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WWI’s Beginning Facts & Worksheets

WWI’s Beginning, the causes being a combination of nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the alliance system.

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The First World War is one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. Fought between the Central Powers and Triple Entente, the war broke out in the Balkans in 1914 and ended with an armistice on November 11, 1918. The causes were a combination of late 19th-century and early 20th-century nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the alliance system.

See the fact file below for more information on WWI’s Beginning, or you can download our 30-page WWI’s Beginning worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WWI: NATIONALISM

  • Defined as a deep sense of patriotism or love for the country, nationalism was one of the long-term causes of tensions in Europe, particularly in the Balkans. Historians suggest that nationalism was a product of the ideas of freedom and democracy brought by the Age of Enlightenment. 
  • In 1871, following the unification of Germany under an empire, Pan-Germanism became evident. Nationalists consolidated political and military strength and influence.
  • Under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, a strong military force defined the strength of a nation. 
  • In the same year, Italian unification also took place. Initially divided into papal and city-states, Italian-speaking territories like Venice were separated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 
  • Unlike the German Empire, which was young, the British Empire encompassed one-quarter of the globe, the largest empire at the time. After dominating the world for two centuries, British nationalists were alarmed by the unification of Germany. They used publication and propaganda to spread anti-German and anti-Russian sentiments. In 1871, the Battle of Dorking was a literary piece depicting the German forces trying to take over England. Penny novelists and satirists depicted the German Kaiser and Russian Tsar as ambitious and arrogant. 
  • One direct impact of nationalism in the outbreak of WWI was Pan-Slavism in the Balkans. Many Serbs who lived in the region wanted independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire as Greater Serbia. Following Vienna’s annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Black Hand, a radical nationalist group, wanted to oust Austria-Hungary in the Balkans. 
  • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary, in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, became the catalyst for the outbreak of the war. 

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WWI: IMPERIALISM

  • In the 19th century, the world saw imperialism at its height. Imperialism is an ideology in which a dominant country extends its political and economic influence over a smaller territory for its benefit, usually by force or acquisition. 
  • Britain was the largest empire during the 19th and 20th centuries. It had overseas colonies and protectorates over the Americas, Canada, Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Asian continent, including Hong Kong, Burma, and Sri Lanka. 
  • Aside from Britain, other imperial nations at the time were Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Belgium. 
  • Decades before WWI, imperialism caused rivalries over territories. One example was the Scramble for Africa, which occurred from the increasing imperialist competition following the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Known as the New Imperialism, nations such as Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Spain colonized African territories between 1881 and 1914. Before the outbreak of WWI, 90% of Africa fell under European control. 

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WWI: MILITARISM

  • As an effect of growing nationalism, many European governments strengthened their military forces. Before its unification with Germany, Prussia had the most powerful armed forces. Following unification, the German people had Pan-Germanism and the might of Prussian militarism. 
  • In Britain, the military, mainly the Royal Navy, was used to protect its imperial and trade interests. 
  • However, the emergence of colonial wars, such as the Crimean War (1853-56), the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), the Second Boer War (1899-1902), and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-105), resulted in military modernization and intensified nationalism and militarism. 
  • While many were undergoing military rejuvenation, Kaiser Wilhelm II endorsed the German army expansion and aggressive moves while other nations were negotiating peace agreements. 
  • In 1870, Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Italy’s combined military expenditure was 94 million pounds. By 1914, it increased to 398 million pounds. Germany had the highest increase with over 73%. 
  • Aside from recruiting men to join the army, every major European nation was modernizing its military weaponry and equipment. 
  • Since 1881, the development of the machine gun has been unstoppable. Submarines, ships, and cruisers were also modernized. 
  • The Anglo-German naval race by the turn of the 20th century made WWI unavoidable. 

