The document summarizes the key causes and events leading up to World War 1. Militarism and nationalism in European powers increased tensions, as did imperial and ethnic disputes in the Balkans. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand set off a chain reaction of diplomatic failures and military mobilizations that escalated into a continental war by August 1914. Major powers formed the Allied and Central Power alliances and fought brutal trench warfare for four years until Germany's defeat in November 1918. Over 10 million soldiers and civilians lost their lives making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

1. 1914-1918:
The
World
at War

2. Causes
of the
War

3. Economic & Imperial Rivalries

4. Militarism
 Militarism means that the army and military forces are
given a high profile by the government. The growing
European divide had led to an arms race between the
main countries. The armies of both France and
Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and
1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain
and Germany for mastery of the seas
 The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of
action that involved attacking France through Belgium
if Russia made an attack on Germany.

5. Nationalism
 Nationalism means being a strong supporter of the
rights and interests of one's country. Delegates from
Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia (the winning allies)
decided upon a new Europe that left both Germany
and Italy as divided states.
 The settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war
left France angry at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to
Germany and keen to regain their lost territory. Large
areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home
to differing nationalist groups, all of whom wanted
freedom from the states in which they lived.

6. Problems in the Balkans (1906 –
1912)
 Many different ethnicities in
the Balkans
 Wars to get Ottoman Empire
out of Balkans
 Conflicts over land disputes
 Country borders do not take
in Ethnic boundaries
 Serbia wants 1) economic
independence from A.H. 2)
Greater Serbia Nation
 Austria treats minority
groups poorly

7. Flashpoint
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand's Assassination, 28 June 1914
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the
Austro-Hungarian throne, on 28 June 1914, set in train a
series of diplomatic events that led inexorably to the
outbreak of war in Europe at the end of July 1914.
• Ferdinand - and his wife Sophie - were killed by Serb
nationalist Gavrilo Princip while on a formal visit to
Sarajevo. Princip shot Ferdinand at point blank range while
the latter was travelling in his car from a town hall reception,
having earlier that day already survived one assassination
attempt

8. The First War
Austria gave Ultimatum to Serbia
 Sent an Ultimatum to Serbia on July 19th,
delivered July 23rd
 Serbs given 48 hours to respond
 Austria demands a large part of Serbia
 Serbia agrees to ALL except 1 key element:
 Serbia refused to allow the involvement of
Austria in the investigation of the assassination
within Serbia as this threatened Serbia’s
sovereignty

10. Allies
Britain ( and its Empire )
France
Russia Central Powers
Belgium Germany
Italy Austria Hungary
USA( JOINED IN 1917) Ottoman-Turkey
Serbia, Portugal Bulgaria
Japan
and other minor participants

11. Escalation to War
July 25th
 Austria breaks off relations with Serbia
July 28th
 A.H. declares war on Serbia
July 30th
 Czar issues mobilization order
August 1st
 Germans mobilize, declare war on Russia
August 3rd
 France declares war on Germany
 Germany invades Belgium
August 4th
 Great Britain declares war on Germany

12. Countdown to World War
 June 1914 Franz Duke Ferdinand, heir to the
Austrian throne assassinated
 28th July Austria Hungary declare war on Serbia.
France and Russia back Serbia
 30th July Britain and Russia mobilize forces
 1st August Germany declares war on Russia
 2nd August Germany invades Belgium, declares
war on France
 4th August Britain declares war on Germany

13. Americ
a
Joins
the

14. The Sinking
of the Lusitania

15. In spite of America’s stern warning Germany
continued use of submarines.
America declared war against Germany on 6th
April 1917.
The central powers surrendered one by one
Last to surrender was Germany.

16. November 11, 1918

17. The Big Four Leaders of World War I
Woodrow Wilson
(USA)
David Lloyd George
(England)
Vittorio Orlando
(Italy)
Georges Clemenceau
(France)

19. World War I Casualties
10,000,000
9,000,000 Russia
8,000,000 Germany
7,000,000 Austria-Hungary
6,000,000 France
5,000,000
4,000,000 Great Britain
3,000,000 Italy
2,000,000 Turkey
1,000,000 US
0

21. Curtis-Martin
U. S. Aircraft Plant

23. Sacrifices in War