1. WORLD WAR I
11.1 Notes

2. M.A.I.N. Causes of the War Militarism
“Policy of aggressively building up one’s army in preparation for war”
Early 1900’s – diplomacy replaced by militarism
Building up armed forces
Shift in authority to military
Endless planning for war = war more likely

3. Alliances
“Complicated system of pacts developed among European nations during late 1800s”
Bound Great Euro powers together
Aid each other if attacked
Designed to boost national security
Provided sense of balanced power

4. Pre-Existing Alliances
Triple Alliance
Austria-Hungary
Germany
Italy
Triple Entente
United Kingdom
France
Russia

6. Imperialism
“Policy of a stronger nation to create an empire by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally or militarily”
Great scramble for colonies – late 1800s
Competition for remaining un-colonized areas – Russia & China
Intensified rivalries within Europe

7. Nationalism “Devotion to one’s nation” Two kinds of nationalism
Tendency for countries to act in their own national interest.
War could result if actions were taken against another country
Countries w/ diverse populations
Ethnic minorities begin to desire independence which often leads to violence

8. Alsace-Lorraine France seething over loss of territory
Germany acquired it after Franco-Prussian War, 1871
Otto Von Bismarck opposed it b/c knew it would provoke hatred toward Germany

9. Assassination Leads to War
Leading Euro powers interested in Balkan Peninsula
Russia – access to Mediterranean Sea
Germany – rail link to Ottoman Empire
Ethnic rivalry
in Balkans
Area known
as the
“powder keg”
Austria-
Hungary
controlled
Bosnia

11. Archduke Franz Ferdinand
visits Sarajevo, Bosnia
Heir to Austria-Hungary
throne
Royal entourage drove
through city
Gavrilo Princip shot
Ferdinand and wife Sophie
- Member of Black Hand
- Serbian nationalist group
Austria-Hungary declares
war on Serbia
- Supposed to be short
- Sets off system of
alliances