World War I was caused by militarism, imperialism, and a system of rival alliances between European powers. Countries had built up large militaries and still sought to expand their territories abroad. A network of agreements bound countries to allies, including the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand sparked the war after tensions had risen between these alliance blocs for years.

1. World War I

2. Causes of WWI
1. Militarism
– Countries built militaries as a symbol of power

3. 2. Imperialism
– Countries still looked to gain access to foreign
lands

4. 3. Rival Alliances
– Countries made friendships with other countries
– Reinsurance Treaty – secret treaty between
Germany and Russia

6. – Wilhelm II came to power in Germany and let it
expire
– Britain and France created Entente Cordiale
(friendly understanding) to defend against
Germany

8. Triple Entente
• Britain, France and Russia
– They all had a common fear of Germany

10. • The spark that started WWI was the
assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand

12. • Germany declared war on Russia

13. Central Powers
• Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy

14. Allies
• Russia, France, Serbia and Britain