Causes of World War I United States History

Causes of World War I United States History

4 Causes • • Militarism Alliance System Imperialism Nationalism • MAIN

Militarism • Most of the countries involved in WWI began to strengthen their arsenals. • The build up of weaponry gives countries more machinery and technology in case they are threatened. • New weapons are introduced during this period. (airplanes, machine guns, poisonous gases, tanks, grenades etc. . ) • All countries including the United States began to really strengthen their military and competition began to take hold.

Alliance System • Having existing alliances is a very scaring thing before a war breaks out. • Triple Alliance (Central Powers) – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire • Triple Entente (Allied Powers) – Great Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, Russia, Serbia • United States will enter the war with the Allied Powers in 1917.

Imperialism • Quest for Africa – 50 of the 52 nations in the continent of Africa were overrun • Major players that include: Great Britain, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Italy exploited and extracted valuable resources out of the African countries. • This attitude and quest by these countries created an atmosphere of hostility between the European conquerors. • Many wars were fought for control of these countries. (The Boer War 1899 -1902, The Battle for Fashoda)

Nationalism • With the acquisition of new lands, and new resources, the people begin to take pride in their country. • This overwhelming feeling of pride in one’s own country is called nationalism or patriotism. • Sometimes this causes country’s to prematurely act out of pride rather than smarts.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand His Lovely Wife Sophia

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

Gavrilo Princip • Killed Franz Ferdinand his wife • Member of Serbian nationalist group: The Black Hand • Upset at Austria -Hungary for colonizing Serbia

The Spark the Ignited the Fuse Militarism Alliance System Imperialism Nationalism When Austrian King Archduke Ferdinand was killed by a Serbian terrorist organization, WWI could not be avoided! MURDER OF ARCHDUKE FERDINAND HIS WIFE SOPHIA