World War I: A war to end all Wars: Causes of WWI

Background to WW1

At the beginning of the 20th Century much of Eastern Europe was dominated by three weak and crumbling empires…

1.) Austro – Hungarian2.) Russian3.) Ottoman

Background continued…

Many of the nations under control of these empires wanted to be independent.

When Austria Hungary took control of Bosnia many Serbs were outraged

Deep sense of Nationalism

Background Continued…

- Many countries formed alliances to protect themselves.

- Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance 1882

- France, Russia, and Britain formed an alliance called the Triple Entente 1907

Militarism & Nationalism

There was a huge arms race in Europe in the early 1900’s

Britain and Germany were going head to head to see who could create the larger navy

All European countries expanded their armies to try and maintain a balance of power

The Dreadnought

Imperialism

Many countries of Europe were still trying to assert their imperialist powers

By the late 1800’s the race to claim territories in Africa which was rich in diamonds and gold became fierce

European countries often challenged each other on these issues (ex. Boer War)

Beginning of the War

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Prince of Austria Hungary was visiting the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia

Bosnia was part of the Austro Hungarian empire

Serbia had claimed it as part of Greater Serbia

Assassination

A Serbian nationalist group called the black hand marked him for assassination.

Gavrilo Princip rushed forward from the crowd to mortally wound the Archduke and his wife Sophie

Marked the first major event in WW1

Who and Where?