Underlying Causes of World War I

1. Underlying Causes of World War I AP World History World War I Video

2. Vocabulary • Alliance: a formal agreement for mutual benefit • Nationalism: devotion or loyalty to one’s nation • Militarism: the idea of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war • Imperialism: the idea of extending the rule of a nation over other people

3. Balance of Power • In the late 19th century European leaders believed that creating a balance of power could prevent a large scale war. • Balanced Powers • England • France • Russia • Germany

4. Balance of Powers • Germany did not want to fight a war on two fronts. • Germany tried to ally itself with Russia or France, but negotiations failed. • Germany developed an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy known as the… Triple Alliance (Germany is sandwiched between Russia and France)

5. The Response • France, Russia, and Great Britain responded by forming their own alliance called the… Triple Entente

6. The Spark • In the late 1800’s Otto Von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Prussia, predicted “some damned foolish thing in the Balkans” would ignite the next big war.

7. The Spark • In 1914 the Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand, and heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, visited Sarajevo.

8. The Spark

9. The Spark • On June 28th 1914 Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian assassin, shot and killed the Archduke and his wife.

10. The Spark

11. Chain Reaction One thing quickly led to another… • On July 23rd Austrian leaders demanded apologies from Serbia • On July 24th an angry Serbia sought help from Russia, and received a promise of support if Austria were to attack • On July 28th after no response from Serbian leaders, Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia

12. Chain Reaction In the next several days… Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary Germany declared war on Russia France declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary Britain joined France and Russia Europe was at war!

13. Chain Reaction WW1 Causes Video

14. Causes and the Question • Immediate Cause: the final act or provoking that directly leads to an event. • Underlying Cause(s): the provoking or events that lead up to the immediate cause Example: A drunk driver is killed by crashing his or her car into a tree What is the immediate cause of death? What is the underlying cause of death?

15. Cause and the Question • Examine the documents that have been given to you and answer the analytical question: “What were the underlying causes of World War I?”

16. Recap Introduction Creating a Balance of Power The Spark Chain Reaction Cause and the Question

17. Recap What was the immediate cause of World War I? The assassination of the Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand What were the underlying causes of World War I? Alliances, Nationalism, Militarism, and Imperialism

18. Underlying Causes of World War I AP World History