The Road To War

Europe: 1914

Causes of World
War 1
1. Emergence of
Germany as a major
power
. 1900 Most German
speaking people are
united under one
nation Germany
. Wish to be recognized
as a world power
. Wants colonies and
territory

Causes of World
War 1
2. Imperialism
(Clash of Empires)
. The Act of empire
building
. Britain, France, Spain
and Portugal have
many colonies = big
Empires
. Germany wants an
empire too

Causes of World
War 1
3. Naval / Arms Race
. Britain had the largest
Navy to protect its
empire
. Germany wanted a navy
too, to acquire colonies
and then protect them
. Britain saw Germanys
naval growth as a direct
threat!!!

Causes of World
War 1
4. Nationalism
. Pride in ones
country
. Citizens were
prepared to do
anything for their
nation even go
to war

5. The Alliances of WWI

Causes of World
War 1
6. The SPARK - the

assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand

Austrian heir,
Archduke Ferdinand
and his wife are killed
by a Serbian terrorist
group, the Black
Hand, in Sarajevo,
Bosnia a state
within the AustroHungarian Empire

The SPARK

- the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand Continued

Black Hand Serbian Nationalist Terrorist group.

Resent being a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Serbia historically closer to Russia not Austria-Hungary
Kill the A-H heir

The SPARK

- the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand Continued

Summer 1914

Alliances kick in
July 29
July 28

July 25
July 23
June 28

Russia mobilizes

Austria invades Serbia

Serbia replies, rejecting them

Austria sends ultimatum (list of demands) to Serbia

Archduke Ferdinand is
assassinated at Sarajevo

The SPARK

- the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand Continued

Summer 1914 - continued

Germany invades Belgium as a way to get to France
Britain declares war on Germany protecting Belgium

August 3

July 29

Canada and the

British Empire are
at war
August 4 - 5

- France mobilizes forces to assist

Russia
- Germany declares war on France

- Russia mobilizes army along borders with Austria and

Germany
- Germany declares war on Russia

World War 1
Begins

The Schlieffen Plan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wes
tern_front/index_embed.shtml

Designed to prevent a
war on two fronts

Take France in 6 weeks,

by surprise by going
through Belgium

Once France falls, move

troops east to fight
Russia

World War 1
Begins

Schlieffen Plan Why

it Failed!
1. Belgium had a treaty
with Britain, France
and Germany
guaranteeing its
neutrality
2. German Generals
altered the plan
causing German
troops to turn south
towards Paris earlier
than originally planned

Britain objected
when Germany
invaded Belgium
This was their
reason to go to war
German troops
encountered both
French troops
moving out of Paris
and British from the
Channel ports

World War 1
Begins
German advance
was halted on the
Marne River both
sides dug-in
extensive trench
systems protected
by artillery and
machine guns

Canada Joins the War

With Britain joining the war in the defence of
Belgium, Canada is immediately thrown into the
conflict
Britain controlled Canadas foreign policy
The First World War would begin on August 1st
1914

Closing Questions
What side would you be on? Why?
Which country caused the war?
Which MAIN cause is most significant in the
outbreak of war?
Answer on the
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