1. Causes of World War I

2. World War I
Dates:
Known as “The Great War” or the “War to End All Wars”
Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance
United States starts off neutral but will eventually enter the war
First introduction of modern technology to warfare
~9 million soldiers killed by 1918

3. 1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures
Militarism
Militarism- when a nation’s armed forces come to dominate a country’s national policy
Glories the military and war
Countries began to develop highly detailed plans for mobilization of the military in case of war- everyone was ready, if not eager, to fight
Increase in Defense Expenditures
France
10%
Britain
13%
Russia
39%
Germany
73%

4. Alliances
Signed treaties in which each nation involved pledges to defend the other if attacked by an aggressor

5. Nationalism Nationalism became aggressive- where did it come from?
Each nation wanted to prove their dominance over other nations
In Eastern Europe a multitude of ethnicities were rediscovering the worth of their own languages and cultures, directly threatening the stability of empires such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottomans
Bosnians
Serbs
Polish
Ukrainians
Bulgarians

6. After 1870, the European nations began to acquire colonies in Asia, Africa and the Pacific
Colonial rivalry led to:
Strained relations among the European powers. In Africa, all the European powers except Austria and Russia had colonies there thus leading to many clashes among France, Britain, Germany and Italy
Clashes led to the formation and strengthening of alliances
Intensification of the arms race
Imperialism

7. Assassination The “spark” that started WWI
On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria Hungarian throne, was assassinated by The Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group that believed that ethnic Bosnians should belong to Serbia not Austria-Hungary

8. The Point of No Return
Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia.
Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary.
Russia pledged their support for Serbia.
Germany declares war on Russia

9. The Point of No Return Beginning of World War I
France pledges their support for Russia
Germany declares war on France
Germany invades Belgium on the way to France
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany
Beginning of World War I

10. Triple Entente
Triple Alliance
Great Britain
Germany
World War I
Austria-Hungary
France
Russia
Ottoman Empire