1. Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism
MAIN Causes of WWI
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism

2. NATIONALISM
Definition: “strong devotion to one’s national group or culture.”
Began in 1800’s
Germany and Italy were new
New countries and power struggles
Balkan Peninsula
SE Europe (ex: Serbia)
Areas w/certain ethnic groups might want freedom from an empire or bigger country
Serbs had Serbia, but many lived outside borders  Serbia wanted to expand borders
Austria-Hungary wouldn’t let Serbia expand

3. IMPERIALISM
Definition: “the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.”
Germany, France, Russia, and Great Britain = IMPERIAL nations
To keep imperial lands safe from conquest by other imperial countries, MILITARISM grew

4. ALLIANCES
Countries allied to protect themselves again MILTARISM from other countries
Triple Alliance united Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Triple Entente united Russia and France (which had already allied) with Great Britain
Alliances should keep war from starting because no country should want to start war with a different country and its allies as well

5. MILITARISM Massive military buildup
To protect overseas colonies and IMPERIALISTIC powers
Did they want to protect the people in the colonies or their own interest?
Size of armed forces and navy’s grew sharply
Especially in Germany
Why Germany? Germany had practically no overseas land to protect.
Countries with military were already to use them as soon as any trouble erupted – “Trigger-happy”