WORLD WAR I

THE CAUSES

Causes of World War I

-M

A

N

I

A

ilitarism – policy of building up strong military forces to prepare for war

lliances - agreements between nations to aid and protect one another

ationalism – pride in or devotion to one’s country

mperialism – when one country takes over another country economically and politically

ssassination – murder of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

MANIA

Causes of World War I - Militarism

• Increased nationalism leads countries to believe they need a strong military

• All Great Powers, except Great Britain (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, & France) had a powerful standing army

• Generals develop plans for fast mobilization in case of war

1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures

France 10%

Britain 13%

Russia 39%

Germany 73%

1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914

94 130 154 268 289 398

Causes of World War I - Militarism

Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, Britain, Russia)

in millions of £s£s (British pounds)

Causes of World War I - Alliances

• Growing rivalries led to military alliances between Great Powers

• Otto von Bismarck (Prussia/Germany) thought France was trouble & formed alliance against them Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)

• Kaiser of Germany fires Bismarck and starts to build navy to rival Britain Britain nervous & forms entente, or alliance Triple Entente

Triple Entente/Allied Powers Triple Entente/Allied Powers Triple Entente/Allied Powers Triple Entente/Allied Powers Triple Alliance/Central PowersTriple Alliance/Central Powers::Triple Alliance/Central PowersTriple Alliance/Central Powers::

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Great Britain

France

Russia

Causes of World War I - Alliances

Tension

Pan-Slavism  - movement to unify the Slavic people of Eastern Europe, but under rule of Ottoman Empire or Austria-Hungary

Causes of World War I - Nationalism

Russia/Austria-Hungary dispute- both trying to dominate in Balkans (Southeast Europe under Austria-

Hungary) but strong nationalism of Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and other ethnic groups

Imperialism: European

conquest of Africa for

raw materials

and expansion of

territory

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

Causes of World War I - Assassination

Gavrilo Princip of THE BLACK HAND after his assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Causes of World War I - Assassination

THE BLACK HAND was a secret society wishing to rid Bosnia of Austrian rule.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie Sarajevo, Bosnia - June 28th, 1914.

Causes of World War I - Assassination

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

World War IWorld War IWorld War IWorld War I

Allied PowersAllied Powers::Allied PowersAllied Powers:: Central Central PowersPowers::Central Central PowersPowers::Great Britain

France

Russia Italy

Germany

Austria-Hungary