Causes of WWI

The World on the eve of World War I No major war in Europe for almost a century Discontent brewing in Turkey, Mexico, China and Russia Social divisions and authoritarian governments

Within the Austrian- Hungarian Empire, different ethnic minorities wanted independence and their own nation- states

Revolutionary movements in Russia in 1905, Turkey in 1908, Mexico in 1910 & China in 1912

The Underlying Causes of the World War I *Nationalism, is the belief that each ethnic group should have its own nation. The promotion of ones own nation’s interest, assertion that their nation is superior to others

This idea spread to the Balkans, where Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and Romania wanted their own nation-state These demands threatened to break the Austro-Hungarian Empire apart

*Imperialism, Europe’s Great Powers competed over colonies, markets and military power Competing claims created an atmosphere of tension between the major powers Competing economic interests

*The Alliance System Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary & Italy

Triple Entente – Russia, France & Great Britain Alliances sought to preserve the existing balance of power, any dispute threatened to drag in all the others

*Militarism, occurs when military values and goals take over civilian society. Example, Otto Von Bismarck had united Germany through Prussia’s military power Generals became influential in government Germany and Britain competed to build the most powerful navy

The Flashpoint that Ignites the War Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian Empire, was assassinated by a member of the Black Hand a Slavic nationalist group. Austria-Hungary invaded tiny Serbia The various alliances set off a chain reaction Within weeks all the major European powers were at war

What began as a minor regional crisis in the Balkans quickly escalated into a major conflict