1. World War I:
Alliances

2. MAIN Causes What Causes Most Wars
Militarism: using force or the threat of force against another nation
Entangled system of Alliances (secret)
Imperialism: Spreading the political or economic control of one country over another
Extreme Nationalism (“Super Patriotism” or love for one’s country)

3. Underlying Causes Rival Alliances Created a “False Sense of Security”
Allied Powers (The “Good” Guys) Triple Entente
Great Britain: King George V
France: Premier Clemenceau
Russia: Czar Nicholas II
Italy: Vittorio Orlando
United States (joined in April 1917): Woodrow Wilson
Central Powers (The “Bad” Guys) Triple Alliance
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm II
Austria-Hungary: Emanuel II
Many other smaller nations

5. Causes of World War I What Caused World War I Unrest in the Balkans
Bosnians felt abused under the rule of Austria-Hungary
Goal: To create a “Greater Serbia” (unite Slavic people)
This movement was strongly supported by “Mother Russia”

6. Causes of World War I
June 28, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria’s heir to the throne) was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb Nationalist while on a good will trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia.
This spark would ignite the war.

7. Archduke shot by Gavrillo Princip

8. Causes of World War I Alliance Unfolded:
Austria declared war on Serbia
Russia supported Serbia (mother country w/ethnic ties)
Germany sided w/Austria & declared war on Russia
France was obligated to help Russia & Great Britain to help France
By August 5, 1914, Europe was engulfed in war!