1. How the death of one guy in a funky hat & turkey sandwich can spark a worldwide war

2. The Pursuit of Peace In the early 1900s Europe seemed to be at peace. In the early 1900s Europe seemed to be at peace. There had not been a major war in the region since 1871 There had not been a major war in the region since 1871 By the early 1900s there was a movement to create peace among nations and end war By the early 1900s there was a movement to create peace among nations and end war However, despite these efforts there were some underlying CAUSES that would lead to World War I However, despite these efforts there were some underlying CAUSES that would lead to World War I MAIN CAUSES MAIN CAUSES M – Militarism M – Militarism A – Alliances A – Alliances I – Imperialism I – Imperialism N – Nationalism N – Nationalism

3. Imperialism Imperialism-policy of extending a nation's power by acquiring territory or by the establishing economic & political control over other nations (colonies). Imperialism-policy of extending a nation's power by acquiring territory or by the establishing economic & political control over other nations (colonies). Imperial rivalries divided the “uncivilized” world Imperial rivalries divided the “uncivilized” world European powers rushed to colonize areas of the world in Africa, Asia and the South Pacific European powers rushed to colonize areas of the world in Africa, Asia and the South Pacific Imperialism also led to greater tensions as countries competed to build overseas empires Imperialism also led to greater tensions as countries competed to build overseas empires

4. Nationalism Aggressive nationalism was another cause of tensions between countries Aggressive nationalism was another cause of tensions between countries During the 1800s Europe had been swept by a rise in nationalism—the belief that a specific nation, language, or culture is superior to all others During the 1800s Europe had been swept by a rise in nationalism—the belief that a specific nation, language, or culture is superior to all others Leads to war when two countries have competing interests and are unwilling to compromise because of pride Leads to war when two countries have competing interests and are unwilling to compromise because of pride Nationalism led a number of German states to join together in 1871 to form the German Empire Nationalism led a number of German states to join together in 1871 to form the German Empire

5. Nationalism Throughout Europe Nationalism could also divide a country, rather than unite Nationalism could also divide a country, rather than unite This often occurred in countries with diverse populations where minority groups wanted independence This often occurred in countries with diverse populations where minority groups wanted independence Nationalism divided Austria-Hungary, which included people of many nationalities and language groups. Nationalism divided Austria-Hungary, which included people of many nationalities and language groups. One of these groups, the Slavs, wanted to create a nation of their own (Slav = someone who speaks Slavic language) One of these groups, the Slavs, wanted to create a nation of their own (Slav = someone who speaks Slavic language) Serbia was already an independent Slavic state on the Balkan Peninsula Serbia was already an independent Slavic state on the Balkan Peninsula The Serbs encouraged Slavs in Austria-Hungary to break free and join them in creating an independent, united Slavic empire in the Balkans The Serbs encouraged Slavs in Austria-Hungary to break free and join them in creating an independent, united Slavic empire in the Balkans Russia, which was itself largely Slavic, supported Serbia's goal Russia, which was itself largely Slavic, supported Serbia's goal

6. Militarism As relations grew more uncertain, countries in the late 1800s and early 1900s began building up their armed forces to prepare for war As relations grew more uncertain, countries in the late 1800s and early 1900s began building up their armed forces to prepare for war Militarism – a policy of aggressively building up the military for war Militarism – a policy of aggressively building up the military for war European nations built larger militaries than ever before European nations built larger militaries than ever before Germany created the most powerful army in Europe and a navy to rival that of Britain Germany created the most powerful army in Europe and a navy to rival that of Britain This created an arms race that further increased suspicions and made war more likely This created an arms race that further increased suspicions and made war more likely “Anything you can do, I can do better” “Anything you can do, I can do better”

7. Alliance System: Cause & Effects Distrust led to the great powers signing treaties to protect one another Distrust led to the great powers signing treaties to protect one another In the late 1800s European countries began to form alliances In the late 1800s European countries began to form alliances They did so to try to create a balance of power—a situation in which the strength of rival alliances is nearly equal They did so to try to create a balance of power—a situation in which the strength of rival alliances is nearly equal Most European leaders believed that no country would start a war if it lacked a real advantage in military strength Most European leaders believed that no country would start a war if it lacked a real advantage in military strength The growth of rival alliances increased international tensions The growth of rival alliances increased international tensions Alliance System: Groups of countries that agree to support each other if one is attacked Alliance System: Groups of countries that agree to support each other if one is attacked PROBLEM: If anyone starts a war, all major powers will become involved (World War) PROBLEM: If anyone starts a war, all major powers will become involved (World War) It was designed to increase national security, but several secret alliances were made It was designed to increase national security, but several secret alliances were made

8. Assassination in Sarajevo In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed the independent province of Bosnia and Herzegovina In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed the independent province of Bosnia and Herzegovina This annexation angered Slavic nationalists who wanted the region allied with Serbia This annexation angered Slavic nationalists who wanted the region allied with Serbia On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visited Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visited Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia Archduke was heir to throne of Austria-Hungary Archduke was heir to throne of Austria-Hungary As Ferdinand rode through the streets, Gavrilo Princip, a Serb nationalist stepped out As Ferdinand rode through the streets, Gavrilo Princip, a Serb nationalist stepped out He quickly shot archduke & his wife, killing both He quickly shot archduke & his wife, killing both On June 28, 1914 Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a terrorist group that was fighting for Bosnian independence On June 28, 1914 Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a terrorist group that was fighting for Bosnian independence The archduke's assassination lit the fuse on the "powder keg" of Europe The archduke's assassination lit the fuse on the "powder keg" of Europe

9. How did the conflict widen? After assassination, Austria sent Serbs demands After assassination, Austria sent Serbs demands The Serbs agreed to most, but NOT All The Serbs agreed to most, but NOT All As a result, on July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia As a result, on July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia Russia started to mobilize army to prepare Russia started to mobilize army to prepare In support of Austria-Hungary, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, and on France, Russia's ally, two days later In support of Austria-Hungary, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, and on France, Russia's ally, two days later German troops invaded Belgium on August 3 to move westward to attack France German troops invaded Belgium on August 3 to move westward to attack France Britain, which had pledged to defend Belgian neutrality, then declared war on Germany Britain, which had pledged to defend Belgian neutrality, then declared war on Germany On August 5 Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia. On August 5 Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia. The Great War—which later generations would know as World War I—had begun (1914-1918) The Great War—which later generations would know as World War I—had begun (1914-1918)

10. Alliances Assemble – U.S. Stays Out Central Powers = WWI alliance led by Austria-Hungary and Germany and later joined by Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire Central Powers = WWI alliance led by Austria-Hungary and Germany and later joined by Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire Britain, France, and Russia fought together as the ALLIED POWERS, or the Allies. Britain, France, and Russia fought together as the ALLIED POWERS, or the Allies. Italy joined the Allies in 1915 after Germany invaded its ally Belgium Italy joined the Allies in 1915 after Germany invaded its ally Belgium Eventually, 30 nations would fight in World War I Eventually, 30 nations would fight in World War I Europeans expected war to last no more than six months b/c of new technology Europeans expected war to last no more than six months b/c of new technology Shortly after the war began in Europe, President Woodrow Wilson announced that the United States would remain neutral Shortly after the war began in Europe, President Woodrow Wilson announced that the United States would remain neutral This decision reflected the traditional U.S. policy of isolationism This decision reflected the traditional U.S. policy of isolationism Most Americans saw the war as a European conflict Most Americans saw the war as a European conflict