World War I: The Great War for Empires 🌍

Let's break down the complex causes of World War I using the handy acronym MANIA, which is quite fitting, isn't it? This guide will help you understand how each factor contributed to the outbreak of this global conflict. We will also highlight key connections between the different units.

Militarism: The Arms Race ⚔️

What is Militarism?

Think of it as a competition to see who has the biggest and baddest army. 🏋️ * Industrialization fueled this arms race, allowing nations to produce massive amounts of weapons in a short time. 🏭

Historical Context

• 19th Century: Germany introduced universal conscription in the 1860s, setting the stage for a military build-up across Europe.
• German Naval Laws (1898-1912): Germany expanded its navy, leading to a naval arms race with Great Britain. 🚢
• Dreadnoughts: Britain responded to Germany's naval build-up by ordering twice as many battleships, escalating tensions. 🚢🚢
• 1913: France implemented a 3-year military service law, further intensifying the military build-up.

Key Takeaway

• By 1914, Europe was a powder keg, with all major powers ready for war. 💥
• The Schlieffen Plan (1905) shows that Germany was already planning an attack on France through Belgium, highlighting the aggressive military strategies being developed.

Caption: The Schlieffen Plan aimed for a swift German victory over France by invading through Belgium.

Alliances: Picking Sides 🤝

Why Alliances?

• European nations formed alliances to ensure their safety and gain a strategic advantage. 🛡️
• These alliances also fostered trade among member states. 💰

The Two Major Alliances

Key Takeaway

• The alliance system, intended to prevent conflict, actually dragged nations into war due to a domino effect. 🤯

Nationalism: Pride and Prejudice 🚩

What is Nationalism?

Think of it like being a super fan of your country. 📣 * It fueled militarism and the desire to expand national glory. 🏆

Destabilizing Effect

• Nationalism destabilized multi-ethnic empires like Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Serbia, as ethnic groups sought independence. 💔
• The Balkan Wars (1912-1913) were a direct result of conflicting nationalist aims in the region. ⚔️

Key Takeaway

• Nationalism created tensions and conflicts within and between nations, contributing to the outbreak of WWI. 🔥

Imperialism: The Scramble for Colonies 🌍

What is Imperialism?

It's like a race to collect as many colonies as possible. 🏃 * European powers sought to expand their empires for resources and economic gain. 💰

Impact on WWI

• The scramble for colonies in Africa disrupted the balance of power established by the Congress of Vienna. ⚖️

Caption: A political cartoon representing the Congress of Vienna. Notice how the European leaders are dividing up the world.

Key Takeaway

• Imperialism increased competition and tensions between European powers, making war more likely. 😠

Archduke's Assassination: The Spark 💥

The Event

• On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. 😥
• Princip was part of the Black Hand, a terrorist group aiming to create an independent Serb state. 💣

The Domino Effect

• Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, issued an ultimatum to Serbia with unreasonable demands. 😠
• When Serbia refused, Austria-Hungary declared war, triggering a chain reaction. 💥
• Russia mobilized its forces in support of Serbia. 🇷🇺
• Germany declared war on Russia and then invaded Belgium to get to France. 🇩🇪
• Great Britain declared war on Germany after the invasion of Belgium. 🇬🇧

Major Players

Key Takeaway

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the immediate trigger that set off the chain of events leading to World War I. 🔥

Activity 2: Order Matters!

See if you can order the following World War I events from the earliest to the latest! (A for earliest, E for latest)

______ Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia ______ Germany declares war on Russia ______ Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated ______ Germany invades Belgium ______ Great Britain enters the war on the Allies’ side

ANSWERS - Activity 2: Order Matters!

B Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

C Germany declares war on Russia

A Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated

D Germany invades Belgium

E Great Britain enters the war on the Allies’ side

Final Exam Focus 🎯

High-Priority Topics

• The causes of WWI (MANIA) are crucial. Understand each factor and how they interconnected.
• The impact of industrialization on military build-up. 🏭
• The role of nationalism and imperialism in creating tensions. 🚩🌍
• The alliance system and how it led to a chain reaction. 🤝
• The key events that triggered the war. 💥

Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Often test your understanding of specific causes and events. 🧐
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): May require you to explain the connections between different causes. ✍️
• Free Response Questions (FRQs): Could ask you to analyze the long-term and short-term causes of the war or compare different perspectives. 📝

Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Quickly identify the main points in each question and answer directly. ⏱️
• Common Pitfalls: Avoid vague answers. Be specific with historical terms and examples. 🙅
• Strategies: Use the acronym MANIA to remember the causes and practice linking them together. 💡

Practice Question

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was NOT a major cause of World War I? (A) Militarism (B) Alliances (C) Communism (D) Imperialism

2. The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's strategy to: (A) Invade Russia (B) Defeat France quickly through Belgium (C) Establish naval dominance (D) Form a defensive alliance

3. What event is considered the immediate trigger of World War I? (A) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles (B) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (C) The Russian Revolution (D) The sinking of the Lusitania

Short Answer Question

Explain how nationalism and imperialism contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Free Response Question

Analyze the long-term and short-term causes of World War I. Be sure to include specific examples of each cause in your response.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt.
• Long-Term Causes (2 points): Identification and explanation of at least two long-term causes of the war, such as militarism, alliances, nationalism, and imperialism, with specific examples.
• Short-Term Causes (2 points): Identification and explanation of at least one short-term cause of the war, such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, with specific examples.
• Analysis (2 points): Analysis of how the long-term and short-term causes interacted to bring about the war. Explanation of the connections between the causes.
• Synthesis (1 point): Connects the causes of WWI to a broader historical context, such as the rise of nationalism in the 19th century or the impact of imperialism on global relations.

Good luck on your exam! You've got this! 💪