Causes of WWI-NATIONALISM-

• European countries competed for colonies and trade • Ethnic groups dreamed of creating their

own nations– Both of these issues caused nationalism, or extreme

pride in your nation or identity with your nation• Example: saying “I am AMERICAN”

Causes of WWI-Imperialism-

Austria-Hungary and Russia fought over new nations who freed themselves from the Ottoman Empire

2. Serbians wanted to form their own state

a. Russia supported them

b. Austria-Hungary did not

Disputed Territories• Russia and Austria-Hungary were not the only

countries fighting over land• France and Germany were fighting over a territory

known as Alsace-Lorraine on the border of the two nations

Causes of WWI-Alliances-

• Due to the increasing competition, some countries began to form alliances with each other

• Alliances are agreements of friendship and protection

• Alliances usually promise protection to a warring or attacked nation– Two Alliances formed in Europe• Triple Alliance• Triple Entente

Alliance Makeup• The Triple Alliance is also know as the central

powers– Germany– Austria-Hungary– Ottoman Empire

• The Triple Entente will also be known as the allies, when the U.S. enters the war– France– England– Russia• Russia also had their own alliance with Serbia

Causes of War-Militarism-

• As alliances formed and competition increased, each country thought it would be a good idea to have a strong military

• The act of building up a strong military is called militarism– Militarism can seem threatening and causes other

countries to react with militarism also

Trigger of WWI Assassination of Archduke of Austria Hungary

1. Heir to the thrown, Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited Sarajevo in Bosnia

a. Serbian terrorist group plotted to kill him due to their disagreement with Austria-Hungary

b. Ferdinand is shot by a Bosnian Serbian

Fallout of Assassination

2. Austria Hungary makes demands of Serbian government with the help of their German allies

a. Serbia rejects demands3. Austria- Hungary declared war on Serbia

a. Russian allies come to their aid

Alliances cause war

• Due to the nature of alliances, if one country goes to war, then their allies are supposed to help

• Because there were essentially six different nations in two different alliances, they all ended up declaring war on each other

• …and that’s how World War I Started