World War 1
 Background
The World War 1\Great War was fought from
1914-1918 and it involved 32 countries from all
over the world
-It was fought in Europe and it took place
across several countries and continets at
sea,land and air
-Millions of soldiers and people died and after
the war ended an organisation was formed to
prevent future wars
-It was called World War because countries in
the world were involved either directly or
indirectly
-Before 1914 there were six powerful nations in
Europe namely:
-Britain
-Germany
-Russia
-Austria-Hungary
-France
-Italy
-What caused the first World War 1
-A war broke out in 1914 and it ended in
November 1918
-Out of six countries ,Germany was developing
at a much faster rate both economically and
politically
-Its industries were specially in the production of
steel
-Apart from its industries developing army in
Europe
-Britain was still on the economic giant it had
one of the strongest navy in Europe which had
earned the nickname:
-Lion of the Sea
-Britain was afraid of the growing strength of
Germany over their partners
-Britain before 1900
-Britain was the richest and most powerful
country in the world
-She followed a policy of Splendid Isolation
-This means she remained isolated with no allies
or friends
- Britain developed factories which used
machines for production.As a result there was
mass production of consumer goods e.g
Clothes, stoves e.t.c
-The transport system improved to transport of
raw materials and finished goods roads were
tarred
-Canals were dug to improved ship transportthe railway network was improved.
-Britain were dug to improve ship of fuel e.giron and coal. Fast moving rivers made it easy
to generate H.E.P
-Factory owners got loans from banks exampleBarclays and Standard Chartered .People left
the countryside to look for employment in the
factories example-London Manchester
Liverpool and South Africa. Britain became
wealthy because it had colonies example India
Egypt and South Africa e .t. c
-Germany
- Germany unification was completed in 1871
- Prussia led the unification she defeated
France in the Franco-Prussian war [1870-71]
-Germany took two French provinces-Alsace
and Lorraine
-Bismarck aim was to isolate France and
prevent a war of revenge from France
-Alliance system-The triple Alliance[Germany,
Turkey , Austria-Hungary]
-The triple Entente-France, Britain, Russia]
-German goods competed with British goods
for markets
 There was competition for raw materials.
 The arms race and the naval race
increased tension between Britain and
Germany developed the best railway .
She used the railway network to transport
food , soilders and arms
 The scramble for Africa caused between
Germany and Britain because the
Germany colonies were to close to British
colonies and British colonies were too
close to Germany colonies e.g Namibia
too close to South Africa.
 Germany supported Austria- Hungary in
the Balkan Region . Germany supported
Austria – Hungary reckless.
 Germany caused the first Morrocan Crisis
[1911]. The crisis increased tension
between France and Germany.
 Germany developed a War plan called
the Schliffen Plan . It moved invading
France and Belgium a neutral country.
Austria-Hungary
 It was a sprawling empire in Central Europe
 It was made up of different Ethnic groups e.g
the Gemans , Slovaks and the Slavs
 Each group had its own customs and the
language many of these groups wanted
independence from A-H.
 A-H aslo faced problems with its neighbouring
states especially Serbia which was becoming
to powerful
 Another power . Russian supported Serbia and
it had a very strong army .
 By 1914 the concern of the Emporer of A-H was
to put its fragmented empired together .
France
 France has been defeated by Germany in the
war of 1870-71 and it was worried about about
the growing power of Germany and so began
to build up its industries and armies it also
developed a strong friendship with Russia to
safeguard itself against Germany and to
revenge so as to get back Alsace and Lorraine
which Germany had taken from it in the war of
1870-71
Russia
 Russia was the largest country in Europe
 Its economy was agro based
 Although it was nicknamed a Giant With Feet Of
Clay because it had a large territory but its army
was weak.
 It had developed a friendship with Serbia
inorder to disturb A-H’s control over slaves in the
Balkans / Eastern Europe .
 Russia and Germany were not in good books it
was vast (big) in terms of territory huge resources
e.g mainpower and minerals e.t.c
 The army was big but it was poorly trained and
equipped . A Giant With Feet Of Clay industry
was still backwards.
 Ruled by the T sar/ C zar.
