Causes of WWI

But first… what is war?

War is armed hostilities between

nations, states, or different groups
within a nation state. It is:
• Organized,
• Prolonged,
• Violent
• Causes social & economic destruction
The Alliance System

Triple Alliance Triple Entente

 Germany, Austria-  France, Russia and

Hungary, and Italy Britain agree to support
agree to support each each other if attacked
other if attacked by by The Triple Alliance
the Triple Entente
Militarism “Arms Race”
 British navy largest in
the world and wanted
to keep it this way
 Germany began to
build a powerful army
 Britain felt challenged
by Germany
 Race between two
counties as to who
could have the most
powerful army –
increased tension
Imperialism

 Germany and Italy

began acquiring
new colonies which
brought conflict
between countries
that already
controlled large
foreign empires
(France and
Britain)
NATIONALISM

 Patriotism (pride in
own country) made
some nations
distrustful of others
 Colonies wishing
they were
independent
 Many thought they
could easily win a
war, and that their
country was better
than others.
Spark
 June 28th, 1914 The
future king of Austria-
Hungary Archduke
Franz Ferdinand and his
wife were shot by 19
year old Serbian
revolutionary; Gavrilo
Princip
 Austrians sent an
ultimatum, which
Serbians refused,
Austria invaded, and
Russia came to the aid
of its Serbian allies
 Within 1 month most
members of the rival
alliances were drawn
into the conflict
Your task…

 Create a mind map that that

illustrates the four causes and the
spark of WWI (use illustrations,
diagrams and key words in you mind
map)
 Use page 7-10 in Experience History
text to add detail
Causes of WWI