Based Ben Walsh's "GCSE Modern World History" and Google Images

1. Causes of World War I
In 1914 the six most powerful countries in
Europe were divided into two opposing
alliances. Each country was heavily armed
and each one had reasons for distrusting
other countries in Europe.

3. ALLIANCE
• Firm military alliance
• Oath to support and help
allies when under attack
ENTENTE
• A more friendly pact

5. The Balance of Power
Triple Alliance
• Soldiers: 3 760 000
• Warships: 145
• Submarines: 41
Triple Entente
• Soldiers: 3 161 000
• Warships: 194
• Submarines: 166

7. Central Powers or Triple Alliance
1882

8. Germany
To guard against a revenge
attack from the French after
1871, Germany formed an
alliance with Austria –
Hungary and Italy.
By 1914 German industry
had become second in the
world only to that of the USA.
The Kaiser felt that Germany
should be a world power and
should have an overseas
empire.
In the 1890s he ordered the
building of a large navy and
was building a vast army.

9. Austria Hungary
How to keep this fragmented
empire together? Concerns
• Serbia was becoming a
powerful force in the
Balkans.
• Russia supported the
Serbs and had a very
strong army.

10. Italy
Though not a strong industrial or
military power, Italy was looking to set
up colonies and build up an overseas
empire.
Germany and Austria – Hungary did
not entirely trust their ally. Their chief
concern in signing this wasn’t the
support of Italian armies, but to stop
Italy attacking them over border
issues!
Italy promised to go to war if either
was attacked by France. But crucially
for Italy, there was a further clause,
cancelling the deal if the Triple
Alliance members were the aggressor.
Shortly after, Italy signed a deal with
France, pledging support if Germany
attacked them.

11. The Triple Entente
1907

12. Britain
• During “splendid
isolation” Britain
concentrated on its
empire.
• France and Russia were
its most dangerous rivals.
• In 1904 France and
Britain reached
agreements about
colonies in North Africa.
• Russia was defeated by
Japan in 1905 and
therefore not so worrying.
• Germany was becoming
a serious threat.

14. France
• The main concerns of France were
to protect itself against attack by
Germany.
• To get back the industrial regions
of Alsace and Lorraine.

15. Russia
The largest but the most backward
of all the six great European
powers.
Russia worried about the growth of
Germany. They had always been
rivals with Austria – Hungary but
friends with Serbia.
After the 1905 war with Japan and
the revolution, the Tsar knew he
could not afford to lose again and
was therefore building a large army.

17. TENSION BUILDS
• Anglo – German naval
rivalry
• Arms race on land
• Plans for war

18. MORE TENSION
Morocco - 1905 Morocco - 1911

19. The Spark that lit the
bonfire
1908:
Austria took over Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Russia and Serbia
protested but had to back down
when Germany indicated it
supported Austria.
1912 – 1913:
Local wars. Serbia gained power in
the area,
1914:
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was
murdered.