1. Causes of WORLD WAR 1 Project
By: Tejasri Kilari
Block # 2
1-8-13

2. Failure of Diplomacy Failure of Diplomacy:
When countries do not want to talk about problems and feel that going to war is easier.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Russia couldn’t control Serbia and fails to make friends with Austria-Hungary.
This caused Russia to enter WWI because they want to prove that they are strong, with allies or not.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Austria-Hungary was an ally (or friend) with Germany .
This caused Austria/Hungary to enter WWI because Germany had a big army and there was strength in numbers, so they believed they could win.
ALL Countries:
Failure of Diplomacy caused all countries to enter WWI because they thought that fighting would speak louder than words.
When Failure of Diplomacy happened, there was no talking. Only fighting.

3. Nationalism Nationalism:
I think it’s the other way around!
Nationalism:
When a person or group of people believe that their country is better than all and show devotion to it.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Great Britain really wanted to expand their colonies and borders.
This caused Great Britain to enter WWI because
they had opportunities to take more territories during the war.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Germany had only recently become a world power and wanted more respect.
This caused Germany to enter WWI because:
If they won the war, they would have more respect and gain more power then all their opposing countries.
ALL Countries:
Nationalism caused all countries to enter WWI because they all had strong beliefs that their country was better than others and wanted to prove it by winning the “Great War”.
I get the bigger
piece!
I’m better!
Who’s better, now?
Nationalistic feelings led to the point where countries were ready to go to war to prove they were better.

4. Alliances
I got yours.
Alliances:
When a person or group of people join together to accomplish something.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
France and Russia formed an alliance.
This caused France to enter WWI because
now, they had protection from Austria-Hungary and Germany, so they had a little less to worry about.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Austria-Hungary formed an alliance with Germany.
This caused Austria-Hungary to enter WWI because: they were confident that Germany would catch them every time they fell.
ALL Countries:
Alliances caused all countries to enter WWI because they all formed deep bonds and many times, this made them feel confident because they were all sure that their allied countries would rush to their defense if they were ever in trouble.
I got your back!
Help! Germany!
Alliances made every country feel more confident that their allies would come to their rescue.

5. Militarism Militarism:
When a country tries to become better than the opposed in the form of weapons.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Russia had the biggest army.
This caused Russia to enter WWI because
they wanted to prove that they could win wars with their military (especially after losing to Japan).
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Germany tried to get a better navy and succeeded.
This caused Germany to enter WWI because: they were confident that their navy was the best and wanted to prove it.
ALL Countries:
Militarism caused all countries to enter WWI because after Germany and Russia’s improvement in arms, all countries felt need to raise a better defense against others. Soon, there was competition and all arms were ready to be “tested”. This meant war.
Let’s do this.
As the arms race grew, so did the countries’ desire to “test” their arms. War was unavoidable, now.

6. Nations went into conflict over territories, borders, and defenses.
Imperialism
Dang, I got a lot of colonies to protect!
Imperialism:
When a country tries to take over a smaller and weaker one.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Germany took Alsace-Lorraine from the French.
This caused France to enter WWI because
their leader was from Lorraine and he wanted it back from Germany. The only way was battle.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Russia wanted the Balkans and their water route over the Black Sea. Soon, the policies that Russia made conflicted with Germany and the Ottoman Empire.
This caused Russia to enter WWI because: they wanted the Balkans and the route badly, but Germany and the Ottoman Empire was preventing it.
ALL Countries:
Imperialism caused all countries to enter WWI because they wanted to keep all the colonies that they had and they wanted some more from others.
Nations went into conflict over territories, borders, and defenses.

7. Assassination Assassination:
When someone or something is murdered or killed deliberately.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Austria-Hungary’s future leader, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by the Black Hand Gang with Serbian weapons.
This caused Austria-Hungary to enter WWI because
Austria-Hungary strongly believed because of the Serbian weapons, that Serbia assassinated the Archduke.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
Austria-Hungary’s future leader, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated.
This caused Austria-Hungary to enter WWI because: Serbia would not admit full guilt to the assassination.
ALL Countries:
Assassination caused all countries to enter WWI because Serbia and Austria-Hungary went to war, and this meant that the allies had to help. Soon, all countries were involved.
At least I killed him!
The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (by Gavrilo Princip) was the last straw. It finally sparked the First World War.

8. U.S. Spark
U.S. Spark:
When the United States of America joined World War I and why.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
There was unrestricted submarine warfare.
This caused America to enter WWI because
the U.S.’s harmless commerce and trade boats were being mercilessly attacked by German warships.
1 Country Detail and 1 why go to War:
The British told the Americans through the Zimmerman telegram that Germans were recruiting Mexicans into the war.
This caused America to enter WWI because:
America was worried that after the war, the Germans could use the Mexicans to conquer their southern territories.
ALL Countries:
The U.S. Spark caused all countries to enter WWI because now, the Triple Entente had more support, which made them more confident, while it made the Central Powers angry and eager to fight.
The U.S. was infuriated and was ready to go to war on the Triple Entente’s side.