PPT for Keystone World History

1. 04/07/18 1
M.A.I.N.M.A.I.N.
Causes of the Great WarCauses of the Great War
Militarism, Alliances,Militarism, Alliances,
Imperialism andImperialism and
NationalismNationalism
1880-19141880-1914

2. The Great War
Also known as “THE WAR TO END ALL
WARS” and “World War I” (Later)
Global military conflict that took place mainly in
Europe between 1914 & 1918.
It was a total war which left great devastation,
millions dead and helped shaped (perhaps usher
in) the modern world.
Great War created a decisive break with the old
Bourgeois world order of the 19th
century
Helped destroy multi-nationalism and colonialism

3. MAIN CAUSES
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
***These background causes
were building for 40-50 years
before the actual outbreak of
war in 1914.

4. Cause #1: Militarism
Militarism: building up armed forces
in preparation for war
Especially after 1871
Army and military forces given a
high profile by governments

5. HMS Dreadnought 1906

6. Naval Race
Germany, Britain and
even the United States
all rushed to build
new modern steel
warships
Natural outgrowth of
western industrial
growth
“Protection” for
Western colonial
interests

7. Cause #2: Alliances
An alliance is an
agreement to help
defend, if needed.
Several alliances were
signed between
1879- 1914
Key to diplomacy –
protect yourself &
isolate enemies
These alliances meant
that some countries
had no option but
to declare war if
one of their allies
declared war first

8. Formation of the WWI Alliances
In 1879 Germany and Austria- Hungary agreed to form a Dual
Alliance.
This became the Triple Alliance when in 1882 it was expanded to
include Italy. The three countries agreed to support each other if
attacked by either France or Russia.
France felt threatened by this alliance. Britain was also concerned
by the growth in the Germany Navy and in 1904 the two
countries signed the Entente Cordiale (friendly understanding).
The objective of the alliance was to encourage co-operation
against the perceived threat of Germany.
Three years later, Russia who also feared the growth in the German
Army, joined Britain & France to form the Triple Entente.
The Russian government was also concerned about the possibility
of Austria Hungary increasing the size of its empire. It therefore
made promises to help Serbia if it was attacked by members of
the Triple Alliance
The formation of the Triple Entente in 1907 by Britain, France and
Russia reinforced the need for the Triple Alliance.

10. Cause #3: Imperialism
Why did European powers want to colonize Africa and
Asia? How did this lead to problems between the
powers?
Due to industrialization, countries needed new markets &
resources  Imperialism!
Imperialism: establishing political, economic and military
dominance over weaker nations
By 1900, most large European powers had colonies in
Africa and / or Asia (not Austria-Hungary – too many
issues at home to think about colonies)
Britain also had its “Dominion”
independent countries that were former British colonies
Canada
Australia
New Zeeland
Newfoundland (combined with Canada in 1949)
South Africa

11. Africa
in 1880

12. Berlin Conference of 1884-85

13. “The French took everything from my country, but at least
they left us croissants.”
– Quotation from Bro. Sofiane Hafiani of Algeria

14. The “White Man’s Burden”
Rudyard Kipling
Poem written by British writer
Kipling in 1899
Called on America to bring
civilization to the “savages”
of the third world
Very paternalistic
Kipling saw non-whites as
lacking in sophistication
Call for the expansion of
Christianity to save souls as
well – call will be heeded by
missionaries around the world

15. The “White Man’s Burden”?

16. Soap – the Key to Civilization?

17. Imperialism in Asia
 Source of resources for industrial Europe
 Britain dominated most of South Asia
 East Indies claimed by the Dutch
 French in Indochina (Vietnam)
 US gets involved in the Philippines and Guam
after 1898 (Spanish-American War)
 China forced to open its markets by European
Great Powers
 Even Japan got into the act by colonizing Korea
 Russia and Britain opposed each other in the
Middle East
 By 1914 – no independent Pacific islands left

18. Asia in
1914

19. “The Sun Never Sets” on Queen Victoria’s Empire

20. Cause #4: Nationalism
Two types of
nationalism
emerged during
the era:
European
Hyper - Nationalism
Oppressed groups
desire for
independence

21. Bourgeois Nationalism
19th
century response to
international socialism
Stories, songs and images
Cult of the Nation – across
the western world
Motherland of France
Fatherland of Germany
Mother Russia
Even (some) colonials could
be seen as children of the
nation
“education” of workers
based on “universal”
nationalistic ideas
Guardian of the Rhine?

22. Nationalist Troubles?
Some sections of the
world were hotbeds
of nationalistic
“trouble”
The Balkans
Ireland
Ottoman Empire
Eastern Europe
European colonial
holdings across the
world
India
Africa
North Africa
Asia (outside Japan)

23. The hottest
of hot-spots
Europe’s
Powderkeg:
The Balkans

24. Conflict in the Balkans
Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area
The states then fought each other over which area
should belong to which state… all wanted sea
access!
Austria-Hungary then intervened and forced
Serbia to give up some of its acquisitions.
Russia intervened to protect Serbia, but backed
down after threats from Austria-Hungary.
Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary
was high
Summer 1914 – The Powderkeg Explodes

25. Archduke Ferdinand