Causes of Causes of World War IWorld War I

Underlying CausesUnderlying Causes

MMilitarismilitarism

AAllianceslliances

IImperialismmperialism

NNationalismationalism

Long term causes over many Long term causes over many yearsyears

MilitarismMilitarism

Glorification of armed Glorification of armed strengthstrength

Arms Race: expansion Arms Race: expansion of armies and naviesof armies and navies Large standing Large standing

armies (except armies (except Britain)Britain)

Germany built navy Germany built navy to compete with to compete with BritainBritain

MilitarismMilitarism

Influence of Influence of military leadersmilitary leaders Governments Governments

turned to them turned to them for advicefor advice

Each country Each country made plans for made plans for warwar

AlliancesAlliances

Triple AllianceTriple Alliance Germany, Austria-Hungary, ItalyGermany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Triple EntenteTriple Entente Britain, France, RussiaBritain, France, Russia

AlliancesAlliances

ImperialismImperialism

Strong country Strong country dominates a weaker dominates a weaker oneone

Economic rivalries Economic rivalries poisoned the poisoned the atmosphereatmosphere Germany Germany

outproduced outproduced BritainBritain

ImperialismImperialism

Imperialism divided Imperialism divided nationsnations Conflict between Conflict between

France & GermanyFrance & Germany France wants to France wants to

get back Alsace-get back Alsace-LorraineLorraine

NationalismNationalism

Strong in Germany Strong in Germany and Franceand France

Germany was Germany was proud of its proud of its military powermilitary power

France wanted to France wanted to be a leading be a leading power in Europepower in Europe

NationalismNationalism

Pan-Slavism: all Pan-Slavism: all Slavic people’s Slavic people’s share a common share a common nationalitynationality

Russia protects Russia protects all Slavic all Slavic peoplespeoples

NationalismNationalism

Balkan “powder Balkan “powder keg”keg”

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire in decline – new in decline – new nations creatednations created

Balkan “Powder Keg”Balkan “Powder Keg”

Serbia wanted to Serbia wanted to rule all the Slavic rule all the Slavic peoplespeoples

1908: Austria 1908: Austria annexes Bosniaannexes Bosnia

Serbia is outragedSerbia is outraged

Russia supports Russia supports SerbiaSerbia

Balkan “Powder Keg”Balkan “Powder Keg”

Germany stood Germany stood behind Austriabehind Austria

Russia & Serbia Russia & Serbia backed downbacked down

Serbia wants to Serbia wants to take Bosnia from take Bosnia from AustriaAustria

AssassinationAssassination

Archduke Franz Archduke Franz Ferdinand killed in Ferdinand killed in Sarajevo June 28, Sarajevo June 28, 19141914

Heir to the Heir to the Austrian throneAustrian throne

Spark that ignited Spark that ignited the Balkan powder the Balkan powder kegkeg

AssassinationAssassination

Killer is Gavrilo PrincipKiller is Gavrilo Princip Ethnically Serbian Ethnically Serbian

but an Austrian but an Austrian citizencitizen

Member of the Black Member of the Black Hand; Wanted Bosnia Hand; Wanted Bosnia to be part of Serbiato be part of Serbia

Austria blamed SerbiaAustria blamed Serbia