Seeds of Conflict
• Economics
– Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Italy were trying to expand their empires
• Nationalism
– France wanted revenge on the Germans for the loss of land in the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871)
– Austria- Hungary worried about Serbian activities in the Balkans
Seeds of Conflict
• Militarism and Alliances – Militarism: policy of
aggressive military preparedness
– Alliance system: international combination of states • Otto von Bismarck created
League of Three Emperors (1872)
– Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia
• Italy joined the Austro-German alliance which became the Triple alliance
Seeds of Conflict
• 1890’s Russia and France signed a secret military alliance in which they agreed to come to each others aid if attacked by Austria Hungary or Germany or both
• 1904 Entente Cordiale between France and Britain
– Russia and Britain solved issues and became the Triple Entente
– Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance
Outbreak of the War
• June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Heir to the throne of Austria) went to Sarajevo, Bosnia – Planned to give the Slavs
more equal role in the Austria-Hungarian government when he became emperor
– Bomb got thrown at his motorcade, it missed, but injured a half a dozen people behind them
– Eventually shot by 19 year old Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian student
Outbreak of the War
• Gavrilo Princip was one of 7 Union of Death or Black Hand assassins lined up on the parade route
• The Austrian- Hungarian leaders held the Serbians responsible for the assassination
– Encouraged by the Germans to think like this
• “blank check”
Ultimatum
• July 23, 1914 Serbia couldn’t (or wouldn’t) accept the terms of interrogation about the assassination
• July 28,1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
– Many European powers tried to stay out of the war
• Russia acted first, with Germany saying to stay out, also told France not to interfere
War
• August 1st, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia and two days later on France
• Britain managed to stay neutral for a little while during negotiations
– Didn’t make is apparent if they were going to support Russia and France
• Germany marched into Luxemburg and demanded passage across Belgium
Britain’s Entry
• Belgium was a neutral country• Belgium refused and asked Britain for help (August
3rd Germany invaded Belgium) • August 4th British had no choice but to declare war
on Germany
Classwork
• Using the map provided find and label (and color):
Austria-Hungary GermanyBritainFranceRussia Italy Belgium Luxemburg
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