World War I began in June 1914 after the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, pulling its allies like Germany into the conflict. Russia allied with Serbia and France allied with Russia, drawing all the major European powers into a world war through their complex system of alliances. Militarism, imperialism, and nationalism had also increased tensions between the European nations in the decades prior to the war.

1. Bell Work
• We are entering a new unit, World War I.
• Please use your journals and make a list of
everything you know from either past classes or
movies/t.v. shows/books about the Great War or
World War I.
• Be sure you are accurate & fast – this will
count!!!

2. Bell Work
Please collect a vocabulary sheet from the front of the
class room and a textbook from the back two bottom
shelves at the back of the classroom.
Please complete your vocabulary sheet. Once you have
completed your sheet please return your textbook to the
back of the classroom.
Thank you!

4. The World Goes to War

5. Franz Ferdinand

6. Tension in Europe
• The Archduke Ferdinand
is heir to the throne of
Austria-Hungary
• He and his wife are
assassinated June 28th
1914 by a Serbian man in
Sarajevo
• Austria then declares
war on Serbia
• One after another
nations in Europe begin
joining in and
World War I had begun
Sarajevo

7. Causes of World War I
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism

8. Militarism
• Glorification of war and the military
• Competition for military power and strength
• Arms race – competition to build up armed forces and weapons
• Standing armies – soldiers trained and ready to fight
• Conscription – mandatory participation of civilians in the military,
draft
• Increase in military spending
• Increasing influence of military in the government
• Example: Germany expanded its navy, Britain soon followed with a
bigger and better navy

9. Alliances create a WORLD war
• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
• Russia comes to aid of Serbia
• Germany declares war on Russia
• Germany declares war on France and prepares to invade
Belgium
• Great Britain declares war on Germany
• Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia
• France and Great Britain declare war on Austria-Hungary

10. WWI Alliances
Allies
• Great Britain
• France
• Italy
• Russia
• Serbia
• 7 other countries
Central Powers
• Austria-Hungary
• Germany
• Bulgaria
• The Ottoman Empire
• At the time Europe
was made up of
these competing
networks of alliances
• The goal of forming
these partnerships is
to discourage other
countries from
attacking members of
the alliance

11. Imperialism
• Policy in which stronger nations extend their control over
weaker nations
• Britain, France, Germany, and Italy competing for land
in Asia and Africa
• *Germany had the fewest colonies
• Economic growth – countries wanted to new markets
to sell products
• Competition for expanding markets led to military
conflict
• Power and prestige of expanding global empires

12. Nationalism
• Strong feeling of pride,
loyalty, and
protectiveness towards
one’s country
• European nations’
need to show power
and strength
• Freedom from foreign
rule
• France wants
Germany to return
Alsace and Lorraine
lost in Franco-
Prussian war
• People of the same
nationality wanted to
form their own nation-
state
• Slavs had a long-
term goal to develop
their culture and
unite into an empire
• Serbian nationals
wanting to unite
Bosnia with
Serbia
• Russia –
protector of the
Slavs

14. How Did WWI Happen?
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was considered a MODERATE
when it came to the Serbian/Slavik nation argument as
he could see both sides.
• His emperor uncle was considered an EXTREMIST when
it came to the Serbian/Slavik nation argument.
• The assassin was believed to be a part of a group called
the “BLACK HAND”.
• Who promised Austria-Hungary that they would help if
Russia mobilized their forces against them? GERMANY
• What country mobilized to support Russia on August 1st?
FRANCE

15. Return of the Grudge!
• Name 1 of the 3 countries in the Triple Entente, later known as
the Allies.
• Great Britain, France, or Russia
• What is the policy in which stronger nations extend their
control over weaker nations
• Imperialism
• Name all of the M.A.I.N. reasons for WWI. (Worth 2 points but
you must have all of the reasons)
• Militarism (or military)
• Alliances
• Imperialism
• Nationalism

16. Recap MAIN Causes of WWI
• Militarism: the policy of making military power a primary goal
of a nation is called militarism.
• Alliances: A tangled network of competing alliances bound
European nations together = an attack on one nation forced
its allies to come to its aid
• Imperialism: during the 1900’s nations were competing for
world influence and in Europe Britain, France, Germany, and
Italy competed for colonies in Africa and Asia
• Germany had fewer colonies to provide it with resources
• Nationalism: Many Europeans embraced nationalism (strong
feelings of pride, loyalty, and protectiveness towards their
own countries) they wanted to prove that their nations were
the BEST

17. Key Leaders during WWI
• William II - Emperor of Germany
• 1890, he broke off old ties with Russia, causing Germany to fight
a two-front war, this blunder led Germany to defeat
• Czar Nicholas II – last czar of Russia, Absolute Monarch
• George Clemenceau – Prime Minister of France
• Nicknamed ‘Tiger’ for his ruthless and bold leadership
• Woodrow Wilson – 28th President of the United States
• Tried to maintain US neutrality as long as possible
• David Lloyd George – Prime minister of England

18. Who Started WWI?