Chapter 13:The

Great War
Section 1: Marching Towards War

Should you always support

a friend no matter what he

or she does?

Causes of the Great War

(WWI)
1. Militarism: maintaining a standing army

prepared for war

2. Alliances: an organization of countries
involved in a pact or treaty (usually to protect
each other from a common enemy)
3. Imperialism: seizure of a country or
territory by a stronger country
4. Nationalism: deep devotion to ones
country
**Easy Way to Remember: MAIN

1. Nationalism:
Can be a unifying force
Can cause intense competition- each trying to

overpower another
Europes Great Powers:
Fierce rivalry between Germany, Austria-

Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy and

France
Rivalry stemmed from competitions for
materials and markets, territorial disputes

1. Nationalism
Disputes:
France: anger towards Germany for loss of
Alsace-Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War
Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to
dominate the Balkans
Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania- fighting for
independence

2. Imperialism
Imperialism: seizure of a country or territory

by a stronger country
European countries competing for colonies in
Africa and Asia- often led these countries to
war
Contributed to increased rivalry and mistrust

3. Militarism
Nations of Europe believed to be truly great,

they needed a powerful military (always

prepared for war)
By 1914, all Great Powers except Great
Britain had large standing armies
All had mobilization plans- highly detailed
plans in order to organize and move troops in
case of war

4. Alliances
Otto von Bismarck (chancellor of

Prussia)- believed Germany was a

satisfied power and wanted to maintain
peace
France was biggest threat to peace- led
to Triple Alliance (Central Powers)Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy
Germany- also made treaty with Russia

4. Alliances
Kaiser Wilhelm II became ruler of Germany in

1888
Proud, stubborn; did not want to share power

with anyone
Let German treaty with Russia lapse in 1890
Russia responded by forming military alliance
with France (1892, 1894)
War with Russia or France would make
Germany an enemy of both
Began shipbuilding program to make German
navy equal to British navy

4. Alliances
Great Britain alarmed by German actions and

formed Triple Entente with France and Russia

Triple Entente:
Did not bind Britain to fight with France or Russia
Ensured that Britain would not fight against

France or Russia

Triple Alliance:
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (later switches
alliances)
***War between any rival countries could

bring all into war

4. Alliances
Serbia wanted to absorb Slavic groups on

Balkan Peninsula; supported by Russia,

opposed by Austria-Hungary
1908- Austria-Hungary took over BosniaHerzegovina angered Serbian leaders
because they wanted to extend their
territories

Assassination of Archduke Franz

Ferdinand and wife Sophie
June 28, 1914- assassinated at point blank

range in open car by Gavrilo Princip (19 yr

old member of the Black Hand- secret
society committed to ridding Bosnia of
Austrian rule)
Assassin- Serbian (Serbia allied with
Russia); Assassinated- Austrian
July 28, 1914- Austria declared war on Serbia
Russia- mobilized troops towards Austria;
supported by Triple Entente

The Crime of the Ages- Who Did It?