1. World War I Begins
6.1 Notes

2. 4 Causes of World War I
Nationalism – different ethnic groups shared political borders, yet desired a nation of their own.
Imperialism – competition for colonies
Militarism – imperial powers needed large militaries, particularly a great navy, to protect their vast empires.
Alliance System – two opposing alliances
Triple Entente – France, Great Britain, and Russia
Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

3. Balkan Peninsula – Powder Keg

4. Balkan Peninsula – Powder Keg
Many countries had an interest in this area.
Russia wanted a warm water port
Germany wanted connect itself with the Ottoman Empire
Austria-Hungry has historically been a region with warring ethnic groups

5. Assassination of the Arch Duke
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist
The assassin was a teenager named Gavrilo Princip, a member of a secret society called “The Black Hand”
Austria-Hungry declared war on Serbia
Russia declared war on Austria-Hungry
Germany declared war on Russia and its ally France
Great Britain declared war on behalf of its ally France

6. Two Sides Allied Powers (Triple Entente) Later … Central Powers Russia
Britain
Later …
France US
Central Powers
Austria-Hungry
Germany
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria

7. America Remained Neutral
The US was a nation of immigrants
America was split on who they should support.
Anti-war people accused Great Britain and France of joining the war to take Germany’s natural resources.
US supporters
Allies were buying a large amount of manufactured goods from the US to pay for their war
American culture was more similar to Great Britain than any other European country

8. Assignment
Draw a political / editorial cartoon about the causes of WWI.