World War 1

WORD WAR 1

Causes of World War 1

• In 1882, a defensive alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary & Italy. This alliance came to be known as the Triple Alliance. Germany sought new allies as it feared that France would attack Germany in retaliation for France's defeat by Germany in the Franco-Prussian war of 1871. Twelve years later,in 1894, Franc sought it own ally and formed the Dual Entente with Russia. 1907, a new alliance between France, Britain & Russia was signed called the Triple Entente.
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The Arms Race

• A major consequence of the alliance system was an increasing demand for money to be spent on armaments (arms race). Across Europe, different countries increased their spending on military development. The nations of Europe became increasingly distrustful of each other in the early years of the 20th century. Britain & France fighting over colonial borders, especially in Africa.
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Wars In The Balkans

• As the Ottoman Empire began to unravel, Austria-Hungary seized the Balkan states of Bosnia & Herzegovina. This move annoyed other European nations and Serbia, which had wanted to expand its influence in thesis states. There were wars in the Balkans in 1912 & 1913. This led to the conference in London attended by the great European powers, with the aim of preventing more war. Tensions in Europe, however, were still growing in 1914 when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne made a visit to Sarajevo in Bosnia.
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Assassination: Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• The final step to war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was the heir to throne of Austria-Hungary. On 28th June1914, the Archduke and his wife made a visit to Sarajevo. After surviving an attempted assassination, they were attacked again on their way to the hospital to meet to injured in the the first attempt. This second attack launched by Gavrilo Princip was successful and both the Archduke and his wife were killed. The alliances were invoked and the world moved into war within six weeks.
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