The Causes of WW1

•Militarism

•Alliances

•Imperialism

•Nationalism

Militarism

• Def: Building up of arms (weapons) to deter (scare) others from attacking.

• Germany was competing with the UK to build battleships.

• The British feared an attack on their Empire

Militarism

• Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies

Alliances• Def: Banding together

of countries against a common threat.

• By 1914, all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances.

• The alliances made it more likely that a war would start.

• Once started, the alliances made it more likely to spread.

Alliances

• Triple Entente (France, Britain and Russia) vs. Triple Alliances (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy)

• Allies vs. Central Powers• Also, Serbia, which Russia promised to protect.• Also Belgium, which Britain promised to protect• And, the colonies, such as Canada, who were

automatically at war when Britain went to war

Imperialism

• All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory.

• Land = power

• Germany was envious of Britain’s colonial possessions (25% of globe)

• The British feared Germany in Africa

• Serbia feared Austria (terrorism)

• The Austrians feared Serbia (allies with Russia)

Nationalism

• Def: Feelings of great loyalty to one’s people and homeland. Can lead to feelings of superiority.

• This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and independence.

• In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.

• Balkan = Serbia, Bulgaria Albania, Romania, etc. Serbia’s

national flag

Nationalism

• Britain: large navy, empire• France: history of “greatness”• Russia: big (land)• Austria-Hungary: large empire, strong army,

“natural leaders of Europe”• Germany: navy rivaled Britain; “natural leaders

of Europe”• Italy: recently unified as a country; looking to

prove itself

The Crisis!!!

• Look to page 69, the “final steps of war” and fill in worksheet 3-2

The Crisis 1.

• 28 June 1914• Heir to Austrian

throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.

• Capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed by Austria. Seal of the

Black Hand group

The Crisis 2.

• “Black Hand” –Serbian nationalist group /‘terrorists’ attack the Arch Duke

• Bomb attempt fails in morning

• Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon.

• Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists.

Assassination at Sarajevo, Bosnia

The couple leaving Sarajevo City Hall and entering the car for the last time.

Princip (second from right) in police custody.

The Crisis 3.

• Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum (demand by one government to another – accept terms or face war).

• Serbia agrees to all but one term of the ultimatum.(pg 69)

• Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia• Germany demands that Russia stands her

armies down -> Russia refuses• Germany declares war on Russia (Aug. 1,

1914) and on France the next day

Class WorkPage 61-63• What was Canada's role in the war? In what ways did we participate?• How are Canadian soldiers attacking? How are they defending

themselves? What weapons are being used?• How did Canadians feel about participating in the war? Was Canada

prepared for the war?

Page 71• Why did Canada go to war?• Why did Canadians choose to enlist?• How well did Canada prepare for war?

Page 83-85• What is trench warfare?• How was trench war fought, and what was the essential goal of trench

war?• Detail the challenges faced by soldiers in the trenches.

Why did Canada get involved?

• Canada was an independent country

• But all foreign policy controlled by Britain

• When Britain went to war, Canada automatically went to war

The Schlieffen Plan

Germany decides to attack France by entering through neutral Belgium