The Causes of WW1

                            Militarism

                            Alliances

                            Imperialism

                            Nationalism

                                              Significant individuals

Militarism

Made the Arms Race in which Britain was competing with Germany to build battleships/control trade. Germany was also competing with Russia and France to make their armies bigger and better.

Alliances

By 1914, to protect themselves, all the major powers made alliances with other countries even though alliances would probably make it more likely for a war to start. This idea spread to other countries.

Imperialism

Even though the British feared Germany in Africa all the great powers were competing for territory with the Russians in the Balkans and the Austrians fearing Serbia.

Nationalism

Means being a strong supporter of the rights

and interests of one's country. This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and independence.In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.

Significant Influence for WWI

Moroccan Crisis

Bosnian Crisis

 In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish province of Bosnia. There was war in the Balkans between 1911 and 1912 when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area.

Kaiser Wilhelm II 

Built up German Military determined to make Germany a top nation but distrusted by other powers.

Bethmann Hollweg

Was the German Prime Minister and gave a very strong support to Austria during the July crisis.

The Crisis 1

“Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke and failed, but Gavrilo Princip shot him so the Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists.

The Crisis 2

Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum which they agree to all terms but two of the terms and Russia goes to help Serbia making Germany go to war with Russia.

The Schlieffen Plan

To eliminate France, they would go through Belgium to get there, but Britain had Ports and a Treaty in Belgium so Britain went to defend Belgium. They demanded that Germany stand down but they did not and on August 1914 war was declared.