1. Tensions in Europe, Tangled Alliances, Crisis in the Balkans
Causes of World War I
Tensions in Europe, Tangled Alliances, Crisis in the Balkans
Warm Up:
Predict:
How did nationalism, militarism, and imperialism lead to the beginning of World War I?
Term
Meaning
Contribution to war
Nationalism
Imperialism
Militarism

2. Rising Tensions in Europe
Nationalism – deep devotion to one’s nation
Led to competition between Germany, Austria- Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France
Competition for materials and markets
Territorial disputes

3. Rising Tensions in Europe
Militarism – policy glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war
Arms race between powers
All European countries besides Britain developed powerful militaries ready to fight at short notice
Imperialism – attempting to increase money and power by dominating weaker countries politically, economically, and culturally
European countries competed for colonies overseas

4. Rising Tensions in Europe
“The entire able-bodied population are preparing to massacre one another; though no one, it is true, wants to attack, and everybody protests his love of peace and determination to maintain it, yet the whole world feels that it only requires some unforeseen incident, some unpreventable accident, for the spark to fall in a flash … and blow all Europe sky-high.” - Frederic Passy, Peace Activist, 1895

5. Tangled Alliances
Triple Alliance – alliance between Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy
Otto van Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia in the late 1800s, wished to isolate France
Bismarck believed France was still upset over its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War

6. Tangled Alliances
Triple Entente – alliance between France, Russia, and Great Britain
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany had forced Bismarck to resign
Allowed treaty between Germany and Russia to lapse in – led to Russia developing an alliance with France
Wilhelm II built up Germany’s navy which threatened Britain’s dominance of the seas

7. Crisis in the Balkans Ottoman Empire was beginning to deteriorate
New nations included Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia
Nationalism was strong in these new countries
Serbia had a large Slavic population and hoped to absorb all the Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula
Russia supported Serbia
Austria-Hungary feared Serbia’s actions would lead to a Slavic revolution

8. Crisis in the Balkans 1908 – Austria took over Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 areas with large Slavic populations
Serbia was outraged – threatened to take these regions from Austria

9. Crisis in the Balkans
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, inherited the Austro-Hungarian throne
June 28, 1914 – visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia
Shot by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian and member of the secret society the Black Hand
Austria used the murders as an excuse to punish Serbia – presented an ultimatum on July 23
Serbia agreed to most demands and offered to have the others settled at an international conference
On July 28, Austria refused Serbia’s offer and declared war

10. Great War Begins
Russia ordered troops to move toward Austria on behalf of its Serbian ally
Russia also sent troops to its border with Germany
August 1 – Germany declared war on Russia
August 3 – Germany declared war on Russia’s ally, France
Great Britain declared war on Germany

11. Great War Begins
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire
Allies – Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Italy
Which side did the U.S. eventually join?