare

French politician and statesman, he served as President of France during World War I and was a key figure in shaping French foreign policy, particularly regarding alliances and the war effort against Germany.

San Giuliano

Italian Foreign Minister who supported Austria-Hungary's stance and influenced Italy's position during the early stages of World War I.

Sir Edward Grey

British statesman and Foreign Secretary at the onset of World War I, he was instrumental in promoting diplomatic efforts to prevent war and played a significant role in forming alliances against Germany.