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The Causes of World War I

In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:

Nationalism

Imperialism

The Alliance System

Militarism

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There many causes of the first WorldWar. The War began in 1914 and

lasted until 1918.

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In 1914, Austria’s Archduke FrancisFerdinand was assassinated by Slavnationalists. Austrians believed that

Serb officials had helped the assassins,and decided to invade Serbia.

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The assassination of Austria’s ArchdukeFrancis Ferdinand set off a chain reaction

that soon involved all of Europe’s major powers. What began as a local

crisis escalated into a world war.

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While the assassination of the Archdukewas the spark that ignited the war, there

were many underlying causes of thewar. Nationalism, ethnic rivalries,

imperialism, alliances, and militarismcreated a powder keg waiting to explode.

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Nationalism encouraged rivalries amongBritain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary,

and Russia. Nationalism also led to the creation of new independent nations inthe Balkans: Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria,

and Albania.

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Austria-Hungary,however, still

consisted of manydifferent

ethnic groups, mostof which wanted theirown national states.

These demandsthreatened to break

the empire apart.

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Serbs wanted to liberate Serbs

still under Austrianrule, found in the

southwest ofAustria-Hungary.

By annexing theseregions, land-locked

Serbia could alsogain access to the

Adriatic Sea.

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The European powershad competingeconomic and

political interests.German industrialization

seemed to challengeBritish economic

supremacy. Competitionfor colonies created

further tensions.

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By 1914, Europe came to be divided intotwo large alliances. On one side stoodGermany and Austria-Hungary. On the

other side was Russia, France, and GreatBritain.

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Any dispute involving a country fromone alliance threatened to bring in

other countries.

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The late 1800s saw a rise in militarism orthe glorification of the military. Military

planning and arms races played key rolesin the outbreak of World War I.

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Military leaders thought it would

be better to attackfirst rather than

to wait until beingattacked. Whenever

a crisis occurred, military leaders

were prepared tofight.

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Questions to Reflection:

• Why was the Archduke of Austria assassinated?

• What was the alliance system and how did it lead to war?

• Define militarism and discuss its role in World War I.

• How did ethnic rivalries and imperialism lead to conflict?