Marching Toward

WarChapter 29, Section 1

Adapted from: Ms. Susan M. Pojer and Mr. Gregory Yankey

Aggressive NationalismAggressive Nationalism

IntroductionO Efforts to outlaw war and achieve a

permanent peace had been gaining momentum in Europe since the middle of the 19th century.

O Some Europeans believed that progress had made war a thing of the past.

O Yet in little more than a decade, a massive war would spread across the globe.

Rising Tensions in Europe

OBelow the surface of peace and goodwill, Europe witnessed several gradual developments that would ultimately help propel the continent into war.

The Rise of Nationalism

OEurope enjoys peace in late 1800s but problems lie below the surface

OGrowing nationalism leads to competition among nations

ONationalism in the Balkans leads many groups to demand independence

The Balkan Wars: 1912-1913The Balkan Wars: 1912-1913

The Balkans in 1914

The Balkans in 1914

Imperialism and Militarism

O Imperialism, and the quest for colonies sometimes pushed European nations to the brink of war and intensified the sense of rivalry and mistrust.

OThe nations of Europe took pride in having strong militaries and being prepared for war. This led to a dangerous arms race.

OGlorifying military power is called militarism.

Tangled AlliancesOGrowing rivalries and mutual

mistrust had led to the creation of several military alliances among the Great Powers as early as the 1870s. This alliance system had been designed to keep peace in Europe. But it would instead help push the continent into war.

Bismarck Forges Early PactsOGermany’s Otto von Bismarck

works to keep peace in Europe aft 1871

OBelieves France wants revenge for loss in 1870 Franco-Prussian War

OSeeks to isolate the French with a series of treaties and alliances:OSigns treaty with Russia in 1881OForms Triple Alliance in 1882

OGermanyOAustria-HungaryOItaly

Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace

OKaiser Wilhelm II becomes German rulerOForeign policy changes begin in 1890

with dismissal of BismarckO Alliance with Russia dropped; Russia then

allies with FranceO Efforts to strengthen German navy, which

alarms Britain

OBritain, France, Russia form Triple Entente alliance in 1907

Triple Alliance (1881)

The Alliance SystemThe Alliance System

Triple EntenteTriple Entente::Triple EntenteTriple Entente:: Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::

Two Armed Camps!Two Armed Camps!Allied PowersAllied Powers::Allied PowersAllied Powers:: Central PowersCentral Powers::Central PowersCentral Powers::

The Major Players: 1914-17The Major Players: 1914-17

Nicholas II [Rus]

Nicholas II [Rus]

George V [Br]George V [Br]

Pres. Poincare [Fr]

Pres. Poincare [Fr]

Allied Powers:Allied Powers:

Franz Josef [A-H]]Franz Josef [A-H]]

Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]

Victor Emmanuel II [It]

Victor Emmanuel II [It]

Central Powers:Central Powers:

Enver Pasha[Turkey]

Enver Pasha[Turkey]

Military AlliancesBefore World War I

Crisis in the BalkansO This mountainous

peninsula in the southeastern corner of Europe was home to an assortment of ethnic groups. With a long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic clashes, the Balkans was known as the “powder keg” of Europe.

A Restless RegionOBy the early 1900s the Ottoman Turks

had declined and the peoples of the Balkans had formed new nations: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.

OSerbia had a large Slavic population and was supported by Russia.

O In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian leaders were outraged and tensions between the two nations rose.

A Shot Rings Throughout Europe

OOn June 28, 1914 the heir to the throne of Austria, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, paid a visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Foolishly, they were riding in an open car.

Historical Artifact

OThe blood stained uniform of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Assassination and Ultimatum

OThe couple was shot by 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist member of the terrorist organization Black Hand.

Location of Assassination

Historical Marker

Ultimatum

OAustria delivers an ultimatum to Serbia with numerous demands on July 23, 1914. Serbia agreed to most of the demands trying to avoid war.

The War Begins

O July 28, 1914: Austria rejects Serbia’s offer of most of the demands and declared war on Serbia.

ORussia, the protector of Serbia, mobilizes its forces toward the Austrian border.

Who’s To Blame?Who’s To Blame?