Causes of WWI

Causes of WWI

1. Militarism

   • military power is viewed as national prestige
   • glorification of war
   • social Darwinism
     • William II envies the British navy and begins building his own
   • arms race b/w Great Britain & Germany
   • family rivalries: influential military leaders

2. Alliances

   • decline of Bismarkian alliances
   • Russia agrees w/ Slavic states
   • Allies
     • Great Britain
     • France
     • Russia
     • United States (joins later)
   • Central Powers
     • Germany
     • Austria-Hungary
     • Ottoman Empire
     • Japan (joins later)

3. Imperialism

   • Great Britain increasingly becomes concerned with Germany
     • competition for colonies
   • economic rivalries b/w Great Britain, Germany, France
   • Britain and France desire to contain German territorial claims in Africa

4. Nationalism

   • France wants revenge against Germany
     • France wants Alsace-Lorainne (territory) back
   • Germany's pride in their military power rises
   • pan-Slavism in Eastern Europe
     • Serbian desire to create a Southern Slavic state
     • Serbia wants to unite Slavs in the Balkans
     • Serbia becomes a new country - strong nationalism