#history/y9/wwi

Introduction


  • Prior to World War I, Britain was seen as a very strong and powerful empire.
  • The war consisted of mainly two sides. The Triple Entente (The Allies) and The Triple Alliance (Central Powers).

Important individuals in the war


  • Austria: Franz Joseph I
  • Russia: Tsar Nicholas II
  • Germany: Wilhelm II
  • United Kingdom: George V

Causes and triggers


  • A cause is an event or a series of events that over time, lead to an reaction.
  • A trigger is an event that creates an immediate reaction.

Main causes of WWI


  • The main causes of WWI can be reduced to an acronym: MAINA.
  • Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism, Assassination

Militarism

  • This is the policy of building a strong military force, then using war to get more power, such as colonies, land raw materials, etc.

Alliances

  • A group of countries united for military protection.
  • Countries in Europe looked for friends to help support them if a war started.

Imperialism

  • When a country extends its rule over another country.
  • Countries form an empire by starting colonies.
  • More colonies means more raw mats more Markets for trade and more lands.
  • Countries come into conflict when competing for colonies.

Nationalism

  • Strong feelings of patriotism and pride for your mother country
  • Countries felt national pride when their empire conquered other countries.
  • Some ethnic groups felt an intense desire to preserve their own cultural identity language and traditions.
  • So they wanted to form independent nations, and free themselves from the control of an empire.

Assassination

  • The Archduke Franz Ferdinand (from Austria-Hungary) is assassinated in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, by a Serbian terrorist group. He was very important, as he was the heir to the Austrian monarchy.