Causes of WWI

WORLD WAR I1914-1919

The Players

Allied Powers France Great Britain Italy Russia United States

(1917)

Central Powers Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire

“Main” Causes of WWI

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

Militarism

Europe entered the 20th century in an arms race.

By 1914, Germany had the biggest arms build-up.

Britain responded by working to increase the size of its navy.

The situation was similar on both Russia & France.

Alliances

By 1914 all of the major powers were linked by a system of alliances.

If one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them.

This system made it more likely that a war would start & that it would spread throughout the continent.

Alliances

Imperialism

In the years before World War I, all of the major powers were in competition for colonies & territory – particularly in Africa & Asia.

Nationalism

This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and independence.

In Europe, a rivalry developed among Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, & France.

At the same time, groups living within those countries were fighting for their independence.

The Slavs, aided by Serbia & Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.

The Spark

June 1914

The heir to Austrian throne – Archduke Franz Ferdinand - visited Sarajevo, Bosnia

Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, shot the Archduke and wife as a protest against Austrian rule in the region

The Spark

In July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia.

Alliance system pulled one nation after another into the conflict.