World War I - Causes of War

By Gerardv

  • Congress of Vienna

    Germany and Italy were left as divided states. (Nationalism)
  • Period: to

    Causes of War

    All of the events that led up to the breakout of World War I.

  • Franco-Prussian War

    War between Germany and France over Alsace-Lorraine. France had possession of this territory but it also had the cultural aspect of Germany. (Nationalism)

  • Divided states of Germany and Italy unite

    Strong nationalist movements and revolutions led to the unification of the divided states of Germany and Italy. (Nationalism)

  • Alsace-Lorraine is taken over by Germany

    This event left France angry at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. The French swore revenge on the Germans due to the French loss. (Nationalism)

  • Alliance System

    This system was desigend by Germany after the Franco-Prusssian War in order to protect Germany's hegemony on the European continents. It entangled all European powers. (Militarism)

  • Triple Aliance is created

    Military alliance created to protect each other in case of an attack. Composed of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy. (Militarism)

  • Imperialist actions of Britain, France, and Germany

    The British extended over five continents. (Imperialism)
    France controlled large areas in Africa. (Imperialism)
    Increased rivalry with Germany who only had small areas of Africa. (Imperialism)

  • Moroccan Crisis

    Morocco is given to France by Britain, but the Moroccans wanted their independence. (Nationalism and Imperialism)

  • Russo-Japanese War

    Japan's defeat of Russia exposed Russia's organization weakness. (Militarism)

  • Moroccan Crisis

    Germany supports Moroccan independence. (Nationalism and Imperialism)

  • Creation of the Schlieffen Plan

    Plan of attacking France through Belgium if Russia attacked Germany. (Militarism)

  • Triple Entente is created

    Composed of Britain, France, and Russia. (Militarism)

  • Balkan Crisis

    Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish province of Bosnia. (Imperialism)

  • Second Moroccan Crisis

    Germans protested against French possession of Morocco
    Britain supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of the France Congo. (Imperialism and Nationalism)

  • Balkan Wars

    All of the Balkan states worked together to drive out Turkey from the area. (Nationalism)

  • Balkan Wars

    Serbia and Bulgaria fought each other for power over the Balkan states. (Imperialism)

  • Franz Ferdinand's Assessination and Beginning of War

    Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated. (Nationalism) Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia announces help for Serbia. Germany mobilizes its armed forces and declares war on Russia. France mobilized its armed forces. Germany occupied Luxemberg as part of the Schlieffen Plan. Germany declares war on France. Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades.