MAIN Causes of WW1

MAIN

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

Militarism

the belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war.

Alliances

agreements between countries to support each other.

Imperialism

policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Nationalism

strong belief that the interests of a particular nation are of primary importance.

Triple Entente

France, Russia, and Great Britain (counters Triple Alliance)

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

The significance of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, triggered the start of World War I.

The consequence of the assassination

The assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, which set off a chain reaction of alliances and conflicts that escalated into World War I.

Impact of the failure of the Schlieffen Plan

The failure of the Schlieffen Plan led to a prolonged and more extensive war as it resulted in a two-front war for Germany, fighting both Russia in the east and France and the UK in the west.

Geographic disadvantage of Germany

Germany was surrounded on both its eastern (Russia) and western (France) borders, leading to a two-front war scenario that strained its resources and military capabilities.