The M.A.I.N. Causes of World War I

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WORLD WAR IM- Militarism

● “Bulking up” militaries● Arms race among

European countries● Belief that a strong

military was needed to be great

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WORLD WAR IA- Alliances

● Rivalries, suspicion and mistrust among European countries led to defensive alliances

○ Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

○ Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Discussion Questions

● What do you think militarism and alliances were intended to do?

● What are the problems with these developments?

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WORLD WAR II-Imperialism

● Competition for political prestige and economic power among European countries

● Colonies provided additional resources (material and human resources) that could be used in war

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WORLD WAR IN- Nationalism

● Intense devotion to one’s nation ● Fueled increase rivalry among

European nations

IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I● The Balkans were seen as the “Powder

Keg” of Europe- potentially explosive due to nationalistic sentiment among ethnic groups

● Serbia had a large Slavic population- hoped to unite the Slavs of the Balkans

○ Russia supported this○ Austria opposed this- feared it may cause

Austria’s own Slavic population to rebel

IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I● June 28, 1914- Austrian Archduke

Franz Ferdinand and his wife were in Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia)

● Austria wanted to punish Serbia- Serbia sought to comply, but by July 28 Austria declared war on Serbia

WORLD WAR I HAD BEGUN!

OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR I (1914)● After Austria declared war on Serbia, a domino

effect began as the alliances went into effect

1. Austria declared war on Serbia2. Russia (Serbia’s ally) moved troops to borders

w/ Austria and Germany3. Germany (Austria’s ally) declared war on

Russia, then pre-emptively declared war on France (Russia’s ally)

4. Britain (ally of France and Russia) declared war on Germany

OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR I (1914)Alliances during World War I

● CENTRAL POWERS: Germany and Austria-Hungary- Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire also joined, hoping to regain lost territory

● ALLIES: Britain, France, and Russia- Japan also joined later, also Italy switched sides (felt the other side had unjustly started the war)