Mr. Tester
DBQ 18
2 March 2015
Causes of World War One Starting in July 1914, many countries in Europe went to war. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the nephew of Francis Joseph, on June 18, 1914 was what ultimately sparked World War I. Ferdinand was shot by Gavrilo Princip, who was part of the Serbian terrorist group commonly known as the Black Hand. Other factors such as the Alliances, Militarism and arms race, and Nationalism are just a few of the reasons for the widespread outbreak known as World War One. The alliances that formed in Europe, are one of the main causes of World War I. In Europe throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, alliances were often formed and restructured. Throughout these centuries, the great powers of Europe---Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Britain, France, and Russia---signed …show more content…
In Germany and France, Nationalism was strong. Germany was proud of their new military strength and industrial leadership. The french wanted to recover the lost border province of Alsace and Lorraine because they were outraged about their defeat in 1872 in the Franco-Prussian War (textbook pg. 456). Later, Russia formed Pan-Slavism which is a powerful form of nationalism. Russia felt that it’s duty was to defend the Slavs. By 1914, Pan-Slavism was ready to support Serbia who dreamed of creating a South Slav state. Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Turkey were two empires who feared rising nationalism. Austria-Hungary feared nationalism would cause a rebellion with the minorities in it’s empire (doc. 3). Ottoman Turkey felt threatened by nations such as Serbia, whose dream of a South Slav State could take land away from Turkey and Austria-Hungary. In 1912, multiple Balkan states attacked Turkey and succeeded in taking land away from Turkish control. The Balkan wars raised tensions to a fever pitch. Finally, in 1914, the Balkans were called the “powder keg of