| World War I | was the first global war where they used advanced technologies. There were many casualties, death, and injures. It was supposed to be a short war but it was very long it lasted 4 years. (July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918). They had a false sense of peace but beneath this calm surface, tensions were building, both between and within nations. |
| Factors that created the tension for WWI | 1-NATIONALISM: a sense of devotion to one's national group where they had a sense of national pride. It was a dividing force rather than a unifying one because everybody thought they were the best.
2-ECONOMIC RIVALY, Germany and Great Britain led Europe in industrial growth, which gave them economic power. This caused increased competition for materials and markets.
3--POLITICAL RIVALRY or territorial disputes. The countries were fighting for territory
4-IMPERIALISM as when the countries industrialized they realized they needed where to get their materials and where to sell them. Their sense of rivalry and mistrust of one another deepened.
5-MILITARISM. This was to glorify the military power of a country. The nations of Europe believed that to be truly great, they needed to have a powerful military. To show power through your army. They had an army that in a flash could mobilize but if you are in "peace" there is no need for this.
6-They started doing ALLIANCES with other countries, some secret and other public. They used it in order to protect themselves from other countries. But these alliances were the most important factor in causing WW1 |
| Otto von Bismarck | was the leader that united Germany. He managed to unite all these regions into one nation, when he did it he had a personality change. He stated that Germany was a satisfied power. He wanted to keep the peace so he made alliances. He was very scared of France and wanted to keep it isolated from friends so he formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary. Three years later, Italy joined the two countries, forming the Triple Alliance with the countries surrounding France. Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy This was called the triple alliance. Also made alliances with Russia. also made a treaty with Russia. |
| Triple Alliance | alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy |
| Kaiser Wilhelm II | A proud and stubborn man who did not wish to share power with anyone. Besides wanting to assert his own power, the new kaiser was eager to show the world just how mighty Germany had become. The army was his greatest pride.
Wilhelm let his nation’s treaty with Russia lapse in 1890. Russia responded by forming a defensive military alliance with France in 1892 and 1894. Germany would then be forced to fight a two-front war, or a war on both its eastern and western borders.
Next, the Kaiser made an effort to make the German navy equal to that of the mighty British fleet. Alarmed, in 1907, Britain made another entente, with France and Russia called the Triple Entente |
| Triple Entent | alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia |
| Crisis in the Balkans | Serbia had a large Slavic population. They were driven by their nationalism. It hoped to absorb all the Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula. Russia, itself a mostly Slavic nation, supported Serbian nationalism. However, Serbia’s powerful northern neighbor, Austria-Hungary, opposed such an effort. Austria feared that efforts to create a Slavic state would stir rebellion among its Slavic population.
In 1908, Austria took over Bosnia and Herzegovina. These were two Balkan areas with large Slavic populations. Serbian leaders, who had sought to rule these provinces, were outraged. In the years that followed, tensions between Serbia and Austria rose steadily. The Serbs vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovina away from Austria. In response, Austria-Hungary vowed to crush any Serbian effort to undermine its authority in the Balkans. |
| Archduke Franz Ferdinand | The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, with his wife Sophie the couple paid a state visit the capital of Bosnia. The royal pair were shot by Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Serbian and a member of the Black Hand. |
| Black hand | secret society committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule. |
| How the war started | Because the assassin was a Serbian, Austria decided to use the murders as an excuse to punish Serbia. On July 23, Austria presented Serbia with an ultimatum containing numerous demands. Serbia knew that refusing the ultimatum would lead to war against the more powerful Austria. Therefore, Serbian leaders agreed to most of Austria’s demands and wanted to have a conference but Austria said no and on July 28, Austria rejected Serbia’s offer and declared war. |
