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Causes of World War 1 Review

Causes of the Great War • The exact cause of World War 1 was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, in Sarejevo on 28 June 1914. Austria-Hungary thought that Serbia was responsible and declared war on 28th July 1914. • But how did this become a larger war involving many countries?

• Most historians believe that while the assassination was “the straw that broke the camel’s back” there were a number of underlying causes and tensions that together made the conditions “ripe” for war.

Tensions pre-1914 • • • •

Nationalism The Arms Race Imperialism The alliance system

• (Look at map of Europe pre 1914 (next slide) and complete role play)

Europe in Balance Triple Entente •Britain •France •Russia

Triple Alliance/ Central Powers

•Germany •Italy •AustriaHungary

A Chain of Friendship

This cartoon, “A Chain of Friendship” appeared in the American Newspaper the Brooklyn Eagle in July 1914. The caption read: “If Austria attacks Serbia, Russia will fall upon Austria, Germany upon Russia, and France and England upon Germany.” Reproduced in Four Steps to War June – Aug 1914, http://www.johndclare.net/causes_WW14.htm

What is the message of this cartoon regarding the causes of World War I? HINT: What are the clouds doing? What is the significance of the match?

Picture from Department of Employment, Education and Training, Qld Government, ACARA document, Causes of World War 1, http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/71f2ecff-0093-8c83-1113-102flce7fl64/0/his-y09-ds3-sh-causeswhyaustraliansenlisted.docx

References “A Chain of Friendship” in The Brooklyn Eagle , July 1914, reproduced in Four Steps to War June – Aug 1914, http://www.johndclare.net/causes_WW14.htm Coupe, S. et al Was it Only Yesterday? Australia in the Twentieth Century World, Third Edition, Longman, Melbourne, 1998. Department of Employment, Education and Training, Qld Government, ACARA document, Causes of World War 1, http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/71f2ecff0093-8c83-1113-102flce7fl64/0/his-y09-ds3-shcauseswhyaustraliansenlisted.docx