Causes of WWI
Causes of WWI - MANIA
Militarism
Alliances
Nationalism
Imperialism
Assassination
Militarism
When a nation’s armed forces come to
dominate a country’s national policy
 It is also a glorification of the military and
war itself

1910-1914 Increase in Defense
Expenditures
France
10%
Britain
13%
Russia
39%
Germany
73%
Alliances
 Signed
treaties in which each nation
involved pledges to defend the
other if attacked by an aggressor
 Basically,
countries agreed to help
each other
Alliances
Triple Entente:
Great Britain
France
Russia
Triple Alliance:
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy
Nationalism
Pride and patriotism in one’s nation
 In terms of WWI, nationalism became
aggressive and subsequently
(because of this) a major cause of
international tension
 Independent nations desired
dominance and prestige and as
these powers tried to dominate
each other in Europe, their rivalries
may be regarded as one of the
causes of the First World War

Imperialism

Domination by one country over
the political, economic, or cultural
life of another country or region

Due to the Industrial Revolution of
the 1800s, some European nations
had a large portion of the world
under their control
Imperialism and Colonial Rivalries
After 1870, the European nations began to
acquire colonies in Asia, Africa and the
Pacific
 Colonial rivalry led to:

 strained
relations among the European powers.
In Africa, all the European powers except Austria
and Russia had colonies there. Thus there were
many clashes among France, Britain, Germany
and Italy.
 the formation and strengthening of alliances and
ententes. (indirectly)
 an intensification of the arms race.
 much hostility among the powers.
Assassination

The “spark” that started WWI

On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir
to the Austria Hungarian Throne was assassinated
by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist who
believed that Bosnia should belong to Serbia
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess
Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914

Gavrilo Princip after
his assassination of
Austrian Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
The Point of No Return

Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared
war on Serbia.

Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary.

Russia pledged their support for Serbia.

Germany declares war on Russia

France pledges their support for Russia

Germany declares war on France

Germany invades Belgium on the way to France

Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany
Allied Powers:
Central Powers:
Germany
Great Britain
Austria-Hungary
France
World War I
Russia
Ottoman Empire
Italy
Sources

http://www.thecorner.org/hist/wwi/
colonial.htm

http://www.mrberlin.com/8th/WWI/
World_War_I_causes.ppt

http://www.msroachesplace.com/
causes1.ppt