World War I was caused by militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in Europe leading up to 1914. The immediate trigger was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Serbian nationalists. This caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and triggered a series of military alliances that drew other European powers into the war. The war became a stalemate as armies engaged in trench warfare with new industrial weapons such as machine guns and poison gas. Over 8.5 million troops were killed and over 21 million wounded or taken prisoner before Germany surrendered in 1918.

1. World War I Notes
BY
VISHNU

2. Causes of WWI – MANIA!
Militarism - policy of building up a strong military to prepare for war
Alliances – agreements between nations to provide aid and protect
on another
Assassination – of Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand
Imperialism – when one country takes over another country
economically and politically.
Nationalism – extreme pride in one’s country

3. Militarism
1910-1914 Increase in Defense
Expenditures
France 10%
Britain 13%
Russia 39%
Germany 73%

4. Alliances
Triple Alliance Triple Entente

8. Nationalism
• Force behind unification of germany and italy.
• Pride in the nation and hatred against other nations.
• Itali fascism and national socialism of german

9. Imperialism
• Great Britain, Germany and France needed
foreign markets after the increase in
manufacturing caused by the Industrial
Revolution.
• These countries competed for economic expansion in
Africa. Although Britain and France resolved their
differences in Africa, several crises foreshadowing the
war involved the clash of Germany against Britain and
France in North Africa.
• In the Middle East, the crumbling Ottoman Empire was
alluring to Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Russia.

10. European
Conquest of
Africa

11. The
“Spark”

12. Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and
Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia,
on June 28th, 1914.

14. Austrian
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
was killed in
Bosnia by a
Serbian
nationalist group
called the Black
Hand who
believed that
Bosnia should
belong to Serbia.

15. Domino Effect
Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared
war on Serbia.
Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary.
Russia pledged their support for Serbia.

16. Domino Effect
Germany declares war on Russia.
France pledges their support for Russia.
Germany declares war on France.
Germany invades Belgium on the way to France.
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.

17. Allied Powers Central Powers
World War IWorld War IWorld War IWorld War I

18. Why was WWI a Stalemate?
• What’s a stalemate?
– Neither side can make a move to win.
• Machine gun. How did this change war?
How was it fought before?
• Trench Warfare = “solution”.
• Millions die without gaining ground.

22. What new weapons were used in
WWI?
• Machine gun
• Poison gas
• Submarine
• Airplane
• Tank
• Why these weapons? Why now?
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!!

29. What were the results?
• Germany surrendered.
• Allies impose Treaty of Versailles.
– Declares Germany guilty for war.
– Germany must pay reparations to Allies.
• This sets the stage for WWII!
• League of Nations formed to try to prevent
war in the future.

30. Casualties?
• Total troops mobilized by all countries in WW1
65,038,810
• Total troops dead from all countries in WW1
8,556,315
• Total troops wounded from all countries in WW1
21,219,452
• Total missing or POWs
7,750,945

34. THANK YOU