Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Causes of WWI
Essential Question:What caused World War I?
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From 1914 to 1919, World War I erupted in Europe
This “Great War” was the largest, most destructive
war the world had yet seen
WWI was a global war that altered the course
of the 20th century
What caused World War I?
From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European
powers that led to the outbreak of World War I
The
MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM causes of World War I
MILITARISMThe Industrial Revolution
led to large, advanced militaries in Europe
Europeans believed that to be great, nations had to have strong militaries
As a result, an arms race began among European nations, especially between Britain & Germany
Nations glorified military power &
kept an army prepared for war (called militarism)
Having a strong army increased
patriotism among citizens
From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European
powers that led to the outbreak of World War I
The
MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM causes of World War I
Competition for colonies often pushed Europeans
to the brink of war
European nations competed fiercely for colonies in Africa & Asia
IMPERIALISM
This competition increased European rivalry & mistrust
Germany & France almost went to war three times
over Morocco
Germany, England, Russia
argued over building a
railroad in India
England & France
argued over rights to the
Sudan
From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European
powers that led to the outbreak of World War I
The
MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM causes of World War I
Growing rivalries among nations led to the formation of two military alliances that
threatened to draw European nations into war
ALLIANCESGermany, Italy, &
Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance
England, France, & Russia formed the Triple Entente
From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European
powers that led to the outbreak of World War I
The
MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM causes of World War I
NATIONALISM
Austrian national poster, 1900
Rivalries due to militarism & imperialism increased nationalism
among European powers
British propaganda poster, 1897
European rivals tried to maintain a balance of
power while also trying to overpower each other
“European Balance of Power, 1914”
While nationalism unified people in the powerful nations, it was dividing
people in weakening empires
NATIONALISMNo region was more
tense in the years before World War I than the Balkans
Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania
broke from the Ottoman Empire to create new nations
Slavic people in Serbia wanted to unify all Slavs
but Austria-Hungary opposed giving up the
largely Slavic territories Bosnia & Herzegovina
The Balkans became a “powder keg” waiting for a spark to blow up
The Outbreak of World War I On June 28, 1914, the Austro-
Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife were
assassinated by a Serbian terrorist
The assassin Gavrilo Princip
Serbians vowed to take Bosnia &
Herzegovina from Austria-
Hungary
The Outbreak of World War I On July 23, Austria-Hungary
issued an ultimatum to Serbia: turn over conspirators & allow
an investigation…OR…go to war When Serbia balked at some
of the terms, Austria-Hungary declared war on June 28,
1914Russia had a large population of Slavs & was an ally of Serbia; Russia moved troops
to the Austrian border These events set off a chain reaction that started World War I
World War 1 BeginsAustria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
& its ally Russia
On July 28,1914, Serbia declined the ultimatum
On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war
on RussiaOn August 3, 1914,
Germany declared war on France
Italy backed out of its agreement with Germany
& Austria-Hungary……and joined
the Allies
On August 4, 1914, England declared war on Germany &
Austria-HungaryRussia mobilized for war
to protect Serbia
World War I had begun
During the war Germany & Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers; they were
joined by Bulgaria & the Ottoman Empire
The members of the Triple Entente became known as the Allied Powers
and eventually were joined by…
…many nations throughout the world
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