1. World War I: Setting the Stage for War!

2. Abbreviations Used A-H is Austria-Hungary R. is Russia G. is Germany
Fr. is France
GB is Great Britain
RR is railroad
S. is Serbia

3. Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, and Alliances
Four factors leading to war:
Nationalism: several ethnic groups or nationalities often ruled by one regime
Imperialism
Militarism: belief that military strength key to increasing rivalries
System of alliances

4. System of Alliances
Balance of power altered with unification of Germany and Italy
Triple Alliance
Three Emperors’ League (1881): Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia
Germany wanted to isolate France and keep them from alliance with R.

5. System of Alliances Triple Alliance
1882-Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy; secures Germany’s eastern and southern borders
3 Emperors’ League ends due to rivalry A-H and R. over Balkans
Reinsurance Treaty of 1887: G. and R. pledge neutrality

6. System of Alliances Triple Entente Fr. and R. military allies 1894
Fr. and GB allies after settling claims over Africa
GB and R. allies after agreeing to “spheres of influence” in Asia-1907
Fr, GB, R make up Triple Entente
Fr and R: secret agreements with Italy

7. Balkan “Powder Keg”
Serbia independent 1878; desires to be center of larger Slavic state
Desires Bosnia-Herzegovina; annexed by A-H 1908
Russia supported Serbia; R wanted all Slavs united them: Pan-Slavism

8. Balkan “Powder Keg”
GB alarmed by R possibly gaining access to Mediterranean Sea
Germany tries to bring Ottoman Empire into Triple Alliance (against R)
Germany wants RR access to Baghdad
GB and R alarmed by G expansion

9. Balkan “Powder Keg”
Heir to Austro-Hungarian throne Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian nationalist in Bosnia (Black Hand)
A-H vows to punish Serbs; sends ultimatum; Serbia doesn’t agree to all terms (sovereignty); deadline expires
A-H declares war on S Jul 1914