Transcript Slide 1

Pre-WWI multi-ethnic empires:
1. Austria-Hungary
2. Russia
3. Ottoman Empire
ALL had problems
from nationalist ethnic
minorities in their
empires.
1) BALKANS = southeast Europe:
2) Balkan region was destabilized by:
Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire 
Russia regarded it as its SPHERE OF INFLUENCE;
Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans had long
competed for DIRECT control of the region.
This region was further destabilized by intense
nationalism among its various ethnic groups:
Serbs, Bosnians, Greeks, Montenegrins,
Macedonians, Croats, Slovenes, Albanians,
Bulgarians, Romanians
Most common language group: SLAVIC (Russia, too)
3) ***Factors contributing to WWI***:
1. NATIONALISM / JINGOISM  intense competition among
Euro nations. Includes territorial disputes; feelings of
vengeance from prior conflicts
(i.e. Franco-Prussian War);
ethnic groups fighting for independence (esp. in the Balkans).
2. INDUSTRIALISM  competition for raw materials & markets.
3. IMPERIALISM  more intense overseas competition, and
fewer places to conquer… industrial nations will begin to target
each other.
4. MILITARISM  glorifying armed strength; includes:
• - European ARMS RACE: a build-up of weapons & armies
- WAR PLANNING: detailed offensive strategies with precise
speed & timing of mobilization; developed by career
generals with ideas of “quick victories” and fame.
5. ALLIANCES  pulls multiple nations into regional conflicts.
6. POOR LEADERSHIP  Unaccountable & incompetent
monarchs (German Kaiser, Russian Czar)
4) After uniting Germany in 1871 via a defeat of
France in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck
changes German foreign policy from one of
militaristic expansion (“blood and iron”) to one
of peaceful maintenance of German security
and stability...
5) ... Bismarck did this by forming alliances with
Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia, in the
hopes of isolating a vengeful France, which he
saw as the only threat to peace for Germany.
6) BUT… Kaiser Wilhelm II forces Bismarck
out(1890):
6) (cont.): Kaiser Wilhelm II
was too “proud and
stubborn”, and sought to
assert power himself in
Germany, rather than
share it with anyone
else.
7) Kaiser Wilhelm II begins to undermine European
stability… a.k.a. Billy has issues!
- Insecure & jingoistic:
wanted to show that
Germany was the most
powerful Euro nation,
investing a great deal in
the German army and
military displays.
7) Kaiser Wilhelm II’s destabilization of Europe (cont):
- Lets the German treaty with Russia expire; Russia
then becomes an ally with France, instead. Germany
now faces Bismarck’s fear of aggressors on both its
Eastern and Western borders… and the dangerous
potential of a TWO-FRONT WAR.
- Increasing militarism and arms build-up:
Germany makes major
investments in its navy,
to rival Britain, pushing
Britain into a closer
relationship with France.
8) Pre-war alliances:
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain
Rival alliances increase the prospect of war:
A dispute between any two nations from either side could
draw all other nations into the conflict, creating a larger
military crisis.
9) The Balkans = the “powder keg” of Europe:
Balkan populations had a long history of “nationalist
uprisings and ethnic clashes”, combined with interference
from the Ottomans, Austrians, and Russians.
TWO Balkan Wars had already been fought from 19121913!
10) Balkans:
Dominant ethnic (linguistic) group: SLAVIC (Slavs).
SERBIA saw itself as the nationalist leader of all Balkan
Slavs, promoting “Pan-Slavism”
11) RUSSIAN attitude toward
Serbian nationalism:
SUPPORTIVE:
1. Common Slavic identity
2. Would increase Russian
influence in the Balkans,
while simultaneously
undermining the power of
their rival, Austria-Hungary.
3. Would help Russia gain
access to warm-water
Mediterranean ports.
12) AUSTRIAN attitude toward Serbian nationalism:
OPPOSED:
Feared a spillover effect of Slavic nationalism inside
Austria-Hungary’s borders, potentially causing rebellion
and destabilizing the Empire.
13) Tensions between Austria-Hungary & Serbia intensify
(1908): Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia & Herzegovina
13) (cont.): Bosnia & Herzegovina had a large ethnic Serb
population; Serbia wanted to expand its borders to take
control of this region, creating “one Slavic land”
(YUGOSLAVIA). Serbia worked hard to undermine AustroHungarian control of Bosnia & Herzegovina, causing more
tension between itself and Austria-Hungary.
14) In June of 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne,
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, with his wife, Sophie, visited the
Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. While on their state visit to this newly
annexed part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they were
assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, an ethnic Serbian nationalist
and member of the radical group, The Black Hand, which was
dedicated to ousting Austrian rule in favor of Serbian rule in
Bosnia.
15) Ultimatum:
A non-negotiable list of demands that if not
accepted, results in serious consequences.
a.k.a., “Do this or else!”
16) Austria-Hungary delivers an ultimatum to Serbia on
July 23rd, 1914:
Austria-Hungary held Serbia as responsible for the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand, since the assassin
was Serbian, and the Black Hand was provided
material support by Serbia, in the form of financing
and weapons.
17) Serbian response to the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum:
- Serbia accepted most of the demands, but wanted an
international conference to mediate the dispute.
(Serbia actually accepted 9 of 10 demands!)
- Austria-Hungary rejected Serbia’s hesitation in
accepting
ALL terms of the ultimatum, and declared war
on Serbia
five days after delivering the ultimatum
(likely their intention all along!)
*NOT IN TEXT: Austria-Hungary did not deliver the
ultimatum, nor declare war on Serbia, until it had
confirmed guarantees of German support, knowing that
their actions might bring Russia into the conflict, in
support of Serbia.
18) Russia then gets involved, and the crisis escalates:
Upon Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war against
Serbia, Russia begins to mobilize (move) its troops to
the
border with Austria-Hungary… the dominos begin to
fall!
BONUS: Ottoman Turk genocide in the 1890’s and 1910’s.
targeted ethnic ARMENIANS.