The Road To War
1914
Causes of World
War 1
1. Emergence of
Germany as a major
power

1900 Most German
speaking people are
united under one
nation – Germany

Wish to be recognized
as a world power

Wants colonies and
territory
Causes of World
War 1
2. Imperialism
(Clash of Empires)
 The Act of empire
building
 Britain, France, Spain
and Portugal have
many colonies = big
Empires
 Germany wants an
empire too
Causes of World
War 1
3. Naval / Arms Race

Britain had the largest
Navy – to protect its
empire

Germany wanted a navy
too, to acquire colonies
and then protect them

Britain saw Germany’s
naval growth as a direct
threat!!!
Causes of World
War 1
4. Nationalism
 Pride in one’s
country
 Citizens were
prepared to do
anything for their
nation – even go
to war
5. The Alliances of WWI
Causes of World
War 1
6. The SPARK - the
assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand

Austrian heir,
Archduke Ferdinand
and his wife are killed
by a Serbian terrorist
group, the Black
Hand, in Sarajevo,
Bosnia – a state
within the AustroHungarian Empire
The SPARK
- the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand Continued……




Black Hand – Serbian Nationalist Terrorist group.
Resent being a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Serbia historically closer to Russia not Austria-Hungary
Kill the A-H heir
The SPARK
- the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand Continued……
Summer 1914
Alliances kick in
July 29
July 28
July 25
July 23
June 28
Russia mobilizes
Austria invades Serbia
Serbia replies, rejecting them
Austria sends ultimatum (list of demands) to Serbia
Archduke Ferdinand is
assassinated at Sarajevo
The SPARK
- the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand Continued……
Summer 1914 - continued
Germany invades Belgium as a way to get to France
Britain declares war on Germany – protecting Belgium
August 3
July 29
Canada and the
British Empire are
at war
August 4 - 5
- France mobilizes forces to assist
Russia
- Germany declares war on France
- Russia mobilizes army along borders with Austria and
Germany
- Germany declares war on Russia
World War 1
Begins
 The Schlieffen Plan
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wes
tern_front/index_embed.shtml
 Designed to prevent a
war on two fronts
 Take France in 6 weeks,
by surprise by going
through Belgium
 Once France falls, move
troops east to fight
Russia
World War 1
Begins
 Schlieffen Plan – Why
it Failed!
1. Belgium had a treaty
with Britain, France
and Germany
guaranteeing its
neutrality
Britain objected
when Germany
invaded Belgium
This was their
reason to go to war
2. German Generals
altered the plan
causing German
troops to turn south
towards Paris earlier
than originally planned
German troops
encountered both
French troops
moving out of Paris
and British from the
Channel ports
World War 1
Begins
 German advance
was halted on the
Marne River – both
sides “dug-in”
extensive trench
systems protected
by artillery and
machine guns