WWI Notes

Pursuit of Peace

A. Early 1900’s- many efforts at peace1. Alfred Nobel: Invents dynamite & sets up Nobel

Peace Prize

2. 1896: 1st modern Olympics held in Athens

3. Pacifism: anti-war

Nationalism- cause of tensionsA. France & Germany

1. Germany: military power & industrial leadership

2. France: Bitter against German occupation; wants revolt

B. Eastern Europe

1. Russia (Pan-Slavinism): unification of all Slavic people

2. Austria-Hungary: worried about rebellion of Slavs

Eastern Europe

3. Ottoman Turkey: felt threatened by new nations on borders

4. 1912- Balkan States: attacked Turkey

Rivalries among European PowersA. Economic Rivalries:

Britain v Germany Britain threatened by

Germany’s rapid growth

B. Imperialism: colonization in other countries

Rivalries among European PowersC. Militarism & Arms Race: glorification of

military & building up army

1. “Social Darwinism”: Survival of the fittest

Tangle of Alliances

Distrust led to great powers signing treaties pledging to defend another

A. 1882- Triple Alliance Austria-Hungary,

Germany, Italy

Tangle of Alliances

B. Central Powers: Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, Germany

C. Allies: France Britain Russia

Guns of August

A. Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary1. Gavrilo Princip: assassinated archduke & wife

2. June 28, 1914: date of assassination (war officially started one month later)

Conflict Widens

A. Austria sends Serbia an ultimatum to avoid war

B. From capital to capital word spread & countries started backing each other

Conflict Widens

C. Shelieffen Plan: Germany to invade France1. Aug. 3 1914: Germany invaded Belgium

**War: men ran to enlist; each side blamed each other

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5lmcWLi1jQ