WORLD WAR I
Causes of World War I
Causes Explanation
imperialism the policy of one
nation acquiringanother countryor region
European nations - Great Powers - established colonies to create empires
they exploited the land and resources they wanted raw materials and markets for their
manufactured goods European empires aggressively pursued colonies in Africa Germany in conflict with Britain and France Russia, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman empires wanted to control
Balkans
militarism a nation’s policy of
maintaining armedforces ready for war
Great Powers developed strong military to protect colonies Britain had the largest navy and Germany wanted to match it Britain built the Dreadnought and Germany built it as well France concerned about German military strength arms race increased tension
alliances agreement among
nations toward acommon goal
rivalries between Great Powers resulted in alliancesto support and protect one another
Triple Alliance : Germany and Austria-Hungary vsTriple Entente: France, Britain, Russia
Great Powers hoped alliances would reduce the threat of war alliances made it easier for a country to be drawn into war
nationalism pride and patriotism
in one’s nation
Great Powers’ nationalism fueled imperialism intense nationalism existed in Balkans as Austria-Hungary
contained Slavs who wanted independence Serbs in Bosnia wanted independence from Austria Serbia wanted control of Bosnia and unite Slavs to from
Greater Serbia
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to Austrian
throne
June 28 assassination of Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia by Serbian Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand triggered a chain reaction that started the war
Schlieffen Plan German invasion plan
August 2 Germany invades neutral Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan for attacking France
Steps to War – June 28-August 4 1914
June 28 – Austrian Archduke Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia by Serb nationalist
July 23 - Austria gives Serbia 48 hour ultimatum; Serbia does not agree to all terms and mobilizes
July 28 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia; Serbia turns to Russia for help
July 29 - Russian Czar Nicholas agrees to help Serbia and mobilizes army
July 30 - Germany sends Russia ultimatum to halt mobilization; Russia refuses
August 1 - German declares war on Russia; France mobilizes army
August 2 - Germany invades neutral Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan for attacking France
August 3 - Germany declares war on France; Britain gives German ultimatum to halt invasion of Belgium
August 4 - Germany does not reply to British ultimatum; Britain declares war on Germany