How did World War I begin?
Download
Report
Transcript How did World War I begin?
How did World War I begin?
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
• Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
• Sinking of the Lusitania
• Zimmerman Note
The MAIN Causes
MILITARISM- aggressive build up of
armed forces, as preparation for war
ALLIANCE SYSTEM- countries agreed to
defend each other if attacked
IMPERIALISM- caused competition for
new markets and colonies in Africa,
Asia, and the Pacific
NATIONALISM- having pride in your
country, willing to defend your nation
Alliances to know:
Central Powers (formerly Triple Alliance)
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Triple Entente (later known as the Allies)
Great Britain
France
Russia
United States
Italy
Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
June 1914- The Archduke, heir to the Austrian
throne, was visiting Bosnian capital of
Sarajevo
Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip shoots and
kills Ferdinand and wife Sophia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
How did this lead to WWI?
Which of the MAIN causes apply?
Sinking of the Lusitania
May 7, 1915
British liner Lusitania sank by German U-boat
(Unterseeboot) aka submarine
1,198 die, 128 Americans among the dead
US public angry, turns against Germany
Germany defends sinking Lusitania; said ship was
carrying ammunition
Germany continues unrestricted submarine warfare
How long before US declares war on Germany? Some
historians ask, “Is the sinking of the Lusitania really a
cause?”
Zimmermann Note
A German telegram sent to German
ambassador in Mexico and intercepted by
British agents
Telegram proposed an alliance between
Mexico and Germany
Promised that if war w/ US broke out;
Germany would support Mexico
Mexico would get back “lost” territory in TX,
New Mexico, and Arizona as a reward