1. September 6—What do you think was the main cause of WWI? Why?

2. Causes of WWI

3. Key Terms ► Otto von Bismarck ► Triple Alliance ► Triple Entente ► Archduke Francis Ferdinand

4. Outline ► I. European Background of World War I A. Unification of Germany B. Imperialism C. The Balkans D. International Rivalries II. Causes of WWI A. Long-term B. Immediate

5. Germany ► Bismarck was appointed prime minister of Prussia in 1862. ► Bismarck waged 3 wars to unify Germany under Prussian domination.

6. Prussia

7. Unification Through War ► The Danish War: Austria and Prussia declared war on Denmark over the territories of Holstein and Schleswig in 1864. Denmark is defeated. Austria receives Holstein and Prussia receives Schleswig.

8. The Seven Weeks’ War ► Austria declared war against Prussia in 1866 over the ongoing dispute over Schleswig and Holstein. ► Bismarck had diplomatically isolated Austria. ► Prussia defeated Austria in seven weeks. ► By 1867 the northern German states had joined Prussia to become the North German Confederation.

9. The Franco-Prussian War ► Bismarck picked a fight with France over the succession of the Spanish throne because he decided that the only way to unite the southern German states with the rest of Germany was a war with France. ► France declared war on Prussia in July 1870. ► The southern states united with Prussia against the French.

10. The German Empire ► On January 18, 1871 the German Empire was proclaimed and King William I of Prussia was proclaimed the German emperor and Bismarck became the chancellor.

11. Imperialism ► Why did European countries want colonies? ► The rush for colonies especially in Africa created tensions between European nations.

12. The “Powder Keg” of Europe ► Decline of the Ottoman Empire ► Russia’s connection ► 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia- Herzegovina which outraged Serbia.

13. International Rivalries and Alliances ► France wanted to recover Alsace- Lorraine which they lost during the Franco-Prussian War ► Russia sided with France because Germany supported the Austrians in the Balkans.

14. Alliances

15. Alliances ► Triple Alliance =Austria, Germany, and Italy. Created in 1882 ► Triple Entente= Great Britain, France, and Russia. Created in 1907.

16. Long-Term Causes of WWI ► Nationalism ► Militarism ► Alliances ► Imperialism

17. Immediate Cause ► Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife ► Austrian ultimatum ► On July 28 Austria declared war on Serbia.