What were the Causes of WW1?
- Militarism
European powers were obsessed with building strong armies and navies. Countries like Germany and Britain raced to outdo each other in weapons and military size, which made war feel more likely—and more acceptable.
- Alliances
Europe was split into tight alliances:
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia
If one country went to war, its allies were dragged in too. So a small conflict could explode fast.
- Imperialism
European nations competed for colonies in Africa and Asia. This competition increased rivalry and resentment, especially between major powers like Britain, France, and Germany.
- Nationalism
Strong national pride caused problems:
Ethnic groups in empires (like the Balkans in Austria-Hungary) wanted independence.
Countries like France wanted revenge against Germany for earlier losses.
Nationalism made compromise harder.
- Immediate Trigger: Assassination
In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo.
This set off a chain reaction:
Austria-Hungary → Serbia → Russia → Germany → France → Britain
What was a major Turning Point during WW1?
The Sinking of The Lusitania