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WWI: ALLIANCE SYSTEM

  • Many historians believe that the alliances in the 1800s created national tensions and rivalries among European nations. The network of treaties and agreements made others wary of a war. 
  • Defined as a formal agreement between nations, an alliance could be military, economic, or political. Most alliances during the period contained pledges that allies would support one another if a war or any act of aggression occurred. Aid could be in the form of material supplies, weapons, and relief. 
  • After the unification of Germany, Bismarck secured a strong alliance with Russia and Austria-Hungary through the League of the Three Emperors. Composed of Emperors Wilhelm I of Germany and Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary, and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Bismarck intentionally isolated France. 
  • However, a year after the collapse of the League, a dual alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary was signed against Russia. For German nationalists, the treaty was a sign of uniting Germany and Austria-Hungary. 
  • In 1882, a triple military alliance was signed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The alliance sought to dominate the Balkans. Austria-Hungary needed Germany to further its territorial expansion in the Balkans, while Italy aimed to set up colonies in Greece and Turkey. 
  • In response to the Triple Alliance, France and Russia signed a treaty against Germany in 1894. Aside from military cooperation, the treaty involved economic agreements. 
  • In 1904, a ‘friendly agreement’ was signed by France and Britain. The Entente Cordiale was not a military but a formal end to both nations’ centuries-old hostility. 
  • On August 31, 1907, Britain and Russia signed a convention that ended their rivalry in Central Asia. It was agreed that Northern Persia would be under the sphere of Russia, while southern Persia remained under the British sphere. Russia promised to stay out of Afghanistan and Tibet in return for loans. 
  • The Triple Entente between Russia, France, and Britain marked the latter’s isolationism in the same year. It is worth noting that most alliances signed at the time were kept secret until the signing. Other leaders, such as Bismarck, negotiated an alliance with Russia in 1887 without Austria-Hungary’s advice. Moreover, most alliances included ‘secret clauses’ for peace.  

IMMEDIATE CAUSE: 1914

  • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife in June 1914 led to Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war against Serbia on June 28. As Serbia’s ally, Russia mobilized its army. In August, Germany, Austria-Hungary’s ally declared war against Russia and France on August 1 and 3, 1914. On August 4, France’s ally, Britain, declared war on Germany.
  • As a result, the war expanded through the mutual defense alliances signed years before 1914. 
  • The war broke out when Serbia rejected Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum. 
  • For the Austrian government, the assassination was orchestrated by the Serbian government. The only obstacle that stood in Austria-Hungary’s way was Russia. With hopes that Moscow would remain on the sidelines, Austria-Hungary turned to Germany. On July 5, Kaiser Wilhelm II gave Austria-Hungary its support in case Russia came to the aid of Serbia.  
  • With Germany’s “blank check” in hand, Austria drafted an ultimatum to Serbia. After a week, Prime Minister Count Tisza of Hungary agreed with the ultimatum. On July 23, the Austrian ambassador to Serbia, Baron Giesl, delivered the ultimatum to Lazar Pacu, Serbia’s finance minister. 
  • The ultimatum contained the following demands:
    • Suppression of all publications in contempt of Austria-Hungary
    • Dissolution of Narodna Odbrana, a Serbian nationalist organization
    • Eliminate all propaganda materials against Austria-Hungary
    • Removal and replacement of Serbian military and civil administration
    • Suppression of subversive movement in Serbia by Austro-Hungarian officials
    • Trial of all accessories to the Archduke’s assassination
    • The arrest of Vojislav Tankosić and Milan Ciganović, who were named as participants in the plot
    • Dismissal and punishment of Šabac and Loznica 
    • Serbian officials to provide explanations to the Austro-Hungarian government.
    • Execution of the ultimatum on July 25, 1914
  • British officials Sir Edward Grey (foreign secretary) and Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) were outraged by the document. 

WWI’s Beginning Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about WWI’s Beginning across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets about WWI’s Beginning, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife in June 1914 led to Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war against Serbia on June 28.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • WWI’s Beginning Fact File
  • Comparing Concepts
  • In Drawing
  • Sarajevo Incident
  • Grouping
  • Schema
  • Nationalism Then and Today
  • Chain of Friendship
  • Pick a Side
  • The World in 1914
  • Imperialism in Writing
  • Fast Forward

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