The Road to World War I I. Nationalism and Internal Dissent A. Rivalries over colonies and trade intensified during a frenzied imperialist expansion 1. Division of Europe?s great powers only added to the tension a) Germany, Austria, Italy b) France, Great Britain, Russia II. Militarism A. Conscription: 1. Obligatory military service; draft 2. Had been established as a regular practice in most Western countries before 1914 3. United States and GB major exceptions B. Militarism: 1. A policy of aggressive military preparedness; in particular, the large armies based on mass conscription and complex, inflexible plans for mobilizations that most European nations had before World War I 2. Fearful that the plans for quick mobilization would cause chaos