Italy
 It was a newly unified state
 By 1914 the country was settled and was
starting the flex its muscles it also wanted a
place on the sun . Which means that it also
wanted some colonies on the African
continent.
Turkey
 It was nicknamed the Sick Man of Europe .
 It was once a great power but most areas were
gaining independence in Europe were it had
colonies
 Turkey refuse to give independence to the
Slaves
 It resulted in Slave nationalism and outbreak of
World War 1 .
 Made up of many nationalism e.g Slaves , Poles
, C zechs.
Serbia
 She was one of the Balkans /Slave states.
 Serbia wanted all Slave states to gain
independence from Turkey and Austria –
Hungary
 The Slave states would form YUGOSLAVIA.
 Serbia was leading slave states so it led it to
tension and conflicts with A-H and Turkey.
 The conflict led to Crisis in the Balkans Basnian
Crisis , 1908
 The Balkans wars 1912-13
What Caused The First World War ?
B – Balkans Crisis
A – Alliance System
N – Naval Race
A – Army race
N – Nationalism
A – Agadir Crisis (Moroccan Crisis)
S – Sarajevo Assassination
Alliance System
 By 1914 , Europe was divided into two hostiles
or armed camps , the Triple of Britain , France
and Russia .
 The Alliance System caused hostility between
the two camps .
 They suspected each other and they sped up
the production of weapons .
 This also made the two groups their armies
incase of an attack from the other .
 It was also the Alliance System that made
member countries to each other over colonies
outside Europe, thereby creating tension and
conflicts which later translated into the First
World War.
NB: It was Germany that started the Alliance System
after defeating France in the Franco-Prussian war of
1870-71.
 Germany had taken Alsace and Lorraine from
France and wanted to isolate her so that she
could not get friends to assist recovering he
land .
Nationalism/ patriotism
 Refers to a strong feeling of patriotism pride of
your mother country.
 Countries felt national pride when their empire
conquered other countries .
 Ethnic groups of similar heritage wanted to free
their oppressed brethren and unite their people
on one country.
Imperialism
 It is economic and political control over other
other countries
 France ,Great Britain , Germany and Russia were
establishing colonies in Africa and Asia .
 The countries were in competition for colonies
 When a country extends its rule over another
country it is called imperialism .
 Countries form an empire by starting colonies
More colonies give
 More raw materials
 More markets for trade
 More land
 Countries come into conflicts when competing
for colonies .
Militarism
 Imperialism led to militarism
 The development and stockpiling of armies and
weapons
 European nation began an arms race as they
completed for colonies around the world
 Militarism is not just an arms race . it is also a
government state of mind
 All the nations of Europe were militaristic and
built up their armies and navies
 1914 their armed forces stood like this
Countries
Germany
Austria–
Hungary
Italy
France
Russia
Britain
Soilders
2 200 000
810 000
War ships
97
28
750 000
1 125 000
1 200 000
711 000
36
62
30
185
 As a country increased its army , so all the others
felt obliged to increase their armed forces to
keep the balance of power .
 Germany and Britain clashed over the size of
their navies .
 In 1900 Kaiser Wilhelm began to built up the
Germany navy known as the Tirprz ‘s Navy law
announcing that he wanted Germans to soil oil
over the world and the take Germany a place
in the sun .
 After 1906 he began to build numbers of the
new numbers of the new large Dreaddrought
battleships which were more powerful than any
other ship
 By1906 President Roosevelt had built the US
Navy into the 3rd largest naval fleet in the world.
The Alliance System
 The system of Alliance was initiated by Otto Von
Bismack who was the Chancellor of Germany
from 1871-90.
 Following the defeat of France by Germany in
the year 1871-71 Franco- Prussian war .
 Bismack was determined to prevent any
attempts by the French to region the mineral
rich province of Alsace and Lorraine or to find
Allies in Europe would be prepared to assist her
in a war of revenge.
 Generally Bismack ‘s foreign policy was geared
towards isolating .
 France who was seen as the greatest danger
into the newly created Germany Empire.
The Dreikaiserbund Treaty / The League Of The Three
Emporors (1872)