Causes of World War I: Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism

Militarism

Creating and building up a nation's military (army and navy) in the 1910's.

Alliances

Alliances combine the strength one's own military and one's allies' militaries.

Triple Entente

One of the two allegiance groups that formed at the beginning of the war.

Central Powers

One of the two allegiance groups that formed at the beginning of the war.

Imperialism

A nation measures its strength by how much territory it can hold on to and control.

Manifest Destiny

A demonstration of US imperialism.

Overseas territories

Examples include Guam, Puerto Rico, & the Philippines.

Escalating cycle

As nations build their armies, neighboring nations feel threatened and begin increasing their military as well.

Nationalism

One's loyalty to their country and a desire to prove that their country is superior.

Assassination of the Archduke

The assassination was caused by the Serbian Nationalist group 'The Black Hand'.

Target of the assassination

Serbia was the target of the assassination of the Archduke.

Immediate effect of the assassination

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

Cascade effect

Everyone forms alliances and declares war on each other.