World War 1 was caused by long-term tensions between European nations such as nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the alliance system. The immediate cause was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914. This triggered a series of declarations of war between European powers with secret alliances that led all major European powers to enter the war.

1. WORLD WAR I (1914-1918)

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
 What long-term causes led to the
start of World War I?
 Whatevent was the immediate
cause of World War I?

3. Long-term Causes
 NATIONALISM
Feelings of
national and
ethnic pride ran
high throughout
Europe.

4. Long-term Causes
 NATIONALISM
This was especially
true in Austria-
Hungary where
ethnic tension gave
it the name “the
powder keg of
Europe”.

5. Long-term Causes
 IMPERIALISM
Competition for
colonies in Africa
and Asia led many
European nations
into direct conflict.

6. Long-term Causes
 IMPERIALISM
The Boer War
(1900) between
England and
Holland for control
of South Africa
was one example
of this conflict.

7. Long-term Causes
 MILITARISM
People in many
European countries
looked at war as a
glorious adventure.

8. Long-term Causes
 MILITARISM
Since Europe had
been at peace for
nearly 100 years,
many had forgotten
the horrors of war.

9. Long-term Causes
 ALLIANCE SYSTEM
Secret alliances
pulled outside
countries into the
war.

10. Long-term Causes
 ALLIANCE SYSTEM

11. Long-term Causes
 ALLIANCE SYSTEM

12. Long-term Causes
 ALLIANCE SYSTEM

13. Immediate Cause
 ASSASSINATION
of ARCHDUKE
FERDINAND
6/28/14: Archduke
Franz Ferdinand of
Austria-Hungary
went to Sarajevo
for an official
visit…

14. The “MAIN” Causes
 M- ilitarism
 A-lliances
 I-mperialism
 N-ationalism

15. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
…Gavrilo Princip,
member of a Serbian
nationalist movement,
called the Black Hand
was waiting for the
Archduke.

16. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
When the
Archduke’s driver
made a wrong turn…

17. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
…Princip shot and
killed Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
and his wife.

18. Immediate Cause

19. Immediate Cause

20. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
Emperor Franz
Josef of Austria-
Hungary declared
war on Serbia for
the death of his
son.

21. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
However, a secret
alliance between
Serbia and Russia
caused Russia to
declare war on
Austria-Hungary

22. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
Then, a secret
alliance between
Germany and
Austria-Hungary
caused Germany
to declare war on
Russia…

23. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
Then, a secret
alliance between
France and Russia
caused France to
declare war on
Germany…

24. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
Then, a secret
alliance between
England and
Russia caused
England to declare
war on Germany…

25. Immediate Cause
 June 28, 1914
Instantly, all the
major powers of
Europe were at
war.