Causes of the war:
Imperialism: European powers competed with each other for raw materials and colonies.
Nationalism: Some nations wanted back lands that had natives of their land mostly living there (France and Russia).� Other nations wanted to gain national independence from countries that had engulfed their culture (Czechs, Poles).
Militarism: Imperialist nations had sparked an arms race to defend their holdings and possibly gain or regain territory.
Alliances: The Triple Entente � Britain, France, Russia.
���������������� Triple Alliance � Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy.
Beginning of the War:
Archduke Francis Ferdinand (Austria-Hungary) is assassinated and Serbia is held Responsible.� Austria-Hungary made demands on Serbia that were rejected and sent in troops.� Russia, sharing a common heritage with the Serbs (nationalism) and opposing further Austrian expansion (imperialism), declared war on Austria-Hungary.� Germany, supporting its neighbor nation (nationalism, alliances) declared war on Russia.� Germany also knew about the alliance of Russia and France, so they declared war on France.� In order to get to France, Germany invaded Belgium to get to France (Belgium was allied with Britain), so Britain declared war on Germany.