What were the causes and effects of World War I? Notes #22

The main causes of World War I (WWI) were militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in Europe.

Policies of militarism caused European nations to expand their militaries and being more willing to use force.

Increased tensions caused European nations to form opposing alliances in order to protect each other.

Policies of imperialism caused European nations to compete for colonies and economic power.

Feelings of nationalism caused European nations to become more aggressive.

Before WWI, the Balkans were referred to as the “powder keg Europe” because of the nationalistic rivalries located there.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand while visiting the Balkans set off a chain reaction among alliances and the start of WWI. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria  Serbian nationalist assassin Gavrilo Princip 

WWI was between the Allies and the Central Powers.

Most of WWI was fought on the European Western Front and involved trench warfare.

New technology used during WWI included: airplanes, submarines, tanks, machine guns, and poison gas.

WWI was considered a total war because nations devoted all of their resources to the war effort.

Governments drafted men to fight, spent money on war needs, and encouraged women to help out.

Armistice Day (November 11, 1918) The turning point of WWI occurred when the U.S. joined the Allies and helped them defeat the Central Powers. Armistice Day (November 11, 1918)

A worldwide economic depression followed the end of WWI as nations had huge war debts to pay off and had to rebuild their factories and farms.