Causes of WWICauses of WWIImperialism and ColonialismImperialism and Colonialism

Essential QuestionEssential Question

How did How did European European colonization colonization and and imperialism imperialism lead to WWI?lead to WWI?

WWI Time PeriodWWI Time Period

WWI began in WWI began in 19141914

and ended in and ended in 19181918

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M – MilitarismM – MilitarismA – AlliancesA – Alliances I – ImperialismI – ImperialismN - NationalismN - Nationalism

MilitarismMilitarism

During the early 1900s, many European During the early 1900s, many European countries spent much of their wealth on countries spent much of their wealth on building strong armies and navies.building strong armies and navies.

This focus on developing a strong military This focus on developing a strong military is called is called MilitarismMilitarism

Countries wanted strong militaries to Countries wanted strong militaries to defend their coloniesdefend their colonies

AlliancesAlliances

European leaders wanted other countries European leaders wanted other countries to think twice before declaring war on to think twice before declaring war on their country.their country.

To defend themselves countries would join To defend themselves countries would join an alliance. An alliance is an agreement an alliance. An alliance is an agreement between nations to unite for a common between nations to unite for a common cause.cause.• Each member of an alliance agrees to Each member of an alliance agrees to

help the other members in case one of help the other members in case one of them is attacked.them is attacked.

ImperialismImperialism

By the beginning of the 1900s, Europe’s By the beginning of the 1900s, Europe’s most powerful countries had colonies all most powerful countries had colonies all over the world.over the world.

• Mainly Mainly EnglandEngland, , FranceFrance, , SpainSpain, , PortugalPortugal and othersand others

• At this time, these countries had many At this time, these countries had many colonies in Africa and Asiacolonies in Africa and Asia

ImperialismImperialism

NationalismNationalism NationalismNationalism is having strong pride in one’s is having strong pride in one’s

nation or ethnic group.nation or ethnic group.

• An An ethnic groupethnic group is people with similar is people with similar languages and traditionslanguages and traditions

• European countries were very sensitive European countries were very sensitive and willing to go to war in the early and willing to go to war in the early 1900s to protect their honor.1900s to protect their honor.

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Britain’s sea power gave it command of Britain’s sea power gave it command of the World’s shipping lanes and control the World’s shipping lanes and control over a vast empire stretching from the over a vast empire stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to Southeast Asia.Mediterranean Sea to Southeast Asia.

However, Germany would mount a However, Germany would mount a challenge to British power.challenge to British power.

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After becoming a unified country in 1871, After becoming a unified country in 1871, Germany grew rich and used its wealth to Germany grew rich and used its wealth to build it’s Army and Navy.build it’s Army and Navy.

However, Russia was also expanding and However, Russia was also expanding and becoming a threat to Germany.becoming a threat to Germany.

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WWI rumbled onto the global stage when a WWI rumbled onto the global stage when a Serbian sniper, seeking to free his ethnic group Serbian sniper, seeking to free his ethnic group from Austrian rule, assassinated Archduke from Austrian rule, assassinated Archduke Ferdinand.Ferdinand.

The assassination sparked a series of great power The assassination sparked a series of great power actions and reactions in the five weeks that actions and reactions in the five weeks that followed, shattering world peace.followed, shattering world peace.

Germany was allied with Austria-Hungary and Germany was allied with Austria-Hungary and went to war against Serbia for the assassination.went to war against Serbia for the assassination.

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Germany wanted a short war which would give Germany wanted a short war which would give them status and keep Russia from getting any them status and keep Russia from getting any status.status.

France and Russia joined forces to defend Serbia. France and Russia joined forces to defend Serbia. Soon after, they were joined by Britain in an effort Soon after, they were joined by Britain in an effort to contain Germany.to contain Germany.

The war became truly global when the United The war became truly global when the United States, reacting to the German sinking of the States, reacting to the German sinking of the Lusitannia by submarines, entered the war. Lusitannia by submarines, entered the war.

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Austria, believing that they were protecting their Austria, believing that they were protecting their pride, could not comprehend why Russia labeled pride, could not comprehend why Russia labeled them the aggressors.them the aggressors.

Germany’s insensitivity to other countries, Germany’s insensitivity to other countries, prevented them from understanding the prevented them from understanding the Russian’s pride and their fear of humiliation if Russian’s pride and their fear of humiliation if they allowed the Germans and Austrians to they allowed the Germans and Austrians to destroy Serbia, whom they were sworn to protect.destroy Serbia, whom they were sworn to protect.

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With each side believing that they were right, With each side believing that they were right, diplomatic alternatives to war were quickly diplomatic alternatives to war were quickly evaporated.evaporated.

WWI destroyed both life and property and WWI destroyed both life and property and changed the face of Europe. changed the face of Europe.

Design a TestDesign a Test

You will be the You will be the teachers for the rest teachers for the rest of class.of class.

You will be making a You will be making a test that the other test that the other side of class will side of class will have to take.have to take.

Each side of the Each side of the class will make a 10 class will make a 10 Question Test.Question Test.

Remember!Remember!

The Questions MUST deal with the The Questions MUST deal with the causes of WWI.causes of WWI.

The question MUST be answerable.The question MUST be answerable. Your group MUST know the answer to Your group MUST know the answer to

any question you make.any question you make. Try to make it hard. See if the other Try to make it hard. See if the other

side can pass it.side can pass it.