Assess the relative importance of the long-term and short term causes of the First
World War.
Introduction: The First World War, occurring in 1914, had not been intended as a long
and drawn out war. No nation could have possibly expected otherwise when they, in their
complacence, agreed to mobilize army troops. The decision to go to war stemmed from a
variety of factors, both long-term and short-term, and it can be said that it was a lethal
combination of long-term and short-term factors which collectively caused World War I,
although long-term causes played a far more major role in leading to the first world war,
whereas short-term causes further exacerbated the situation.
Paragraph 1: Long-term causes – Alliance systems
Franco-Russian Alliance of 1893
German-Austrian Treaty of 1879
-these alliances make it compulsory for countries on either side to support in case of a
decision of war against another country
Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia
-prompts Russia to respond by mobilizing forces in the south, which forces both
Germany and France to back these countries up lest they become isolated
Germany’s failure to renew the Reinsurance Treaty
-main purpose is to avoid outright military aggression from Russia
Paragraph 2: Long-term causes – Military threat
Can explain Great Britain’s involvement in war – main reason was GB feared Germany’s
growing strength~ until then it had been uncontested in naval arms, but Ger quickly
catching up
-this leads to Fr and GB agreeing on military cooperation in order to vanquish German
threat
Moroccan crisis (Agadir crisis), which was intended to test Anglo-French alliance,
further weakens Ger-GB relations – GB now convinced because of gunboat Panther
landing in Fez that Germany’s naval strength is a threat to GB base Gibraltar
Paragraph 3: Nationalistic outlook
Balkan Crisis
Serbia’s desire to become a “Piedmont of the Balkan states” – Austria-Hungary’s empire
is threatened because of large numbers of Serbs in its territories
Russia’s support for Serbs causes animosity between two powers
French attitude towards Ger annexation of Alsace-Lorraine
-made it willing to pursue diplomatic relations with other powers in Europe to ensure the
provinces would be returned to it
Bosnian Crisis
-unilateral annexation of B-H by A-H’s Aehrenthal against terms discussed with Russia’s
FM Izvolsky
-German intervention causes further Russian resentment (drawing of the blank check to
support A-H action in Balkans)
Paragraph 4: Short-term causes for the war
A-H fails to consider complications of declaring war on Serbia on July 28 (Rus mobilizes
troops, leads to Ger involvement)
German military strategy to invade Belgium (GB becomes involved)
Rus & A-H in fear of credibility (both empires); Fr and Ger fear isolation (AJP Taylor)
(long-term) Ger fails to anticipate foreign reaction to Weltpolitik tone
-assumption of a quick war, they couldn’t be more wrong
Conclusion:
Combination of both short-term and long-term became reasons for one—if not for shortterm causes war might have been avoided
What happens?
Trench warfare-stalemate
Engagement makes way for total war
Unsatisfactory peace treaty terms become breeding ground for the next world war