1. The Road to World War I

3. Balkan Republics

4. The Causes of WW1
•Militarism
•Alliances
•Imperialism
•Nationalism

5. Militarism
After 1900 there was a huge increase in the size of European armies, which increased tensions among nations (#9)
Conscription-compulsory service in the military was common in Europe before 1914 (#10)
Between 1890 and 1914 European armies doubled in size (#11)
Prior to 1914 European countries aggressively prepared for war
This militarism led to the increase power of military leaders, who created complex war plans (#12)

6. Alliances
Liberals during the first half of the 1800’s hoped that the formation of European nation-states would lead to peace (#1)
The opposite occurred, because the new nation-states became highly competitive over trade and colonies (#2)
Two main alliances divided Europe
The Triple Alliance- made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (#3,4)
The Triple Entente was made up of France, Great Britain and Russia (#3,4)

7. Imperialism and Internal Dissent
Another source of strife in Europe was dissent within nations (#7).
As socialist labor movements became more powerful, they used strikes to achieve their goals, which lead to unrest
Conservative national leaders feared that revolutions would break out.
Some historians believe that these leaders may have been willing to go to war in order to suppress internal dissent (#8)

8. Imperialism and Internal Dissent
All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory.
The British feared Germany in Africa.
The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkans

9. Nationalism
During the early 1900’s several crises erupted particularly in the Balkans, which created a great deal of anger and tension between the nations of the two alliances
Each nation was willing to go to war to preserve its power (#5)
European ethnic groups, such as Slavs in the Balkans and the Irish in the British Empire, dreamed of creating their own national states, which also increased tensions in Europe (#6)

10. The Outbreak of War: Summer 1914
While militarism, nationalism and the desire to control internal dissent all had a part in starting World War I, the outbreak of fighting stemmed directly from events in the Balkans in 1914 (#13,14)
States in southeastern Europe had long struggled for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Russia and Austria-Hungary competed for the control of these new states
In 1914 Serbia wanted to form a large Slavic state in the Balkans
Serbia was supported by Russia and opposed by Austria-Hungary (#15,16)

12. The Outbreak of War: Summer 1914
In June of 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife were killed by the Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip in the city of Sarajevo (#17,18)
The Siberian terrorist wanted Bosnia to become independent of Austria-Hungary (#19)
Side note: Bullet-proof vest

14. The Outbreak of War: Summer 1914
The Austro-Hungarian government wanted to declare war on Serbia but was worried that Russia would come to Serbia’s aid
Austrian leaders asked for help from its German allies
Emperor William II agreed to give Germany’s full support (#20)
In July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (#21)

15. The Outbreak of War: Summer 1914
Russia responded by supporting Serbia (#22)
Czar Nicholas II ordered partial and then full mobilization of the Russian Army
Austria-Hungary and Germany considered these mobilizations acts of war
The Germans warned the Russians to halt mobilization, and the Russians refused
The Germans declared war on Russia on August 1 (#23)
Because Russia and France were allies, Germany had planned its strategy against Russia and France (#24)

16. Colonial Regimes in Southeast Asia
General Alfred von Schlieffen designed a plan to first defeat France and then attack Russia with full force (#25)
This plan was known as the Schlieffen Plan (#26)
Germany declared war on France on August 3 (#27)
The German’s demanded that Belgium-a neutral country-allow German armies to pass through on the way to France (#28).
This action led to Great Britain who was allied to France and Russia, to declare war on Germany (#29).
By August 4,1914, World War I had begun (#30)