Causes of WW1
- Created by: Zainaaax
- Created on: 03-05-15 14:51
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- Causes of WW1
- Europe's main power/ strongest countries= rivals for land and trade
- Britain
- Richest & most powerful country
- Strongest navy
- Concentrated on its navy to defend country and protect empire
- Made alliances to defend themselves from attack
- TRIPLE ENTENTE= Britain, France, Russia
- Germany
- 1871- Defeated France in Franco-Prussian war
- v. powerful army
- Kaiser was jealous of British empire, wanted more colonies
- Schliefen Plan: Germans desperate to avoid war on 2 fronts-> came up w/ aggressive plan
- Russia
- Largest but poorest country
- Tsar had total power
- Large population
- France
- Weaker than Britain and Germany
- French pride= hurt when defeated by Germany, lost provinces= Alsace and Lorraine
- AH
- Worried that the Slavs wanted to join with Serbia
- Italy
- Wanted to gain land (colonies)
- TRIPLE ALLAINCES= Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
- France hates Germany
- Britain threatened by Germany
- France and Britain were getting closer
- EMPIRE
- The Balkan Wars: 1912-13 Serbia doubled in size, Austria's leaders= worried that a stronger Serbia threatened their own empire and wanted opportunity to crush them
- Rivalry over empires: 19th century, Great Powers built up large oversea empires-> quarrels (e.g Morocco 1905-1911)
- Attitude towards war: Early 20th century, European rulers believed short, decisive wars= acceptable way of settling quarrels to increase country's power
- Colonial Rivalry: By 1900- if there was a war= would be a world war because will use their empires
- NATIONALISM
- Assass'n at Sarajevo, June 28 1914= Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austrian thone) murdered by Serb nationalist- Gavrilo Princip
- Rivalry in the Balkans: had existed b/t Austria & Russia since early 19th cent. Russia wanted to influence area by becoming 'protector' of Balkan countries. Serbia & growth of Russian influence= dangerous threat to Austria
- Austria's Ultimatum to Serbia- 23rd July 1914, incl'd 10 demands to punish Serbia. Serbia refused part of it, Austria declared war on Serbia
- ARMIES & NAVIES
- Franco- Prussian war 1870-1: German vs France, Germany won, seized french provinces
- Germany's world policy: 1888- Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted Germany to be a 'world power'-> establishing empire overseas & building large navy
- Military Plans: 1900- Great Powers making secret military plans in case war broke out (e.g. Schlieffen Plan) ; incr'd tensions in Europe
- Aliliance System: grown up since 1879. By 1907, GP= divided into Triple Alliances & Triple Entente. Each group= suspicious and fearful of others
- Outbreak of War, July- August 1914: 29th July- Russia mobilised army 1st August- Germany declared war on Russia. France= mobilised 3rd August= Britain demanded Germany stop preparing to invade Belgium 4th August= Germany invaded Belgium to attack France. Britain declared war on Germany
- Anglo-German naval rivalry: began in 1900. Germany built 100- Britain built new ships. Soon full scale arms race developed b/t Britain and Germany
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