Causes Of War World 1
Mutual Defense AlliancesOver time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Thus, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed:
Militarism:
Was another cause of the war, was similar to the arms race
of today. Because Britain had a great navy, Germany wanted a great navy too. Germany and France competed for larger armies. The more one nation built up its army and navy, the
more other nations felt they had to do the same.The Alliance System
For Twenty years, the nations of Europe had been making alliances. It was thought
the alliances would promote peace. Others would protect each country in case of
war. Making it foolish for one country to wage war on another. The danger of
these alliances was that an argument between two countries could draw all the
other nations into a fight. This is just what happened when a conflict between
Austria-Hungary and Serbia led to World War 1. In the summer of 1914 there were
two alliances. The Triple Alliance composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Italy, stood opposed to the Triple Entente composed of Britain, France, and
Russia.
Imperialism
Another cause was that European nations ruled
smaller countries, called colonies, and competed with each other to amass more
colonies. Gathering colonies became known as IMPERIALISM. Both France and
Britain had many colonies in Africa and Asia. Now Germany and Italy decided they wanted a colonial empire too.
Nationalism
In addition to political conflicts, the causes of In
addition to political conflicts, the causes of the war included such forces as
NATIONALISM, or patriotism. Nationalism led European nations to compete for the
largest army and navy, or the greatest industrial development. It also gave
groups of subject peoples the idea of forming independent nations of their
own.
Nationalism
Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.
Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The immediate cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances.
Mutual Defense AlliancesOver time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Thus, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed:
- Russia and Serbia
- Germany and Austria-Hungary
- France and Russia
- Britain and France and Belgium
- Japan and Britain
Militarism:
Was another cause of the war, was similar to the arms race
of today. Because Britain had a great navy, Germany wanted a great navy too. Germany and France competed for larger armies. The more one nation built up its army and navy, the
more other nations felt they had to do the same.The Alliance System
For Twenty years, the nations of Europe had been making alliances. It was thought
the alliances would promote peace. Others would protect each country in case of
war. Making it foolish for one country to wage war on another. The danger of
these alliances was that an argument between two countries could draw all the
other nations into a fight. This is just what happened when a conflict between
Austria-Hungary and Serbia led to World War 1. In the summer of 1914 there were
two alliances. The Triple Alliance composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Italy, stood opposed to the Triple Entente composed of Britain, France, and
Russia.
Imperialism
Another cause was that European nations ruled
smaller countries, called colonies, and competed with each other to amass more
colonies. Gathering colonies became known as IMPERIALISM. Both France and
Britain had many colonies in Africa and Asia. Now Germany and Italy decided they wanted a colonial empire too.
Nationalism
In addition to political conflicts, the causes of In
addition to political conflicts, the causes of the war included such forces as
NATIONALISM, or patriotism. Nationalism led European nations to compete for the
largest army and navy, or the greatest industrial development. It also gave
groups of subject peoples the idea of forming independent nations of their
own.
Nationalism
Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.
Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The immediate cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances.