Cause #1: Revenge for Past War Losses

1. Causes of World War One (WWI) (Called “The Great War” by Europe. Also called “The War to End All Wars.”) Cause #1: Revenge for Past War Losses For decades leaders of the French, Prussian (German), Austrian, Italian, Slavic, Ottoman Turks and others had plotted and executed wars to take land from their neighbors. --Various Reasons: Economic, military, security, fear, others… * Understand: The loser of a European war, lost land (a part of its country) to the victor, or may have lost some of its “empire.” Prime Example: France & Germany (formally Prussia) Since before Napoleon, the two regions had taken border areas from each other. French rulers were eager to join in war to get its lost territories back. Similar rivalries and plots existed between Russia and Austria, France and Italy, Austria and Turkey, others…

2. Cause #2: Arms Race (great modern arms buildup) leads to “Gunboat Diplomacy” mentality throughout Europe. -- Mechanization & Steel armaments enter the scene. Small, powerful engines, armor plating leads to TANKS -- Wired & Wireless electronic communication advances give forces new control and direction during battles. -- Modern Navies appear awesome, unstoppable. Giant armored, steel battleships, destroyers, etc., and the new submarine. -- The “automatic rifle” and the Machine Gun change offensive & defensive dynamics. • Each European political leader feels his own country is invincible. • Each feels he carries a “big stick,” and forgets about any “carrots.”

3. Cause #3: Ethnic Nationalism: Or, seeing to your “cultural cousins” (as noted in our class game). Examples: Great Britain & France, Germany & Austria-Hungary, Russia and many Slavic States in S.E. Europe. * It is difficult to see and hear much difference between Germany and Austria. Same language and culture. * Russia is the largest Slavic country. Russian Czar is anointed protector of all Slavs. If anyone moves against smaller Slavic countries like Serbia or Bosnia, Russia will act!

4. Cause 4: Domino - Effect Alliance Systems (some secret) (and that every power is armed to the teeth with new weapons) create the Powder Keg waiting for a spark. If two countries go to war, each will call on an ally, causing said allies to call on their allies, and so on. If Country A is allied to Country B, and Country B is allied to C, but then C is allied to D, then… If Country B goes to war, Country D will get dragged into it, even though D is not a direct ally of B. The Spark? --Assassination of heir to Austrian throne by…

5. War Aims: Germany: Claims to fight for defensive reasons, national honor, and for the defense of its allies. France: Same reasons. (Although, they were dying to get back the provinces they lost in the last war with the Germans…) Britain: Same reasons. Russia: Same… Though the problem that dragged them all in came from Austria and Serbia, it could have eventually happened anywhere. They would have all come to the defense of their allies. Again, the idea is that Europe was a “powderkeg waiting for a spark.”