1. Causes of World War I

2. Good question! Here’s an easy way to remember! M is for Militarism A is for Alliances A is for Assassination I is for Imperialism. N is for Nationalism

3. #1 Militarism The aggressive preparation for war heightened the already existing tensions in Europe. European armies double in size between 1890 – 1914. 1880 1914 Germany 1.3m 5.0m France 0.73m4.0m Russia 0.40m1.2m

4. European States were in competition with each other over the amount of land they controlled and this led to rivalries between the major European Powers. These nations saw their military forces (Army and Navy) as a way to both protect their territory and intimidate their enemies. (Power = National Honor) The military also served to suppress ethnic uprisings and internal public dissent within their borders.

5. #2 Systems of Alliances Europe’s major powers ally themselves to build their power and protect their interests: An alliance is a formal political, military or economic agreement between two or more nations. Triple Alliance (1882) – GIA Germany, Italy & Austria-Hungary, Central Powers (1914) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire Triple Entente (1907) – BFR Great Britain, France, & Russia VS.

6. Not Exactly… The major trouble spot was the Balkan States between 1908-1914.

7. Nationalist struggles in the Balkans  The Balkan states were made up of three ethnic groups (The Catholic Croatians, the Muslim Bosnians, and the Orthodox Serbians) who each wished to be recognized as separate nations.  These groups were Slavic minorities in the Habsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary.  Serbia was an Independent State wanted to unite all Slavic peoples in Eastern Europe.

8. International Interests in the Balkans Austria-Hungary saw the increase of Serbian power as a threat to their Empire. Russia saw the rise of Serbia as a way to get access to warm water ports for international trade. Austria Hungary annexed the kingdom of Bosnia to stop Serbian Expansion. Russia backed the Serbian protest of this Austro-Hungarian aggression.

9. #3 Nationalism Nationalism is an extreme form of patriotism and loyalty to one’s country. Nationalists place the interests of their own country above the interests of other countries. 1. Nationalism gave citizens excessive confidence in their nation, their govs and their military strength. assured them that their country was fair, righteous and without blame. It convinced many citizens their nation was being threatened by the plotting, scheming and hungry imperialism of its rivals 2. Pre-war nationalism was fueled by wars, imperial conquests and rivalry, political rhetoric, newspapers and popular culture, such as ‘invasion literature’ written by penny press novelists. 3. British nationalism was fueled by a century of comparative peace and prosperity. The British Empire had flourished and expanded, its naval strength had grown 4. German nationalism had new growth from the unification of Germany in 1871. It became fascinated with German imperial expansion (securing Germany’s ‘place in the sun’) and resentful of the British and their empire. 5. Rising nationalism was also a factor in the Balkans, where Slavic Serbs and others sought independence and autonomy from the political domination of Austria-Hungary.

10. #4 Imperialism All the great powers were competing for colonies/ territory – raw materials – cheap labor and soldiers – taxes The British feared Germany in Africa. The Austrians feared Serbia/ Russia in the Balkans

11. #5 The Assassination June 28, 1914 - Nineteen year old Bosnian Serb, Gavrillo Princip, member of the Serbian terrorist group, Black Hand, shoots and kills the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophia.  This causes Austria-Hungary to threaten Serbia.  Serbia turns to Russia for support.  Russia mobilizes troops at the Hungarian border.  Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.  Germany declares war on both Russia and France.  England declares war on Germany.

12. Factual Questions (One Sentence Responses) What is Militarism? Which Country had the largest Army in Europe before World War I? What are the Balkans? Whose Assassination in 1914 started the conflict which became World War I? What was the Black Hand?

13. Reflection Questions Paragraph Answers Why was militarism popular among the European Powers before World War I? Why was Serbia and Austria-Hungary in conflict over the Balkans? How did the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to World War I? How did internal dissent offer European Governments an incentive towards War?

14. THE END. Answer the questions and turn them in with your notes!

15. #4 Internal Dissent The Major Powers also had to contend with protest groups within their society. Socialist Workers Movements protested to get more rights for the working class. Anarchists protested government control over the individual. These groups provided a motive for governments to go to war since this would make their protests illegal.