The Causes of The First World War

The Causes of the First World War
The Causes of WWI. Alliance System/

The Balkans/ Colonial problems
Tensions
THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM

The Alliance System
• Draw a diagram of the alliances between the following
countries (as they stood in 1914):
• Great Britain
• Italy How did they change
• France during the war?
• Russia
• Germany
• Serbia
What dates can you put
• USA on them?
• Austria Hungary
Why did they join this complex
system of alliances?
What was the Triple
Alliance (4 marks)
Italy stayed
neutral in 1914,
and joined the
Triple Entente in
1915.
The USA
stayed
isolated
until 1917.
CAUSATION 6 MARK QUESTIONS

Explain why the Triple Entente was formed in 1907 (6 marks)
Explain why a system of alliance was formed before the outbreak of
WWI in 1914 (6 marks)
How did the Alliance system make war more likely?
• Another 6 mark explain question, although this one is a
bit tougher as it deals with consequence.
 The alliances between Germany and Austria-Hungary and
France and Russia could lead to direct conflicts between those
powers.
 Both sets of alliances were partly set up in response to the
other: meaning an escalation of tensions before any events
leading to war had arose.
 Both sets would likely be dragged into a conflict (as the
assassination of the Archduke would prove).
It also gave both sets assurances and guarantees of support,
which would cause them to act more aggressively (as is the
case with the actions of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans).
More Tensions
COLONIAL PROBLEMS
Issues in the Colonies
• The Actions of Kaiser Wilhelm II in Morocco:
• 1905: visited Morocco (Tangiers) and made a speech
encouraging it to seek independence from the French
(who were looking at taking control of it).
• Why did the Kaiser do this? (6 marks)
 Wanted to compete with Britain and France by creating an
African Empire (Weltpolitik)- this would give him an interest in
the region.
 Wanted to test the Entente Cordiale (recently signed in
1905).
• Conference held in 1906. Britain and France supported
each other against Germany.
Cartoons
Further issues in Morocco
• 1911: Agadir crisis
• France tried to take over Morocco and said that it
would compensate Germany for loss of trade.
• Kaiser showed opposition by sending a gunboat to
the Moroccan port of Agadir to indicate
opposition.
• Another conference held: Britain and France
supported each other again.
• Things became much more tense.
Problems in this area of Europe
THE BALKANS
A politically unstable region
Russia and Austria-
Hungary wanted
Ottoman Empire influence/ control
(Turkey) collapsing over the region.
leaving a power
vacuum.
Serb nationalism was Russia (another Slav

rising: Serbs and Slavs nation) therefore
throughout the region. believed they had
common issues: Tsar
“father of all Slavs”
(Pan Slavism)
Annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908
• Austria-Hungary annexed (took over) Bosnia-
Herzegovina in 1908.
• Angered the Serbs (3million Serbs in Bosnia and
wanted it to form part of a Greater Serbia).
• Angered the Russians, but as Germany guaranteed to
support Austria-Hungary and Russia was still
recovering from a war in 1905, Russia backed down.
• Universal condemnation of Austria-Hungary’s actions:
even from the Germans.
Balkan Wars 1912-1913
• Ottoman Empire (Turkey) continued to decline. Serbia, Bulgaria
and Greece formed the Balkan League and captured some
territory.
• Britain and Germany worked together to end the conflict. Serbia
gained territory and confidence.
• Germany may also have been lulled into a false sense of security:
that Britain would not get involved in a conflict over the Balkans.
• Austria-Hungary meanwhile just want a reason to crush Serbia.
• Handily provided by the assassination of the Archduke Franz
Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914.
A cartoon
10 mark question: Which of the following is more responsible for the
outbreak of war in 1914?
a) The Alliance System

b) Colonial Problems
c) Tensions in the Balkans

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The Causes of the First World War

The Causes of WWI. Alliance System/

THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM

CAUSATION 6 MARK QUESTIONS

Serb nationalism was Russia (another Slav

a) The Alliance System

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