WORLD WAR IThe Back Story

WORLD WAR I BEGINS

40 years of peace prior to the start of the war

Tension started to rise in 1914 Europe Based on Militarism and Alliances

PRUSSIA

1864, German Kingdom of Prussia launched wars to unite German states into one nation

1870, Prussians attacked and defeated France France and Germany became enemies Germany aligned with Italy and Austria-

Hungary Became the Triple Alliance

1871, Prussia unites Germany Birth of the powerful German Nation

RUSSIAN FEARS

New Alliance scared Russia Feared that Austria-Hungary would move

east towards Russia Common interest against Germany and

Austria-Hungary 1894, Franco-Russian Alliance

Aid to the other country if they went to war with the Triple Alliance

MILITARISM

The aggressive build-up of armed forces to intimidate and threaten other nations.

BRITAIN

Britain wanted to defend weaker nations against stronger nations

Germany was becoming a powerful nation

1898,GERMANY STARTED TO BUILD UP IT’S NAVY

Britain used its Navy to defend the island nation

Both nations raced to build warships

A NEW ALLIANCE

Britain, France, and Russia

Triple Entente Friendly

understanding to support each other in war without a written agreement

IMPERIALISM AND NATIONALISM

NATIONALISM RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

Feeling of Intense pride in one’s homeland European Nations viewed

others as competition and were willing to go to war

Nationalism and Imperialism were at odds Many nations wanted

independence from the Empires formed by Imperialism

People who share a national identity should have their own country and government

Nations wanted independence Serbs Bosnians Croats Slovenes

TERRORIST ATTACH BRINGS WAR

Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited Bosnia Assassinated by

Serbian National Serbian Government

hoped that the attack would start a war with the Austria-Hungary Empire

WAR ERUPTS

Austria-Hungary relies on Germany for support after the attack

Serbia relies on Russia and France for support

July 28 war erupts Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

August 1, Germany declares war on Russia

August 3, Germany declares war on France

WORLD WAR I BEGINS

GERMANY’S PLAN FAILS

Needed to go through Neutral Belgium to get to France Britain declared war on Germany when the Germans

crossed into Belgium Allies

Great Britain France Russia Italy

Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary