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What Caused World War I?. Nationalism. Caused majority ethnic groups to discriminate against minority ethnic groups within their nation Territorial disputes Examples Alsace-Lorraine Balkan Wars. Nations in Europe - 1914. Destabilization of Old Empires.
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Nationalism • Caused majority ethnic groups to discriminate against minority ethnic groups within their nation • Territorial disputes • Examples • Alsace-Lorraine • Balkan Wars
Destabilization of Old Empires • Smaller ethnic groups within large empires, such as the Serbs in Austria-Hungary, were trying to gain their independence • Long-standing rivalry between Aus-Hung. & Russia, the “protector of the Slavs”
Imperialism • Competition for land, resources and locations for naval bases • Over 60 years! • “Have Nations” ~ Britain, France, Russia • “Have Nots” ~ Germany & Austria Hungary
Spirit of Militarism • Glorification of the military = Arms race • Protect growing empires • Display national pride • Not so much a question of ‘if’ a war would take place, but ‘when’ • Military plans made well before the war started **Chart on page 283**
Entangling Alliances • Triple Entente: Britain, France, and Russia • Triple Alliance : Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and German • Secret treaties • “Blank Check” from Germany to Aus-Hung. • One goes to war, they all go to war
Social Darwinism • “Survival of the Fittest” theory newly applied to nations
Change in Balance of Power • Austria-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire in danger of crumbling • European nations greedy for land • Germany becoming a threat • equally as rich as Britain • caught up in industry • biggest army in Europe
What’s the Biggest Cause? NATIONALISM!! • Caused increased competition & heightened rivalry amongst powerful nations • Super-patriotism • Race for land/resources • Arms race • Destabilization of old empires
If Archduke Franz Ferdinand had not been assassinated, do you think WWI would have happened?