Name ______________________________ Class ________________________ Date _____________

World War I
Lesson 1

Marching Toward War

Key Terms and People
militarism glorifying war and preparing for it
Triple Alliance military agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Kaiser Wilhelm II emperor of Germany
Triple Entente military agreement among Britain, France, and Russia

Before You Read

In the last lesson, you read about turmoil and change in Mexico.
In this lesson, you will learn about the beginnings of World War I.

As You Read
Use a chart to answer questions about important details regarding
the beginnings of World War I.

RISING TENSIONS IN EUROPE Imperialism was another force that

Why didn’t peace last in Europe? helped lead to war. France and
Many people in Europe had joined Germany were each seeking to control
groups to work for peace. However, parts of Africa. They almost came to
developments would soon lead Europe war twice in the early 1900s. Mistrust
into war. was a huge problem.
One of those developments was The third factor leading to war was a
nationalism—a deep feeling of growing arms race. Each country in
attachment to one’s own nation. This Europe—except Great Britain—built a
force helped unify the people of a large army. Glorifying war and
country. It also created competition preparing for it is called militarism.
between countries. 1. What were three factors leading to
By 1900, six nations were rivals for war?
power in Europe. These nations, called
the Great Powers, were Germany, Nationalism, imperialism, and
Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia,
militarism all helped lead to war.
Italy, and France. They competed
economically, and they competed for
neighboring land.

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343 Guided Reading Workbook

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Lesson 1, continued

TANGLED ALLIANCES CRISIS IN THE BALKANS

What caused countries to fear one What part did the Balkans play in the
another? increasing tensions?
Growing rivalries led the nations to Meanwhile, trouble was brewing in
make military alliances. Prussia’s the Balkans, in southeastern Europe.
chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, feared The Ottoman Empire controlled this
that France would want revenge for its area. But it was breaking apart. Some
defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. He peoples had formed new nations, while
set out to isolate France, forming the others hoped to do so. And both
Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary and Russia hoped to
and Italy. He also signed a treaty with gain influence in the area.
Russia. Serbia was one new country. It
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany did wanted to bring other Slavic peoples
not want to share power with Bismarck. who lived in the Balkans under its
He forced Bismarck to resign and control. In 1908, Austria-Hungary
followed his own foreign policy. He let seized Bosnia and Herzegovina. These
the agreement with Russia end. Russia lands had Slavic peoples. This action
soon allied itself with France. This angered the Serbs. Tensions between
alliance meant that Germany would Serbia and Austria rose steadily. Serbia
have to fight enemies on its eastern and vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovina
western borders if there were a war with from Austria-Hungary, which vowed to
either country. Wilhelm II then moved oppose any such effort.
to make the German navy larger. In June 1914, a Serbian killed
Great Britain grew alarmed. In Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to
response to Prussia’s moves, it entered the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-
into the Triple Entente alliance with Hungary declared war on Serbia.
France and Russia. The six Great Russia, also Slavic, came to Serbia’s
Powers had now formed two camps— defense. Soon most of Europe would be
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy at war.
against Britain, France, and Russia. 3. How were the Serbians involved in
2. What two groups of nations the start of World War I?
developed?
Serbia and Austria-Hungary clashed over
the Triple Entente—Britain, France, and Austria-Hungary. After a Serbian killed
Russia—and the Triple Alliance— the heir to Austria-Hungary’s throne, it
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy declared war on Serbia. Russia came to
Serbia’s defense, and soon most of
Europe was at war.

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344 Guided Reading Workbook

Name ______________________________ Class ________________________ Date _____________

Lesson 1, continued

As you read this lesson, answer the questions below about the
situations and events that led to war in Europe.

a. What is it?
b. How did it increase tensions among European nations?
Possible responses:
1. Nationalism a. deep devotion to one’s nation

b. caused intense competition by the turn of the 20th

century among Europe’s Great Powers (Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France) for
industrial dominance and power
2. Imperialism a. quest for colonies

b. intensified European nations’ sense of rivalry and

mistrust toward one another as they competed for
colonies in Asia and Africa

3. Militarism a. policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army

prepared for war and able to mobilize troops quickly in
case of a war

b. led to an arms race and formation of large standing

armies and, eventually, to military alliances

4. Triple Alliance (1882) a. agreement crafted by Bismarck, who saw France as a

threat to peace; made Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Italy military allies

b. created an unstable and fragile alliance that tried to

isolate France

5. Triple Entente (1907) a. alliance among Britain, France, and Russia, in which
Britain pledged not to fight France and Russia

b. established two rival camps in Europe—the Triple

Alliance and the Triple Entente—that created the
possibility that any dispute between two rival powers
could draw the entire continent into war
6. Assassination in Sarajevo a. A Serbian nationalist murders Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and
his wife.

b. provided Austria-Hungary with an excuse to launch war

on Serbia, leading to a confrontation between Austria
and Russia

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345 Guided Reading Workbook