Essential Question What caused World War I?

1. Essential Question What caused World War I?

2. From 1914 to 1919, World War I erupted in Europe • Text What caused World War I? 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

3. 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

4. MILITARISM The 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

5. IMPERIALISM Germany & France almost went to war three times over Morocco European nations competed fiercely for colonies in Africa & Asia England & France argued over rights to the Sudan Germany, England, Russia argued over building a railroad in India Competition for colonies often pushed Europeans to the brink of war This competition increased European rivalry & mistrust

6. ALLIANCES Growing rivalries among nations led to the formation of two military alliances that threatened to draw European nations into war Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance England, France, & Russia formed the Triple Entente

7. NATIONALISM Rivalries due to militarism & imperialism increased nationalism among European powers European rivals tried to maintain a balance of power while also trying to overpower each other “European Balance of Power, 1914” British propaganda poster, 1897 Austrian national poster, 1900

8. NATIONALISM No region was more tense in the years before World War I than the Balkans While nationalism unified people in the powerful nations, it was dividing people in weakening empires The Balkans became a “powder keg” waiting for a spark to blow up 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

9. The Outbreak of World War I Serbians vowed to take Bosnia & Herzegovina from Austria-Hungary On June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife were assassinatedbyaSerbianterrorist The assassin Gavrilo Princip

10. 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 July 28, 1914 Russia 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

11. World War 1 Begins Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia & its ally Russia On August 4, 1914, England declared war on Germany & Austria-Hungary On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on France Russia mobilized for war to protect Serbia Italy backed out of its agreement with Germany & Austria-Hungary… …and joined the Allies On July 28,1914, Serbia declined the ultimatum World War I had begun

12. 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…

13. …many nations throughout the world