1. The Causes of World War One
Lesson starter:
Write down three things you know about the First World War.

2. Today we will… Identify the causes of World War One
Understand the assassination at Sarajevo which sparked World War One
Understand how the assassination let to a world war

3. Success Criteria…
I will be able to describe the causes of World War One
I will produce a timeline of the events at Sarajevo
I will be able to describe how the events at Sarajevo led to war

4. Task One As a group, you will brainstorm the following issue
What can cause a war?
You may put down as many ideas as you can come up with and they can be relevant to any war, past or present

5. Task Two The Causes of WWI
Start a mind map entitled The Causes of World War One
As you move through the presentation, take notes on each cause
The Causes
of WWI

6. 1. Britain v Germany Britain and Germany were very competitive
They competed over having the biggest Navy, as well as in trade and coal production
This caused great suspicion between the two countries
HMS Dreadnought 1906

7. 2. Alliances
European countries worried about being attacked, so made alliances with other countries
This divided Europe into two armed camps
The two sides thought the other side was planning to attack

8. Europe’s two armed camps
The Triple Entente
(or Entente Cordiale)
The Triple Alliance
(or Central Powers)
BRITAIN
GERMANY
FRANCE
AUSTRIA- HUNGARY
RUSSIA
ITALY

9. 3. Imperialism Britain traditionally had a huge empire
Germany was trying to build up a big empire too
Britain felt threatened by this – they didn’t want Germany to be as powerful as them

10. Task 3 Sarajevo: The trigger point of WWI
Your teacher will talk to you about the assassination at Sarajevo, which sparked off the events leading to war in 1914
You will be given an information sheet and shown a DVD programme about the assassination
You must take detailed notes as you watch – you will need these for your next task

11. The Assassination at Sarajevo
Task Four
Use the help sheet and notes from the DVD to create a timeline of the assassination at Sarajevo
It should start at 9.28 am and end at 11.30am
The Assassination at Sarajevo
28th June 1914

12. Task Five – paired/ group discussion write down your answers to the following questions
Were the Black Hand Gang justified in their actions on 28th June 1914?
How do you think the assassination in Bosnia, a small country, led to a World War including many countries?
Can war always be avoided? Or is it sometimes necessary?

13. Lets look at question number two in more detail….
2. How do you think the assassination in Bosnia, a small country, led to a World War including many countries?

14. 28th June 1914
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo
5th July
Germany agrees to support Austria’s revenge on Serbia
23 July
Austria sends Serbia an ultimatum of 10 demands
25 July
Serbia refuses two of Austria’s demands
28 July
Austria declares war on Serbia
29 July
Russia starts getting their army ready to help Serbia
31 July
Germany tells Russia to stop getting their army ready. Russia refuses.
1 August
Germany declares war on Russia
3 August
Germany declares war on France
4 August
Germany invades Belgium.
Britain declares war on Germany

15. Today we will… Identify the causes of World War One
Understand the assassination at Sarajevo which sparked World War One
Understand how the assassination let to a world war

16. Success Criteria…
I will be able to describe the causes of World War One
I will produce a timeline of the events at Sarajevo
I will be able to describe how the events at Sarajevo led to war