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Learn about the political causes, nationalism, imperialism, militarism, alliance systems, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that led to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
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Political Causes • Nationalism. • Pride in one’s country. • Each nation felt it was superior to the others. • Imperialism. • The creation of empires. • England and France dominated the competition for colonies. • Militarism. • Building armies and glorifying war and the military. • The largest armies were held by England and Germany. • England built the first battleship.
Alliance System • System of treaties between nations. • If one nation is attacked, its’ allies join in. • This system ensured if two nations went to war, the war would quickly expand to include most of Europe. • Two big alliances:
Triple Alliance • Called this before war started. • When WWI began – Central Powers. • Germany united with Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.
Franz Josef Enver Pasha William II
Triple Entente • Called this before war started. • When WWI began – Allied Powers. • Great Britain, France, and Russia allied against Germany.
George V Nicholas II President Poincare
Schleiffen Plan • Along with the alliance, Germany developed a battle plan called the Schleiffen Plan. • Attack and beat France first, then attack Russia. • Push through Belgium to attack France. • DO NOT divide your army, as it will weaken you. • This plan depended on a fast victory against France.
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Assassination • Tensions were high across Europe. • All that was needed was a spark to start a war. • Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the Austrian throne. • He and his wife Sophie made a trip to Bosnia to inspect their land there. • The people of Sarajevo (capital city) hated the Austrians and wanted to be independent. • Saw Ferdinand as the cause of all their problems.
A Bosnian nationalist (terrorist) organization called the Black Hand decided to kill Ferdinand. • Stationed assassins along Ferdinand’s parade route through Sarajevo. • Black Hand member Gavrilo Princip shot Ferdinand in the chest and his pregnant wife Sophie in the stomach. • Both died. • Princip was arrested and executed.
War • Austria declared war on Bosnia, an ally of Russia. • Russia declared war on Austria. • Germany declared war on Russia. • France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. • World War I had begun. August 1, 1914