CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I
LONG TERM CAUSES
• MILITARISM: An arms race between countries, as a
countries’ power depended on military strength
Example: Germany and Britain competed for naval
superiority to compete for colonies
LONG TERM CAUSES
• ALLIANCES: Alone, Europe was vulnerable so
alliances sought out even though trust was an issue
Triple Entente: Britain,
France and Russia
• Triple Alliance: Germany,
Italy and Austria Hungary
LONG TERM CAUSES
• IMPERIALISM: Conquering of colonies/building an
Empire
• British Empire was 25%
of the world
• British flag flew in every
continent of the world
LONG TERM CAUSES
• Nationalism: Inspiring patriotic feelings in ones
country/belief that your country is the best
TRIPLE ENTENTE
• Great Britain, France and Russia, fearing the rise of
Germany, signed a treaty stating that if any member of
the alliance was attacked, the other members would
come to its aid.
• France was desperate to avenge its defeat by Germany
in the Franco- Prussian War of 1870-1871 by regaining the
lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.
• Russia promised to support Serbia, a fellow Slavic nation,
while also ensuring that Austria-Hungary did not expand
its influence in the Balkans.
• Great Britain supported Belgium and guaranteed its
sovereignty, but also to retain the balance of power in
Europe by restraining Germany.
• Italy, switched sides- in May 1915 joined the Entente
hoping to acquire territory from Austria-Hungary and
new colonial possessions, mainly in Africa
CENTRAL POWERS, OR TRIPLE
ALLIANCE
• In response to this alliance, Germany formed the Triple
Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy
• Austria-Hungary wanted to suppress Serbian nationalism
and strengthen the unity of its empire in the Balkans.
• Germany supported Austria-Hungary war on Serbia.
sought greater influence in Europe by reducing the
strength of France and Russia, and more colonial
possessions.
• Italy had recently become an independent state and
resented the great power displayed by the British and
French. Wanted to establish an empire but saw few
areas not already controlled by the British.
THE BALKAN POWER KEG!
• Europe has often been referred to as a powder keg
waiting to explode in the years before the First
World War.
• Tension
SHORT TERM CAUSES: JUNE 28, 1914
SARAJEVO
WHERE IS SARAJEVO?
BOSNIA, SARAJEVO
BLACK HAND
-A Serbian terrorist
group
- They had attacked
Austrian citizens
and property
- Austria suspected
Serbian support
- Willing to fight
Austrians to return
Bosnia to Serbia
GAVRILO PRINCIP
THE PLANNED ROUTE OF THE ARCH
DUKE AND HIS WIFE- JUNE 28, 1914
KEY EVENTS OF THE ASSASINATION
• Gavrilo Princip fired two shots and was quickly
arrested
• Austrian government reacted by blaming the
Serbians
• …the road to WW1 began
ALLIANCES REACT TO THE
ASSASSINATION
- Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia demanding arrest
of Black Hand, an apology, and Austria would
monitor Serbia
- Serbia turns to Russia
- Russia pleads with Austria to no avail
- Austria calls Germany, who pledges full support to
Austria
- Austria attacks Serbia
- Russia mobilized their army
- Germany mobilized their army
- France and Britain joined Russia and called up
troops
ALLIANCE BELIEF
ENTENTE BELIEF
PART 1
• Who is Apis?
• Why do you think Princip wanted to assassinate
Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand?
• What precautions did Franz Ferdinand take for his
safety? What precautions should he have taken
that he did not?
PART 2
• How do you think the members of the Black Hand
feel at this point?
• Why was it uncommon for Sophie to accompany
Franz Ferdinand?
• Why did each of the members carry cyanide with
them?
PART 3
• Do you think the members of the Black Hand were
freedom fighters or criminals?
• How did the other Countries react to the
assassination?
• If Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess
Sophia had not been assassinated, do you think
that World War 1 still would have happened?
GROUP ACTIVITY
In groups of 4 create a Facebook profile for either:
• Gavrilo Princip
• Apis
• Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand
• Russian czar, Nicholas II
• Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II
You can include: political views, hometown, “about
me” section, favourite quotations, relationship status,
recent posts, recent status updates, mutual friends,
photos they are tagged in etc…
• In groups of 4 create a 5 shot storyboard outlining
the causes of World War 1