Causes of World War I

World War I Dates: 1914-1918 Known as “The Great War” or the “War to End All Wars” Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance United States starts off neutral but will eventually enter the war First introduction of modern technology to warfare ~9 million soldiers killed by 1918

1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures Militarism Militarism- when a nation’s armed forces come to dominate a country’s national policy Glories the military and war Countries began to develop highly detailed plans for mobilization of the military in case of war- everyone was ready, if not eager, to fight 1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures France 10% Britain 13% Russia 39% Germany 73%

Alliances Signed treaties in which each nation involved pledges to defend the other if attacked by an aggressor

Nationalism Nationalism became aggressive- where did it come from? Each nation wanted to prove their dominance over other nations In Eastern Europe a multitude of ethnicities were rediscovering the worth of their own languages and cultures, directly threatening the stability of empires such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottomans Bosnians Serbs Polish Ukrainians Bulgarians

After 1870, the European nations began to acquire colonies in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Colonial rivalry led to: Strained relations among the European powers. In Africa, all the European powers except Austria and Russia had colonies there thus leading to many clashes among France, Britain, Germany and Italy Clashes led to the formation and strengthening of alliances Intensification of the arms race Imperialism

Assassination The “spark” that started WWI On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria Hungarian throne, was assassinated by The Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group that believed that ethnic Bosnians should belong to Serbia not Austria-Hungary

The Point of No Return Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia. Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. Russia pledged their support for Serbia. Germany declares war on Russia

The Point of No Return Beginning of World War I France pledges their support for Russia Germany declares war on France Germany invades Belgium on the way to France Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany Beginning of World War I

Triple Entente Triple Alliance Great Britain Germany World War I Austria-Hungary France Russia Ottoman Empire