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The Road to WWI: Key Events and Factors Leading to Conflict

This lecture outlines the critical elements that contributed to the outbreak of World War I, focusing on the key historical context of a century of relative peace, the rise of nationalism, militarism, and imperialism. It examines key figures such as Kaiser Wilhelm, alliances like the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente, and the significant events leading up to the war, including the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip. Furthermore, it discusses the Schlieffen Plan and the consequences of Germany's invasion of Belgium.

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The Road to WWI: Key Events and Factors Leading to Conflict

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  1. Jot down the following lecture outline for your notes. INTO HELL… WWI

  2. Beginnings of WWI • A Century of Peace • The “Isms” • Kaiser Wilhelm • Alliances (list them) • Balkan Dispute • Assassination (Terrorism) • Franz Ferdinand • GavriloPrincip (Black Hand) • Austrian Ultimatum • War Declarations (Copy the Chart) • Schlieffen Plan • Rape of Belgium

  3. A Century of Peace • Few major wars since the Napoleonic Wars • Germany Emerges as a unified state (Otto von Bismark) • Franco Prussian War leads to German French rivalry= Alsace Lorraine (steel)

  4. Napoleon and the Bis.

  5. The “Isms” • Rise of Nationalism • Imperialism • Militarism- military mobilization • Troop service expanded= large standing armies • Navy Building: Great Britain and Germany- Dreadnaught

  6. Dreadnaught

  7. Entangling Alliances- Security Communities • Germany attempts to isolate France • Establish a treaty with Russia

  8. European Map circa 1900

  9. Rise of Kaiser Wilhelm • Kaiser Wilhelm • “I and the army were born for one another” • “No, it is a big cold. Everything about me must be big.” • German uniforms…

  10. The Kaiser and uni’s

  11. Wilhelm cont./Alliances • removes the Iron Chancellor Otto von Bismark • Allows a lapse in the German/Russian Alliance

  12. Other Alliances • Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary)= Main components of Central Powers • France = Russia • Russia = Serbs (Balkans) • Great Britain = Belgium • Triple Entente (Russia = France = G.B.) = Main Allies

  13. Map of Alliances

  14. Balkan Dispute • Decline of the Ottoman Empire • Independence movements- Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro • Serbian Slavs demand unity in Balkans • Russian support (Slavic nation) vs. Austria Hungarian control (controls the Balkans)

  15. Balkan Dispute cont. • Austria Hungary annex Bosnia and Herzegovina= war nearly results • Serbia fights local conflicts and increases territory, threatens Austria Hungary

  16. Assassination (Terrorism) • Austria Hungarian heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie visit Sarajevo (Bosnian capital) • Killed by GavriloPrincip (member of the Black Hand) • Black Hand- rumors of support from Serbian/Slavic leaders

  17. Assassination

  18. Reactions and Ultimatum • Blame placed on Serbs • With encouragement from Germany, Austria Hungary demand satisfaction • Place harsh ultimatum against Serbia • Serbia agrees to most of the stipulations • But Austria rejects the offer

  19. War Declarations

  20. War Declarations cont.

  21. Schlieffen Plan General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen • avoid a two front war (knock out France first) • Mobilize to attack Russia later

  22. The Plan

  23. More to the Plan France is ready for this… • Avoid French/German border (troops are mobilized there) • Go around the mobilization and invade Belgium • Germany asks to go through Belgium • Belgium refuses and provokes a German invasion= the Rape of Belgium by German Huns

  24. Rape of Belgium

  25. Final Step?

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