The document discusses four main causes of World War 1: militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. Militarism led to an arms race in Europe in the years before the war as countries developed new weapons. Alliances divided Europe into opposing alliance blocs. Imperialism caused competition for colonies in Africa and tensions over territories. Nationalist groups like the Black Hand in Serbia opposed imperial rule and their assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand provided the spark that ignited the outbreak of war in 1914.

1. Causes of
World War I
by Ms. Hong

2. Four MAIN Causes
 Militarism - policy of maintaining a large
military to prepare for war.
 Alliances - defense agreements between
nations to provide aid and protect one
another.
 Imperialism - system where a powerful nation
controls one or more colonies economically
and politically.
 Nationalism - extreme loyalty to one's
country or group.

3. Militarism
 Great Britain had the largest navy in the
world.
 Germany spent the most but only had the 2nd
largest military.
 Militarism led to an arms race among the
major European powers in the years leading
up to the World War 1.
 New and improved weapons were invented.
• Barbed wire
• Machine guns
• Artillery
• Poison gas
• Aircraft
• Tanks
• Airships
• U-boats
European Military Spending
1913-1914
Country Money Spent
Great Britain $50,000,000
France $40,000,000
Germany $60,000,000
Austria $22,500,000
Russia $15,500,000
Italy $10,000,000

4. Discussion
 Why do you think a strong military was important to
European nations prior to the outbreak of WWI?
 Why do you think there were so many new and improved
war weapons during WWI?
 Even though Germany spent the most money on their
Navy, Great Britain remained the largest and most
powerful. What are some reasons for this?

5. Alliances
Triple Entente v. Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
Great Britain
France
Russia
Triple Alliance
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy

6. Imperialism
 After the Industrial Revolution, Great
Britain, Germany, and France were
competing for economic expansion in
Africa.
 By the outbreak of World War 1
Britain controlled an empire 140 times
larger than itself; France controlled an
empire 20 times its own size; and
Belgium about 80 times its own size.
 In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed
Bosnia and Herzegovina, former
territories of the Ottoman Empire. This
caused great protest from several
European countries and Austria-
Hungary's neighbor Serbia.

7. Nationalism
 Nationalism led to over confidence among the major military powers of Europe that
were involved in World War One.
 The world was divided into large empires and spheres of influence. Many regions,
races, and religious groups wanted freedom from their imperial masters.
 Pan-Slavism was opposed to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its control and
influence over the region. Slavic nationalism was strong in Serbia.
 Young Serbs joined radical nationalist groups like the Black Hand. These groups
hoped to drive Austria-Hungary from the Balkans and establish a Greater Serbia for all
Slavic people.
 The Black Hand was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in
Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.

8. Review
 What 3 main countries make up the Triple Entente? What 3 countries make
up the Triple Alliance?
 After the Industrial Revolution, Where were Great Britain, Germany, and
France looking for economical expansion?
 What is the name of the radical nationalist group responsible for the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

9. Assassination
A Shot that Changed the World
BBC Podcast
Sarajevo: Nationalism

10. Short Response
In your journal, elaborate on
how militarism, alliances,
imperialism, and nationalism
contributed to the outbreak of
war in 1914?