Four MAIN Causes of World War I

MMilitarism – ilitarism – building up of the building up of the

military military in expectation in expectation of a warof a war The Naval Race

Great Britain had been the leading naval power in Europe. Germany began building a navy to challenge the power of England.

This worried Great Britain so they formed a relationship (no alliance) with France and Russia. They became known as the Triple Entente (early 1900s).The Arms Race

France and Germany began an arms race (as one country increases its military supplies, another correspondingly steps up their military production)

•The standing armies of France and Germany doubled in size between 1870 and 1914.

AAllianceslliances – – agreement to help agreement to help protect protect other other countriescountries Germany and EuropeGermany and Europe

France and Germany had been enemies France and Germany had been enemies While the German empire was being unified, the Prussians While the German empire was being unified, the Prussians

attacked France and took territory (Alsace and Lorraine)attacked France and took territory (Alsace and Lorraine) Russian leaders worried Germany would expand eastward Russian leaders worried Germany would expand eastward

They also worried Slavic nations in southern Europe would be They also worried Slavic nations in southern Europe would be invaded by Austria-Hungaryinvaded by Austria-Hungary

The Triple AllianceThe Triple Alliance GermanyGermany ItalyItaly Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary

The Franco-Russian AllianceThe Franco-Russian Alliance Russia and France both Russia and France both

needed to protect land needed to protect land They formed an alliance They formed an alliance

in 1894 in 1894 Russia is also allied with SerbiaRussia is also allied with Serbia

Triple EntenteTriple Entente Great BritainGreat Britain FranceFrance RussiaRussia

IImperialism – mperialism – the political and the political and

economic economic domination of a strong nation over a weaker domination of a strong nation over a weaker oneone

Great Britain, Germany Great Britain, Germany and France competed and France competed for colonies in Africa. for colonies in Africa.

Britain and France had Britain and France had resolved their resolved their differences in Africadifferences in Africa

Germany threatened Germany threatened the British and French the British and French territory in North Africa. territory in North Africa.

NNationalism – ationalism – feeling intense pride feeling intense pride

in in one’s country or one’s country or nationalitynationality Nationalism caused each nation to view the others as competitors and Nationalism caused each nation to view the others as competitors and

threats. threats. Self-determination (the idea that people who belong to a nation should Self-determination (the idea that people who belong to a nation should

have their own country and government) was one idea causing tension have their own country and government) was one idea causing tension in Europe.in Europe.

The Balkans The Balkans The Austrio-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire historically ruled The Austrio-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire historically ruled

the Balkans. Different national groups in the Balkan area began to the Balkans. Different national groups in the Balkan area began to press for independence.press for independence.

The Serbs were the first to become The Serbs were the first to become independent (Serbia). They made it independent (Serbia). They made it their mission to unite the Yugoslavs their mission to unite the Yugoslavs (supported by the Russians). (supported by the Russians).

Bosnia was annexed by Austria-Hungary Bosnia was annexed by Austria-Hungary from the Ottoman Empire. This proved from the Ottoman Empire. This proved to the Serbs that Austria-Hungary had no to the Serbs that Austria-Hungary had no intention of allowing the Slavic people to intention of allowing the Slavic people to become independent. become independent. This leads to the “Trigger Event”This leads to the “Trigger Event”

The “Trigger Event” of The “Trigger Event” of WWIWWI June 28, 1914June 28, 1914

The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited the Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.

The day of the assassination, June 28, is June 15 in the Julian calendar, the feast of St. Vitus. In Serbia, it is called Vidovdan and commemorates the 1389 Battle of Kosovo against the Ottomans at which the Sultan was assassinated in his tent by a Serb; it is an occasion for Serbian patriotic observances

As he and his wife, Sophia rode As he and his wife, Sophia rode through the streets of Sarajevo in through the streets of Sarajevo in an open top car, several members an open top car, several members of the “Black Hand” (a nationalist of the “Black Hand” (a nationalist group) wait for them to pass. The group) wait for them to pass. The first two did nothing. The third, first two did nothing. The third, Nedjelko Carbronovic, threw a Nedjelko Carbronovic, threw a bomb at their car. He missed the bomb at their car. He missed the royal couple and seriously wounded royal couple and seriously wounded several people in the following car. several people in the following car.

Union or Death

The driver of the car carrying the Archduke and his The driver of the car carrying the Archduke and his wife quickly took the couple to the town hall. wife quickly took the couple to the town hall. There it was decided to take Ferdinand and There it was decided to take Ferdinand and Sophia back to the train station taking a different Sophia back to the train station taking a different route. route.

On their way back to the station, On their way back to the station, their driver took a wrong turn their driver took a wrong turn and had to back up. In doing and had to back up. In doing so he moved slowly past a so he moved slowly past a fourth member of the Black fourth member of the Black Hand, Gavrilo Princip. He Hand, Gavrilo Princip. He moved forward, drew his gun, moved forward, drew his gun, and at a distance of about five and at a distance of about five feet, fired several times into the feet, fired several times into the car. car.

Franz Ferdinand was hit in the neck and Sophia in the Franz Ferdinand was hit in the neck and Sophia in the abdomen. Princip's bullet had pierced the archduke's abdomen. Princip's bullet had pierced the archduke's jugular vein but before losing consciousness, he jugular vein but before losing consciousness, he pleaded "Sophie dear! Sophie dear! Don't die! Stay pleaded "Sophie dear! Sophie dear! Don't die! Stay alive for our children!" alive for our children!"

The royal couple was driven to Konak, the governor's The royal couple was driven to Konak, the governor's residence. residence. Although both Although both were still alive were still alive when they arrived, when they arrived, they died from they died from their wounds soon their wounds soon afterwards. afterwards.

Gavrilo Princip attempted to Gavrilo Princip attempted to commit suicide but was commit suicide but was stopped by a couple of stopped by a couple of police men. He was police men. He was arrested and tried. arrested and tried. Because he was under 20 Because he was under 20 years old, the maximum years old, the maximum penalty he could receive penalty he could receive was 20 years in prison. He was 20 years in prison. He died in prison 4 years later died in prison 4 years later of tuberculosis. of tuberculosis.