1. Essential Question: What caused World War I? ECHS Agenda for Unit 3:
Read “Big Picture” on Unit 11 Org “Causes of World War I” notes

2. Text From 1914 to 1919, World War I erupted in Europe
What caused World War I?
This “Great War” was the largest, most destructive war the world had yet seen
WWI was a global war that altered the course of the 20th century

3. MILITARISM IMPERIALISM ALLIANCES
From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments gradually increased tensions among the European powers that led to the outbreak of World War I
The
MILITARISM
ALLIANCES
IMPERIALISM
NATIONALISM
causes of World War I
While peace and harmony characterized much of Europe at the beginning of the
1900s, there were less visible—and darker—forces at work as well. Below the
surface of peace and goodwill, Europe witnessed several gradual developments
that would ultimately help propel the continent into war.

4. MILITARISM
The Industrial Revolution led to large, advanced militaries in Europe
Europeans believed that to be great, nations had to have strong militaries
As a result, an arms race began among European nations, especially between Britain & Germany
Nations glorified military power & kept an army prepared for war (called militarism)
Yet another troubling development throughout the early years of the 20th century was the rise of a dangerous European arms race. The nations of Europe believed that to be truly great, they needed to have a powerful military. By 1914, all the Great Powers except Britain had large standing armies. In addition, military experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize, or organize and move troops in case of a war. Generals in each country developed highly detailed plans for such a mobilization. The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war was known as militarism. Having a large and strong standing army made citizens feel patriotic
Having a strong army increased patriotism among citizens

5. IMPERIALISM
Germany & France almost went to war three times over Morocco
European nations competed fiercely for colonies in Africa & Asia
England & France argued over rights to the Sudan
Germany, England, Russia argued over building a railroad in India
Competition for colonies often pushed Europeans
to the brink of war
This competition increased European rivalry & mistrust
Another force that helped set the stage for war in Europe was imperialism. As Chapter 27 explained, the nations of Europe competed fiercely for colonies in Africa and Asia. The quest for colonies sometimes pushed European nations to the brink of war. As European countries continued to compete for overseas empires, their sense of rivalry and mistrust of one another deepened.

6. ALLIANCES
Growing rivalries among nations led to the formation of two military alliances that threatened to draw European nations into war
Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance
England, France, & Russia formed the Triple Entente

7. NATIONALISM
Rivalries due to militarism & imperialism increased nationalism among European powers
European rivals tried to maintain a balance of power while also trying to overpower each other
One such development was the growth of nationalism, or a deep devotion to one’s nation. Nationalism can serve as a unifying force within a country. However, it also can cause intense competition among nations, with each seeking to overpower the other. By the turn of the 20th century, a fierce rivalry indeed had developed among Europe’s Great Powers. Those nations were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France. This increasing rivalry among European nations stemmed from several sources. Competition for materials and markets was one. Territorial disputes were another. France, for example, had never gotten over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War (1870). Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to dominate in the Balkans, a region in southeast Europe. Within the Balkans, the intense nationalism of Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and other ethnic groups led to demands for independence.
“European Balance of Power, 1914”
British propaganda poster, 1897
Austrian national poster, 1900

8. The Balkans became a “powder keg” waiting for a spark to blow up
NATIONALISM
No region was more tense in the years before World War I than the Balkans
While nationalism unified people in the powerful nations, it was dividing people in weakening empires
The Balkans became a “powder keg” waiting for a spark to blow up
Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania broke from the Ottoman Empire to create new nations
Nowhere was that dispute more likely to occur than on the Balkan Peninsula. This mountainous peninsula in the southeastern corner of Europe was home to an assortment of ethnic groups. With a long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic clashes, the Balkans was known as the “powder keg” of Europe.
By the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire, which included the Balkan region, was in rapid decline. While some Balkan groups struggled to free themselves from the Ottoman Turks, others already had succeeded in breaking away from their Turkish rulers. These peoples had formed new nations, including Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.
Nationalism was a powerful force in these countries. Each group longed to extend its borders. Serbia, for example, had a large Slavic population. It hoped to absorb all the Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula. Russia, itself a mostly Slavic nation, supported Serbian nationalism. However, Serbia’s powerful northern neighbor, Austria-Hungary, opposed such an effort. Austria feared that efforts to create a Slavic state would stir rebellion among its Slavic population.
In 1908, Austria annexed, or took over, Bosnia and Herzegovina. These were two Balkan areas with large Slavic populations. Serbian leaders, who had sought to rule these provinces, were outraged. In the years that followed, tensions between Serbia and Austria steadily rose. The Serbs continually vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovina away from Austria. In response, Austria-Hungary vowed to crush any Serbian effort to undermine its authority in the Balkans
Slavic people in Serbia wanted to unify all Slavs but Austria-Hungary opposed giving up the largely Slavic territories Bosnia & Herzegovina

9. The Outbreak of World War I
Serbians vowed to take Bosnia & Herzegovina from Austria-Hungary
On June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist
The assassin Gavrilo Princip

10. The Outbreak of World War I
On July 23, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia: turn over conspirators & allow an investigation…OR…go to war
When Serbia balked at some of the terms, Austria-Hungary declared war on June 28, 1914
Russia had a large population of Slavs & was an ally of Serbia; Russia moved troops to the Austrian border
These events set off a chain reaction that started World War I

11. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia & its ally Russia
World War 1 Begins
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia & its ally Russia
On August 4, 1914, England declared war on Germany & Austria-Hungary
On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia
On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on France
Russia mobilized for war to protect Serbia
Italy backed out of its agreement with Germany & Austria-Hungary…
…and joined the Allies
On July 28,1914, Serbia declined the ultimatum
World War I had begun

12. During the war Germany & Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers; They were joined by Bulgaria & the Ottoman Empire
The members of the Triple Entente became known as the Allied Powers and eventually were joined by…

13. …many nations throughout the world