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Causes of World War I
Causes of
World War I
Basic Facts About WWI
WWI: July 1914 –November 11, 1918
32 nations involved in the “Great War”
“War to end all wars”“First modern war”
WWI started in Europe & most battles occurred there
U.S. was neutral until 1917
4 M.A.I.N. causes of WWI
M ilitarism
A lliances
I mperialism
N ationalism
Trigger event (Spark): Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
MilitarismDefinition: Development of armed forces & their use as a tool of diplomacy
Creation of empires required militaries for defense
Imperialism…
Each nation wanted its military superior to its enemies
Militarism
1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures
France 10%
Britain 13%
Russia 39%
Germany 73%
Alliances
Definition: Formal agreement between nations
Aka: mutual defense pact
Countries promise to defend one another if they are attacked
Alliances
Hostilities in Europe led to TWO major mutual defense pacts by 1914
Triple Entente (Allied Powers)
France, Russia, & Great Britain
Alliances
Hostilities in Europe led to TWO major mutual defense pacts by 1914
Triple Alliance (Central Powers)
Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary
Alliances
Triple Alliances
1914: Ottoman Empire → Central Powers
1915: Italy → Allies
Alliances
Plus…
Russia has an alliance with Serbia
Imperialism
Definition: One nation extends political, economic, military control over the other nations
Industrializing nations needed colonies for resources and markets
Imperialism
• Germany, France, & Great Britain competed for colonies
European
Conquest
of Africa
NationalismDefinition: Devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation
Belief that your nation is superior to other nations
National interests > global cooperation
Grew in Europe during the 1800s, causing hostilities between countries
Nationalism
France & Germany fought over territory
NationalismSerbia was independent, but many ethnic Serbs lived in Austria-Hungary
Russia saw itself as the protector of Eastern Europe and competed with Austria-Hungary for influence over the Serbs
Nationalism
&
Self-
Determination
“The Balkans”
The“Spark”
Spark that Lit the
“Powder Keg”
Balkan Peninsula“Powder Keg of Europe”
June 28, 1914Archduke Franz Ferdinand & Duchess Sophie
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Assassinated by a Serbian nationalist
Member of the “Black Hand”
Franz Ferdinand
Immediate Cause of WWI
July 1914Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Alliance system was put into motion
Nations were quickly drawn into war
AlliancesTriple Alliance Triple Entente
Germany
Austria-
Hungary
Italy
Great
Britain
France
Russia
Domino Effect
Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia.
Germany pledged their support for Austria-Hungary.
Russia pledged their support for Serbia.
Domino Effect
Germany declares war on Russia.
France pledges their support for Russia.
Germany declares war on France.
Germany invades Belgium on the way to France.
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.
Allied Powers v. Central Powers
World War I
Great
Britain
France
Russia
Italy
Germany
Austria-
Hungary
Ottoman
Empire
Bulgaria
I switched
sides!!!
We joined!
Central & Allied Powers
Central Powers/Triple Alliance
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Allied Powers/Triple Entente
France
Russia
Great Britain
Italy
