What were the short term-causes of the First World War? (p. 154 - 158)

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

World War I & Peacemaking

Statement of Inquiry: 

Global competition for resources can be a cause of conflict and peacemaking is dependent on global cooperation and justice. 

Key Concept: Global interactions 

Related Concepts: Conflict; Perspectives 

Global Context: Orientation in Space and Time 

What were the short term-causes of the First World War? (p. 154 - 158)

Goals of this week:

At the end of this week classes you...

...understand that the Moroccan Crises (1905 and 1911), the Bosnian Crises (1908 and 1912/13) and the July Crisis (1914) are key short-term factors that led to the outbreak of the First Word War

What were the short term-causes of the First World War?

Moroccan Crises:

In 1905: Dispute over control of Morocco between France and Germany.

In 1911: The Sultan asked France for help against rebels, but Germany supported the rebels and sent a warship to Agadir.

After long negotiations, France got control over Morocco, in trade for German control in Central Africa.

What were the short term-causes of the First World War?

Bosnian Crises:

After the Ottoman Empire fell, both Austria-Hungary and Russia opposed independence movements from various national groups in the Balkans.

In 1908: Bosnia was annexed to Austria-Hungary, to great anger of Serbia and Russia. Tensions arose between them.

In 1912/1913: A series of local wars resulted in the growth of Serbia. 

What were the short term-causes of the First World War?

July Crisis:

On 28th June, the Austro-Hungarian heir of the throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assasinated during a state visit in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Serb nationalist and a member of the Black Hand organization.

The Great Powers reacted:

- Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany  offered an ultimatum to Serbia

- Russia supported Serbia and started to mobilize their troops

- Germany demanded France to stay neutral in a possible conflict with Russia and demanded Russia to demobilize 

- Russia did not respond and France rejected the ultimatum. 

- Germany declared war on Russia

- Belgium rejected the German ultimatum for rights to pass. 

- Germany's invasion of Belgium caused Britain to declare war on Germany

Read p. 154 'The Moroccan Crises, 1905 and 1911

Give a reason why it was possible for France to intend to make Morocco one of its colonies.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Moroccan Crises, 1905 and 1911

Give two reasons why Germany was opposed to the plan of France to make Morcocco one of its colonies.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Moroccan Crises, 1905 and 1911

Describe the event that happened in Tangiers in 1905 that made the French furious.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Moroccan Crises, 1905 and 1911

Explain why the first conference in 1905 turned out to be a disaster for Germany.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Agadir Conference, 1911'

Give the reason why the French sent an army to Morocco in 1911.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Agadir Conference, 1911'

Describe how Germany responded after the French sent an army to Morocco.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Agadir Conference, 1911'

Describe how Britain responded to Germany, after their intervention in the port of Agadir.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 154 'The Agadir Conference, 1911'

Describe how the second crisis in Morocco ended.

The Morrocan Crises

Check out Figure 8.6

Describe how this image relates to the foreign policy of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 155 'The Agadir Conference, 1911'

List three important results from the Moroccan Crises.

The Morrocan Crises

Read p. 155 'Problems in the Balkans'

Explain how the decline of Turkey's power in the Balkans causes conflicting interests in the area.

The Bosnian Crises

Read p. 155 'The Bosnian Crisis, 1908'

Describe how Austria-Hungary responded to the growing chaos in the Balkans.

The Bosnian Crises

Read p. 155 'The Bosnian Crisis, 1908'

Russia condemmed the annexation of Bosnia by Austria-Hungary, since it supported the Serbs.
Give a reason why Russia did not intervene yet in the area.

The Bosnian Crises

Read p. 155 'The Bosnian Crisis, 1908'

Instead of an open conflict, the crisis caused international tensions to rise. Describe how Russia and Austria-Hungry did respond to the crisis.

The Bosnian Crises

Read p. 155 'The Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913'

List the consequences of the local wars in 1912 and 1913 in the Balkans.

The Bosnian Crises

Check out Figure 8.8.

List the countries that expanded their terretories or came to existence, once
Turkey lost their power in the Balkans.

The Bosnian Crises

Drag the descriptions to the right area on the map

Challenge yourself and try to do it without Figure 8.7

Conflicting interests in the Balkans, 1908

Ally of Serbia. Disliked Austria's growing influence in the Balkans. Balkan Slavs looked to Russia as their champion.

A multinational empire. Feared unrest among its Slava if Serbia was allowed to build up power and prestige

Russia's only sea outlet to the Mediterranean

Annexation by Austria in 1908 led to an international crisis.

Crumbling empire, known as the 'sick man of Europe'

Hoped to expand into a large south Slav state. 

Read p. 156 'The July Crisis, 1914'

Explain why although there has been considerable tension between the Great Powers, by 1914 war in fact should not been seen as inevitable.

The July Crisis

Read p. 157 'The assassination at Sarajevo'

Explain why Archduke Franz Ferdinand was visiting Sarajevo.

The July Crisis

Read p. 157 'The assassination at Sarajevo'

Name the cause to which the Serbian organization 'Black Hand' was dedicated to.

The July Crisis

Read p. 157 ' the assassination at Sarajevo.

 

Drag the events to the right area in the map.

1

2

3

4

The chauffeur takes a wrong turn, and with the speed slowing in reverse, Gavrilo Princip stepped forward and fired his revolver, killing both the Archduke and his wife. 

Cabrinovic throws a bomb, exploding behind the car. 

Cabrinovic poisons himself and fell into the river, but local police pull him out of the water alive. 

The Archdukes car speeds towards the town hall, where the official visit takes place. 

I     I      I      I      I      I      I      I      I      I      I

Read p. 157 'What was the reaction of the Great Powers?

Drag the following 10 events to the time bar below in chronological order.

July 1st

August 1st

On 31 July, Germany sent France an ultimatum and demanded them to be neutral in the event of a Russo-German war. If they did not, Germany would declare war on them. 

Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

At a meeting in Berlin (5 July) Germany agrees to support Austria-Hungary, whatever action it decided to take. Also known as the Blank Cheque. 

Austria-Hungary draws up an ultimatum for the Serbian government, so harsh that Serbia is never able to accept. 

On 23 July, Serbia accepts the ultimatum but for the most extreme demands, which causes Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and bomb Belgrade. 

On 30 July, Russia Tsar Nicholas II ordered Russia's mobilization to support Serbia. 

Germany sent an ultimatum to Russia: they had 12 hours to demobilize

Germany declares war on Russia, since it did not respond to the ultimatum. France rejects their ultimatum, and starts mobilizing.

On 2 August, Germany demands the right to pass through Belgium.

When Germany invaded Belgium after they rejected on 4 August, Britain declared war on them, as they agreed to protect Belgium in the Treaty of London.