1. Causes of World War I

2. M.A.I.N.P
Remember this acronym as it sums up the causes for the start of World War I

3. Militarism
Militarism- policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war
Rise of a dangerous European arms race
By 1914, all of the great powers had huge armies besides England
Stressed the importance of mobility in case of war
Having a large military makes you feel patriotic!
However, it also can be frightening!

4. Militarism

5. Alliances
After Franco-Prussian War, Germany still viewed France as its greatest threat
Otto Von Bismarck believed France sought revenge
Goal was to isolate France by forming alliances
1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary are allies
1882- Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy form the Triple Alliance

6. Alliances By 1881, Germany had an alliance with Russia
Reinsurance Treaty- provided for neutrality in case either Russia or Germany became involved in a defensive war
Treaty is gone when Kaiser Wilhelm II comes into power

7. Kaiser Wilhelm II
By 1890, Kaiser Wilhelm II is in power and forces Otto Von Bismarck out of power
Wilhelm did not wish to share power with anyone
He was proud of his military and wanted to show it off
Losing the treaty with Russia could have been a big mistake!
Could face war on 2 fronts
Wilhelm starts building a navy that can compare with the British

8. Alliances England is worried about Germany and all of its allies
England forms an alliance with France and Russia known as the Triple Entente
By 1907, 2 rival alliance groups existed in Europe
A dispute could bring all of these countries to war

10. Imperialism
European countries were always competing for colonies in Africa and Asia
Formed a distrust and rivalry with one another

11. Nationalism A deep devotion to ones country
Unifying force but also can cause intense competitions
Rivalry developed among Europe’s great powers
Competition for land and resources

14. Powder Keg Also referred to as the Balkan Powder Keg
Austria-Hungary and Russia attempt to dominate the Balkans
Serbia wanted to create a united Slavic state on the Balkan Peninsula
Would include the provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovnia, but Austria controlled them
Russia supported a union of Slavic states

16. Last Straw
Archduke Ferdinand was the heir to the Austria- Hungarian throne
June 28, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were killed in Sarajevo
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia
They were killed by gun-shot at point-blank range

17. Last Straw Gavrilo Princip was the killer
He was only 19-years old and a member of the Black Hand
The Black Hand was a secret society to rid Bosnia of Austrian Rule
Austria used murders as an excuse to punish Serbia

18. War Begins Austria declares war on Serbia
On same day, Russia orders mobilization of troops towards Austrian border
Leaders across Europe urged to work out a peace agreement but it was too late!
Russia looks for France to help, but Germany did not wait for France and declared war on them anyways

19. The Great War World War 1 was known as the “Great War”
First of its kind
Drafted Soldiers
Everyone was involved in the war (Women and Children)
Costs of the War = Almost 400 billion
10 million dead and 20 million wounded
Different innovations and techniques used in this war never seen before