– Nationalistic feelings, a glorification of the
military, imperialistic rivalries, and tangled
alliances led to unrest in Europe at the start of
the 1900’s.
World War I
Outbreak of War in
Europe
Causes of WWI
Key Terms
• Militarism
The policy of building up military forces
or threatening armed aggression
• Alliances
An agreement between nations to come to the
defense of each other if attacked by another
nation.
• Imperialism
• Nationalism
The attempt by a nation to control the
political, economic, and cultural affairs of
another nation
Pride in and devotion to one’s country
Germany
• Leaders
– Kaiser Wilheim (King)
– Otto von Bismark (chancellor)
Germany
• Nationalism had
fueled German
Unification
– Blood and Iron policy
– 1871: the German nation was
formed from a group of
independent nation-states
with a common heritage
• Bismarck transformed
the nation into a
industrial and military
power
Germany
• Foreign Policy
– Establish alliances to
prevent Russia and
France becoming allies
– Increase military
strength
– Increase German
influence in world
affairs
France
• Wanted to regain role
as a power in Europe
• History of conflict with
the German states
– Competition for territory
in Africa
– Territorial disputes over
the border
– Franco-Prussian War
• Suffered humiliating defeat
to the Germans
• Lost territory on its border
(Alsace Lorraine)
• Began to build up its
military to get revenge
La Revenge
Great Britain
• Had a large empire
– “Sun never sets on
the British Empire”
• powerful army/navy
• Saw German
industrialization and
militarization as a
potential threat
– Led Britain to form
close ties with
France
Russia
• controlled by a
autocratic czar (king)
– Czar Nicholas Romanov II
– Repressed the people
– Opposed reforms
• Led to a growing opposition
to the rule of the Czar
• Promoted Pan-Slavism
– Nationalist movement to
unite Slavic people in E.
Europe
– Came to the defense of
Slavic people in the
Balkans
• Serbia
Ottoman Empire
• A once powerful
empire that was
losing its power
• History of conflicts
with Russia
• Had good relations
with Germany
Austria-Hungary
• Leader:
– Franz Joseph
– The Dual Monarchy
• Austrian monarch and
Hungarian monarchs
shared power
Austria-Hungary
• Controlled many
different ethnic groups
• Nationalism fueled
ethnic minorities desire
for independence from
Austria
– Balkans (Serbs and
Croats)
– Czechs
– Poland
“The Powder Keg of Europe”
System of Alliances
The Triple Alliance
The Triple Entente
Germany
Austria Hungary
Russia
Great
Britain
Italy
France
Ottoman Empire
will become allies later
forming the Central Powers
The Balkan Powder Keg
• Serbian nationalists
wanted to unite Serbs
in the Balkans
– Create a Slavic state
– Austria-Hungary
opposed this effort
• Austria- Hungary
annexed BosniaHerzegovina
– Large number of Serbs
– Angered Serbian
nationalists
The Spark
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
June, 28, 1914:
Serbian nationalist,
Gavrilo Princip,
Assassinates Archduke
Franz Ferdinand of
Austria Hungary in
Sarajevo
Archduke Franz Ferdinand & His Family
The Assassination: Sarajevo
The Assassin:
Gavrilo
Princip
THE ALLIANCE SYSTEMS GO
INTO ACTION
?
Great Britain
declares war on
Germany
Germany declares
war on Russia
Germany
declares war
on France
?
AustriaHungary
declares war
on Serbia
Russia mobilizes
army to the
border with A-H
Outbreak of War
Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for death of Archduke and
makes harsh demands
Serbia refused to comply with demands
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28 1914)
Russia moves troops to border with Austria and Germany
Germany declares war on Russia
Germany declares war on France
Germany invades Belgium as part of plan to invade France
(August 3, 1914)
Great Britain declares war on Germany
Points for Discussion
• What are the four primary causes of
WWI
• What is the immediate cause of WWI