Causes of WWI

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Causes of WWI

• Imperialism and Colonialism

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Essential Question

• How did European colonization and imperialism
  lead to WWI?

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WWI Time Period

• WWI began in 1914 and ended in 1918

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M A I N

• M Militarism
• A Alliances
• I Imperialism
• N - Nationalism

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Militarism

• During the early 1900s, many European countries
  spent much of their wealth on building strong
  armies and navies.
• This focus on developing a strong military is
  called Militarism
• Countries wanted strong militaries to defend
  their colonies

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Alliances

• European leaders wanted other countries to think
  twice before declaring war on their country.
• To defend themselves countries would join an
  alliance. An alliance is an agreement between
  nations to unite for a common cause.
• Each member of an alliance agrees to help the
  other members in case one of them is attacked.

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Imperialism

• By the beginning of the 1900s, Europes most
  powerful countries had colonies all over the
  world.
• Mainly England, France, Spain, Portugal and
  others
• At this time, these countries had many colonies
  in Africa and Asia

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Imperialism
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Nationalism

• Nationalism is having strong pride in ones
  nation or ethnic group.
• An ethnic group is people with similar languages
  and traditions
• European countries were very sensitive and
  willing to go to war in the early 1900s to
  protect their honor.

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M A I N

• Britains sea power gave it command of the
  Worlds shipping lanes and control over a vast
  empire stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to
  Southeast Asia.
• However, Germany would mount a challenge to
  British power.

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M A I N

• After becoming a unified country in 1871, Germany
  grew rich and used its wealth to build its Army
  and Navy.
• However, Russia was also expanding and becoming a
  threat to Germany.

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M A I - N

• WWI rumbled onto the global stage when a Serbian
  sniper, seeking to free his ethnic group from
  Austrian rule, assassinated Archduke Ferdinand.
• The assassination sparked a series of great power
  actions and reactions in the five weeks that
  followed, shattering world peace.
• Germany was allied with Austria-Hungary and went
  to war against Serbia for the assassination.

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M A I - N

• Germany wanted a short war which would give them
  status and keep Russia from getting any status.
• France and Russia joined forces to defend Serbia.
  Soon after, they were joined by Britain in an
  effort to contain Germany.
• The war became truly global when the United
  States, reacting to the German sinking of the
  Lusitannia by submarines, entered the war.

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M A I - N

• Austria, believing that they were protecting
  their pride, could not comprehend why Russia
  labeled them the aggressors.
• Germanys insensitivity to other countries,
  prevented them from understanding the Russians
  pride and their fear of humiliation if they
  allowed the Germans and Austrians to destroy
  Serbia, whom they were sworn to protect.

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M A I - N

• With each side believing that they were right,
  diplomatic alternatives to war were quickly
  evaporated.
• WWI destroyed both life and property and changed
  the face of Europe.

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Design a Test

• You will be the teachers for the rest of class.
• You will be making a test that the other side of
  class will have to take.
• Each side of the class will make a 10 Question
  Test.

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Remember!

• The Questions MUST deal with the causes of WWI.
• The question MUST be answerable.
• Your group MUST know the answer to any question
  you make.
• Try to make it hard. See if the other side can
  pass it.