World War I began in 1914 due to increasing militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in Europe. By 1914, Europe was divided into two main alliance systems: the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Tensions rose due to imperial competition and disputes over territory. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist sparked Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, pulling the other European powers into war through their alliance obligations. Over the next four years, over 37 million casualties resulted from the massive industrialized warfare between the European powers.

1. World War I
“The Great War”, or “The War to End all War”

2. The World of 1914
Militarism:
The idea that waging war, or
threatening to wage war, is
justifiable foreign policy
Examples:
Britain’s Navy wants to rule the
waves
-Two Power Standard
-Dreadnoughts (Battleships)
-“Arms Race” with Germany

3. The World of 1914
Alliances:

5. Alliances:
A justifiable defensive strategy
Triple Entente Triple Alliance
Britain Germany
France Austria-Hungary
Russia Italy
Later will be called “Allies”
(and the U.S. will join)
Later will be called the “Central
Powers” & Italy will turn their back
on them

6. 1871: Alsace Lorraine
Annexed by
Germany
-Germany wins the Franco-Prussian
(German)War
-Germany takes France’s territory,
the Alsace-Lorraine
-France wants this territory back!

7. 1882: Triple Alliance
Formed
Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy
form an alliance
Purpose: link together to gain
strength and power

8. 1907: Triple Entente Formed
Great Britain, France and Russian
form an Alliance
Purpose: worried about Germany’s
increasing strength (and strength of
the Triple Alliance)

9. 1908: Austria annexed the
Ottoman
Empire’s province of Bosnia
Austria-Hungary, in a search of more
territory,
annexed Bosnia
Caused more territories in the Balkans
to want
their own independence

10. The World of 1914
Imperialism:
Believing that having an Empire with colonies is a
justifiable economic policy
Example:
-Britain became a very rich nation from its Empire
- An empire in which “The Sun Never Set”
- India, the crown jewel
- Slaves and raw resources from Africa
- Cash crops in the Caribbean (Americas, “West
Indies”

13. Example:
“The Scramble for Africa”
- In 1870, 10% of Africa was under European control
-By 1914, 90% of Africa was under European control
-Boer War: British in South Africa
-Mahdist War: British in Sudan
-The Congo: Belgians killed approx. 8 million (50% of
population) in 20 years

14. “WeltPolitik”
(World Politics)
“We wish to throw no
one into the shade, but
we demand our own
place in the sun.“
- Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1890

15. The World of 1914
Nationalism:
Think Patriotism… A justifiable Pride
1)You are an ethnic minority living under the rule of
someone else
Ex., Slavs, Serbs, Polish living within the A-H Empire
Ex., Arabs, Persians living under the Ottoman
Empire
2) My country is just so AWESOME
-> Nation = Identity

16. “One constant among
the elements of 1914—as
of any era—was the
disposition of everyone
on all sides not to
prepare for the harder
alternative, not to act
upon what they
suspected to be true.”
― Barbara W. Tuchman,
The Guns of August
The World of 1914…
… thought war would be glorious and quick

17. June 28, 1914: The Spark
Gavrilo Princip (Serb) assassinates Archduke
Franz Ferdinand, heir to A-H Empire

18. July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary
invades Serbia
-Russia mobilizes in its defence
-Germany declares war on Russia
and France
-Germany invades France through
Belgium
-Britain defends Belgium and
France

19. 28 July 1914 -11 November 1918
Approx 10 million military dead
Approx 23 million wounded
Approx 7 million civilians dead
= 1.58 – 1.87% of world population