CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I
Long Term/Underlying Causes
Militarism
Short Term Cause
Imperialism
Assassination of
Alliances
Nationalism
In order to protect
As nations increased their
Late 1800s–early 1900s:
Imperialism is when a
Archduke assassinated
colonies, European
military, they formed
European ethnic groups
country takes over new
by a Serbian terrorist
nations increased their
alliances to protect
devoted to the interests of
lands or countries and
group, the Black Hand,
military strength, e.g.,
themselves, e.g.,
their own nations, e.g.,
makes them subject to
on June 28, 1914.
• Britain and Germany
• Triple Alliance —
Germany, Italy.
their rule. By 1900 the
Serbs thought that they
built a large navy.
Austro-Hungarian
Competition for colonies
British Empire extended
might come under control
• Germany and Russia
Empire, Germany, Italy
among European
over five continents and
of the Austro-Hungarian
increased the size of their
• Triple Entente —
countries.
France had control of
Empire.
armies.
France, Great Britain,
Ethnic minorities desired
large areas of Africa. The
Austro-Hungarian
and Russia.
independence, e.g.,
amount of lands 'owned'
Empire sent demands to
Czechs, Slovaks, Poles,
by Britain and France
Serbian government.
Croats, and Serbs.
increased the rivalry with
Serbia rejected demands.
Germany who had entered
With the help of
the scramble to acquire
Germany, Austro-
colonies late and only had
Hungarian Empire
small areas of Africa.
declared war on Serbia;
Archduke Ferdinand
Germany declared war on
Russia (ally of Serbia),
and Great Britain
declared war on Germany.