Should you always support a friend, no matter what he or she does?

What might be the long-term consequences of refusing to help an ally?

The Great War

General InfoStarted July 28th, 1914

Ended November 11th, 1918

22,000,000 Casualties 8,000,000 dead

Russia had most losses = 1.7 Million

More complex causes than WW2

Greatly changed the map of Europe.

Before

After

Causes

Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Assassination

M.A.I.N.A

MilitarismPolicy of building up a strong military to prepare for war.

Referred to many times as an “arms race”. Nations didn't want to fall behind, armies and navies grew across Europe.

Example: Germany vs. EnglandThe battle for naval supremacy between Germany and England was the best example of this leading up to the War. Both saw the importance of controlling shipping lanes. Shifts throughout the War.

AlliancesAgreements between nations to give aid and protect one another.

BIG Problem… One event could drag many countries into war!!!

VS.

Alliance vs. The EntenteTriple Alliance established in 1882. Triple Entente :

France-Russia 1894 Anglo (English)-French 1904 Anglo-Russia 1907

Seen as a response to the Triple Alliance.

Each promised to defend the other if attacked.

Did not promise to protect each other, but they did encircle Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Italy would later switch to the Allies (what the Entente would be called).

The Entente built on strategy, not goodwill.

Alliances cont.

VS

ImperialismImperialism began in response to growing industrial economies.

Nations began to grab land to obtain resources.

Biggest competitions between Germany and Britain and France and Germany.

Remember, Germany as a nation-state is only 43 years old. Pressured to catch up.

Nationalism• Feeling that people of similar ethnic-groups should form

independent nations.

• Strong in the Balkan area. (Greeks, Albanians, Romanians, and Slavs)

• Bosnia became huge area of conflict.

• Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia in 1908. But newly independent Serbia felt it should be theirs.

The Black Hand• A Serbian nationalist terrorist group.

• Goal: Use violence to build a stronger Serbia.

Their Plan• Assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand while he is visiting

Bosnia.

• First attempt failed…

But the second…

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Domino Effect• Alliances would pull many European powers into

war.

• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for Franz’ death, declared war on Serbs.

• Germany supported A-H, Russia backed Serbia.

• Germany declares war on Russia, France supports Russia.

• Naturally, Germany declares war on France. Invades Belgium on the way to France.

• England backs up Belgium declares war on Germany.