Causes of WWI:
Nationalism Gone Awry
SOC 20
Activity: Nationalism T-Chart
Create a T-chart in your
notes (or use this one)
In partners, brainstorm 10
features of nationalism in
Europe; split between the
two columns
Think About:
 Factors of Nationalism
 Events & People that
shaped nationalism
 Historical Examples
Western European
Nationalism
Eastern European
Nationalism
-Single, large ethnic
groups
-
-Many, small ethnic
groups
-
A Historian’s View
“Countries sought and made allies for
defensive purposes and the settlement of
outstanding disputes between them…..they
were not, openly formed for offensive
purposes to harm or attack other
countries.”
Years of Change
Robert Wolfsen
Cause #1:
The System of Alliances
With the Congress of Vienna, European states
were limited in expanding their power
 To compensate, they developed alliances
amongst each other, for mutual economic and
political gain
The unification of Germany in 1871 upset the
balance, for Germany became an economic
powerhouse
 However, Germany’s location made it vulnerable
 Thus Bismarck did his best to foster relationships
with Austria-Hungary
The Tangled Web:
Can you identify the countries
depicted?
System of Alliances:
The Triple Alliance
A dual alliance was founded by Bismarck, between
Prussia and Austria. Russia was also a part of this
alliance
However, Kaiser William II became emperor and
broke the treaty with Russia. He also retired Bismarck
Members:
 Dual Alliance: Germany & Austria
 Russia – although this alliance lapsed
 Ottoman Empire
Many German people agreed with William II that Germany
should “Claim its place in the sun” as a global imperial
and naval power in Europe
System of Alliances:
The Triple Entente
In response to the Triple Alliance, and Russia’s
removal from it, France quickly formulated an
agreement with Russia
Members:
Core: France & Russia
Later: Britain
German imperial policy drove European powers away
from the Triple Alliance and towards the Triple
Entente
System of Alliances: The Fuse
British and French officials saw Germany as a
major threat to their national interests, thus
they would stop at nothing to halt German
expansion
Germany, on the other hand, realized their
dependence on Austria-Hungary, their closest
ally
 Thus Germany would do anything to ensure the
success and power of Austria-Hungary
But, Austria-Hungary had their own problems…
Cause #2:
The Issue of “Ethnic” Nationalism
Quick Recap:
Western Europe dominated by political
nationalism
Eastern Europe dominated by ethnic,
religious, and linguistic nationalism
Example: Austria-Hungary
Over 27 million subjects did not identify with
the dominant German peoples
Thus many members of the Habsburg
Empire sought to break it up into smaller
states
Cause #2:
The Issue of “Ethnic” Nationalism
Nationalism, in other words, became an
explosive force, rather than a unifying
force
The survival of Austria-Hungary depended
on their stamping out nationalist desires
wherever possible
However, such actions prompted further
nationalist tendencies
Ultimately, several nationalist groups
(resorting at times to terrorism) emerged
Imperialism
Lenin famously asserted that the worldwide
system of imperialism was responsible for the
war
Imperialism is when a country takes over
new lands or countries and makes them
subject to their rule.
 By 1900, the British Empire extended over five
continents and France had control of large areas
of Africa. With the rise of industrialism, countries
needed new markets.
Germany was thus competing with Britain and
France – trying to acquire new ‘lands’ late in
the game
Cause #3: Imperialism & Colonies
With the Congress of Vienna, European
powers had to look overseas in order to
expand politically and economically
The system of colonies granted this power
 Colonies on the other hand, were subject to their
Imperial mother states
 Thus whenever an imperial colony went to war,
its colonies were automatically at war
In the case of WWI, most of the European
powers were at war – thus most of their colonies
were at war
Cause #4: Militarism
 Militarism means that the army and military forces
are given a high profile by the government.
 The Balance of Power & growing European
divisions led to an arms race
 The armies of both France and Germany had more
than doubled between 1870 and 1914
 Fierce competition between Britain and Germany for
mastery of the seas.
 The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an
effective battleship, in 1906.
 The Germans soon followed suit introducing their
own battleships.
 The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of
action that involved attacking France through
Belgium if Russia made an attack on
Germany. The map below shows how the plan was
to work.
The Schlieffen Plan
Arms Race: HMS Dreadnought
Flashpoint: Moroccan Crisis
In 1904, Morocco had been given to France by
Britain, but the Moroccans wanted their
independence. In 1905, Germany announced
its support for Moroccan independence.
 War was narrowly avoided by a conference
which allowed France to retain possession of
Morocco.
However, in 1911, the Germans were again
protesting against French possession of
Morocco.
 Britain supported France and Germany was
persuaded to back down for part of French
Congo.
Flashpoint: Bosnian Crisis
 In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish
province of Bosnia. This angered Serbians who felt the
province should be theirs.
 Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia,
allied to Serbia, mobilized its forces. Germany, allied to
Austria-Hungary mobilized its forces and prepared to
threaten Russia.
 War was avoided when Russia backed down.
 There was, however, war in the Balkans between 1911
and 1912 when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of
the area. The states then fought each other over which
area should belong to which state.
 Austria-Hungary then intervened and forced Serbia to
give up some of its acquisitions. Tension between
Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high.
The Event that Triggered it All
On June 28, 1914;
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
of Austria-Hungary was
assassinated while touring
Sarajevo, the capital of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The culprit was a Serbian
nationalist group called “the
black hand,” and the
assassin was a student by
the name of Gavrilo Princip
The Event that Triggered it All
There had been ethnic
tensions in the area since the
Habsburg empire had annexed
the territory from the Ottoman
Empire
 Ethnic Groups: Croatians,
Serbians, Muslims
 Ethnically, the Serbian people in
Sarajevo did not identify
themselves with the Austrians
 They wanted to rejoin their
brothers in Serbia
Countdown to World War
June 28th 1914 Franz Duke Ferdinand, heir
to the Austrian throne assassinated
28th July Austria Hungary declare war on
Serbia. France and Russia back Serbia
30th July Britain and Russia mobilize forces
1st August Germany declares war on
Russia
2nd August Germany invades Belgium,
declares war on France
4th August Britain declares war on Germany