MAIN causes of World War I

Militarism

• Massive Military buildup– To protect overseas colonies & imperialistic

powers

• Size of armed forces & navies grew– Germany had no overseas land to protect

Militarism

• Countries with militaries were ready to use them as soon as any trouble erupted– ‘Trigger-happy’ ready to fire at the least

provocation, regardless of situation or consequences

Alliances

• Countries allied to protect themselves against Militarism from other countries– Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and

Italy– Triple Entente: Russia, France, and Great Britain

– Alliances should keep war from starting because no country should want to start a war with a different country and its allies as well.

Imperialism

• The policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries or acquiring and hold colonies and dependencies

• Germany, France, Russia, and Great Britain were imperial nations

Imperialism

• To keep imperial lands safe from conquest by other imperial countries, militarism grew

Nationalism

• Strong devotion to one’s national group or culture

• New countries and power struggles• Balkan Peninsula– SE Europe (ex. Serbia)– Areas w/certain ethnic groups might want

freedom from an empire or bigger country

Nationalism

• Serbs had Serbia, but many lived outside borders– Serbia wanted to expand borders

• Austria-Hungary wouldn’t let Serbia expand