MAIN Causes of WWI
I. Militarism
II. Alliance System
III. Industrialization
IV. Imperialism
V. Nationalism
A. New push for imperialism - 1800s
A. Increased during 1800s
A. Industrial Revolution allowed countries to build more destructive weapons
A. Countries increased size of their armies
A. Countries grouped together in case of war
B. Triple Alliance - 1882
B. People were willing to go to war for their nation’s power
B. Conscription – a military draft, men must join military
B. Created tensions between countries
C. Ethnic groups (Serbs, Romanians, Greeks) fought for territory
C. Triple Entente - 1907
C. Large armies in Europe
D. Militarism – aggressive preparation for war
1. Extension of nation’s power over other lands
1. As armies grew, so did influence of military leaders
1. In all European countries except Great Britain
1. Airplanes, tanks, chemical weapons (gas), bombs
1. Russia had largest army in Europe --> 1,300,000 men
1. Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy
1. Slavic minorities in the Balkans and Austria-Hungary wanted their own country
1. Most doubled in size during late 19th century
1. France, Great Britain, Russia
2. French and German armies --> 900,000 each
2. Into Asia and Africa for raw materials
2. Because of large armies, could not change military plans or it would cause chaos
3. Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies --> 500,000
3. Led to competition between countries
4. British army --> 250,000 men