Forces Leading to WW1

Nationalism• Nation is a

group of people with a common history, culture, language, ethnicity

• Nationalists demand a political border and government to align with the nation

• “Germany” became unified in 1871

• Where did nationality not align with borders?

Militarism• Policy of glorifying

military power and values

• Germany united in 1871 through military success

• Naval competition between Germany and England

• Previous, recent wars had not been long or hugely bloody

• Men saw war as a time to prove their courage, bravery, valor

• Young men were easily convinced to join the war at its start

Imperialism• Desire by a nation to

own and control other nations

• In 1800s, European powers competed to control Africa and Asia

• New European power, Germany, had few colonies

• England and France tried to hold on to colonies

Causes of WW1: 1914• Serbian nationalists disliked

Austrian control of Balkan region (south of Austria)

• Austrian Arch-duke Franz Ferdinand traveled to Sarajevo on official visit

• Assassination of arch-duke led Austria to declare war on Serbia

• Russia mobilized forces to defend Serbia

• Germany declared war on Russia

• Two alliances formed:– Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

(Italy changed sides later)– Great Britain, Russia, and France

Red: Central PowersGreen: Allied Powers