Unit 12: The road to WW I

CausesThe Outbreak

The Eastern and Western Fronts

CausesNationalism (2 examples)– Alsace and Lorraine: The French were still

very bitter about losing this border region in the Franco-Prussian War

– Pan-Slavism– Russians believed that they had to defend their

“little Slavic brothers” (EX: Serbia)

Imperial Rivalry (Defn.)– Great Britain was threatened by German

industrial growth – Crisis in Africa: Britain and France drawn closer

together by their common mission of keeping Germany out of Northern Africa

More Causes

Militarism: Glorification of the military, Warfare, and armed forces. Preparedness for war. War as a romantic undertaking– Social Darwinism

War as a biological necessity – Arms Race: The Kaiser (Wilhelm II)

built a navy to rival that of Great Britain

Kaiser Wilhelm II

1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II becomes emperor of Germany– Biography

Relatives in Russia and Great Britain– Fired Bismarck for being overly friendly

towards Russia

Crisis in the Balkans

Beginning in 1875 rebellions against the Ottoman Empire (the “sick man” of Europe) resulted in tensions among the great powers and Russian intervention– 1878: Serbia gained independence

but the Austrians won the right to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina (large Serbian populations)

Entangling Alliances

Bismarck’s goal after 1871: To be in a “majority of three”1873: The Three Emperors League (Germany. A-H, and Russia) an alliance against radical movements– After Bismarck is fired Germany loses Russia

to France

Result: The Triple Entente (GB, Russia, ,France) and the Triple Alliance (Germ. Aus-Hung, Italy)

Sarajevo June 28th 1914Gavrillo Princep a Serbian nationalist (Black Hand) shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife SophieThe Austrians responded by asking Germany for their support– Germany gives them a “blank

check” and Austria issues an ultimatum to Serbia (48 hrs)

Serbia must end all anti-Austrian activity and allow Austria to run the investigation into the matter