Objective for March 23rd: Students will analyze the
causes of World War I
Warm-up: The leader of a country you are allied with
has been murdered by a citizen of a rival nation. The
country you are allied w/ declares war and calls on you
for support. Joining the war on the side of your ally will
likely cause a chain reaction and a large scale war in
Europe.
Consider these questions – 1 sentence each:
1. Do you support your ally as promised? Why or why not?
2. What are the risks of refusing to help?
3. What are the consequences of war involving all of
Europe?
World War I
Causes of World War I - MANIA
M ilitarism – policy of building up strong military forces to
prepare for war
A lliances - agreements between nations to aid and protect
one another
N ationalism – pride in or devotion to one’s country
I mperialism – when one country takes over another country
economically and politically
A ssassination – murder of Austrian Archduke Franz
Ferdinand. June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia
Causes of World War I – Militarism
Increase in nationalism led to an arms race in Europe
Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers (Germany,
Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, Britain, Russia) in millions of £s
(British pounds)
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1914
94
130
154
268
289
398
France
Britain
Russia
Germany
1910-1914 Increase in Defense
Expenditures
10%
13%
39%
73%
Causes of World War I - Alliances
Triple Entente/Allied Powers
Triple Alliance/Central Powers:
Great Britain
Germany
France
Austria-Hungary
Tension
Russia
Italy
Causes of World War I - Nationalism
Pan-Slavism - movement to unify the Slavic people of
Eastern Europe, but under rule of Ottoman Empire or AustriaHungary
Russia/Austria-Hungary disputeboth trying to dominate in Balkans
(Southeast Europe under Austria-Hungary) but
strong nationalism of Serbs, Bulgarians,
Romanians, and other ethnic groups
Causes of World War I - Nationalism
Countries felt the need to be better than
everyone else.
Germany’s industries grew and Britain did not
like that.
Nationalism led to rivalries over territorial
disputes.
Imperialism:
European
conquest of
Africa for
raw
materials
and
expansion of
territory
Causes of World War I - Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie
Sarajevo, Bosnia - June 28th, 1914.
Causes of World War I - Assassination
Causes of World War I - Assassination
Austrian
Archduke
Franz
Ferdinand
was killed in
Bosnia by a
Serbian
nationalist
who believed
that Bosnia
should belong
to Serbia.
Causes of World War I - Assassination
Gavrilo Princip of THE
BLACK HAND Killed them
after his assassination of
Austrian Archduke Franz
Ferdinand.
THE BLACK HAND was a
secret society wishing to rid
Bosnia of Austrian rule.
The Point of No Return:
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
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
The Point of No Return:
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Germany declares war on Russia
France pledges their support for Russia
Germany declares war on France
Germany invades Belgium (neutral country) on the way to
France
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany
Allied Powers:
Central Powers:
Germany
Great Britain
France
Austria-Hungary
World War I
Russia
Italy