How World War I Began…

Tensions were increasing in Europe…

NATIONALISM grew…

Small nationalist groups didn’t WANT to be part of Empires anymore…

IMPERIALISM grew…

The race to acquire new territories AND their resources was fiercely

competitive!

MILITARISM grew…

Germany had the strongest army while Britain ruled the seas…

Austria-Hungary took over Bosnia-Herzegovina

Serbs living there weren’t impressed!

They were LESS impressed when they were visited by Archduke (and Crown

Prince of Austria-Hungary) Franz Ferdinand!

A nationalist group called the “Black Hand” set up an assassination attempt

on Ferdinand and his wife.

Gavrilo Princip shot the couple!

It was the straw that broke the camel’s back…

“straw”

“camel”

Over the years leading up to this event, alliances had formed…

The Triple Alliance

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Which one is which?

Their “allies”

Bulgaria

Ottoman Empire

The “Triple Entente”

Their “allies”

Belgium

Portugal Serbia

Romania

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

Russia joined in with Serbia

Germany joined Austria-Hungary

Germany invaded Belgium…

So Britain declared war on Germany!

The “Great War” had begun.