Causes of World War I
World War I (WWI), which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War
from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a
major war centered in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November
1918. It involved all the world's great powers, which were assembled in two opposing
alliances: the Triple Entente (France, Great Britain, Russia) and the Central Powers
(originally centered around the Triple Alliance—Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman
Empire). More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were
mobilized in one of the largest wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed,
largely because of great technological advances in firepower without corresponding
advances in mobility. It was the sixth deadliest conflict in world history.
It was a war that began with an assassination and ended with a series of revolutions
(involving multiple countries). The assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was the proximate trigger
of the war. Long-term causes, such as imperialistic foreign policies of the great powers of
Europe, including the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire,
the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, and Italy, played a major role. Ferdinand's
assassination by a Serbian nationalist led to an ultimatum against the kingdom of Serbia.
Several alliances formed over the past decades were invoked, so within weeks the major
powers were at war; via their colonies, the conflict soon spread around the world. The four
long-term causes of the war were militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism (MAIN).
1. What are the four main long-term causes of WWI?
2. What is the short-term cause of WWI?
3. Who were the two opposing sides?
Historical Background: The Unification
of Germany
Up until 1871 there was no united German
state or nation. The territory of Germany
as we know it today was instead broken up
into small little kingdoms. The biggest of
these Kingdoms was Prussia, which was in
the North of Germany.
"By blood and iron."
Under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck,
Prussia defeated Austria (1866) and
France (Franco-Prussian War of1870) in
wars that paved the way for the formation of the German Empire under Emperor Wilhelm I
in 1871. Germany became a federal state, with foreign and military policy determined at the
national level, but most other policies remained the purview of the states.
The Franco-Prussian war marked the end of French military domination in Europe. The new
German Empire emerged as Europe’s foremost military power. Prussia dominated this new
German state.
The war and its aftermath created great bitterness between the two countries and sowed
the seeds for the First World War. French resentment at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and
the desire for revenge dominated French politics for fifty years.
4. What role did Otto Van Bismarck play in German Unification?
5. What was the result of the Franco-Prussian War?
Bismarck’s Alliances:
The key in Bismarck’s view to German interests lay in good relations with Russia and Austria.
This was a difficult task as Austria and Russia were rivals in the Balkans. The friendship
with both, Bismarck hoped, would reduce tensions between both over the Balkans.
Dreikaiserbund – A shaky alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia
Purpose: Bismarck wanted to diplomatically isolate France by allying with AustriaHungary and Russia. The Dreikaiserbund was an alliance in the latter part of the 19th
century of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, devised by German chancellor Otto von
Bismarck. It aimed at neutralizing the rivalry between Germany’s two neighbors (Russia and
Austria-Hungary) and at isolating Germany’s enemy, France. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
What Bismarck’s hope in the creation of the Dreikaiserbund?
The first Dreikaiserbund was in effect from 1873 to 1875. A second one, formal and secret,
was established June 18, 1881, and lasted for three years. It was renewed in 1884 but
lapsed in 1887. Both alliances ended because of continued strong conflicts of interest
between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans.
In 1890, when Wilhelm II becomes Kaiser of Germany, Austria and Russia were arguing over
who should control the Balkans. The Balkans was the name given to the area of Europe
bordering Turkey. Turkey was ruled the Balkans for centuries, but is now too weak to hold
on to them (she became known as the "Sick Man of Europe").
The argument between Austria and Russia about who should control the Balkans means that
the Dreikaiserbund is falling apart. Germany will have to choose whether to continue her
friendship with Austria, or with Russia.
6. What alliances did Bismarck establish? What was the purpose of these
alliances?
7. How strong was the German/Russian/Austria-Hungarian alliance?
Russia OR Austria-Hungary?
The Kaiser rejected the Russians and instead strengthened his ties with Austria and Italy
(the "Triple Alliance"). Why Austria-Hungary and not Russia? Austria-Hungary was
comprised of mostly ethnically German people.
In response, Russia quickly formed an alliance with France [in 1894]. This scared Germany,
because it meant she had enemies both in the West (France) and in the East (Russia). The
idea of a "war on two fronts" was very scary.
Why did Germany maintain an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy?
Militarism
In all of the Great powers, military spending increased greatly in the years prior to the war.
All except Britain had conscription. Over 85% of men of military age in France and 50% in
Germany had served in the army or navy. France had the highest proportion of its population
in the army.
Percentage Increase in
1890-1913 Size of Peacetime Army 1914
Military Spending
Britain
117
430,000
France
92
970,000
Russia
19
1,500,000
Germany
158
760,000
Austria Hungary
160
480,000
8. What statement can you make based off this chart?
The armies of both France and Germany had more than
doubled between 1870 and 1914. The rivalry between the
powers led to a building up of weapons and an increase in
distrust.
Colonial rivalry had led to a naval arms race between
Britain and Germany. This had seriously worsened
relations between both countries. The British-German dispute also led to greater naval cooperation between Britain and France.
9. How did militarism impact tensions between countries? What countries?
Nationalism
Allied to this growing militarism was an intense nationalism in most of the Great powers.
Weltpolitik or the desire for world power status was very popular in Germany. The French
desire for revenge over Alsace and Lorraine was very strong. The Franco-Prussian war
between France and Germany in 1870 resulted in a German victory and as a result the
French had to cede its territory to Germany known as the Alsace Lorraine (today the region
is in present day France but it has both French and German cultural influence). In Britain
Imperialism and support for the Empire was very evident. This nationalism meant that there
was little resistance to war in these countries. Many welcomed what it was felt would be a
short victorious war. For example the outbreak of war was greeted by cheering crowds
in Berlin, Vienna and Paris. As A P J Taylor wrote “the people of Europe leapt willingly
into war.”
10. What role did nationalism play in the beginning of the war?
German vs. Slavic Nationalism
Nationalism posed a problem for Austria-Hungary and the Balkans, areas comprised
of many conflicting national groups. The ardent Slavic people of Serbia, and
Russia's willingness to support its Slavic brother conflicted with Austria-Hungary's
Pan-Germanism. People of the Balkans and Russia were ethnically Slavic and people
of Germany and Austria-Hungary were ethnically the same.
The Ottoman Empire to the south was dwindling. The Russians knew that when
states in the Balkans had Nationalist rebellions and seceded from the Ottoman
Empire they would be easy to annex into the Russian Empire. Therefore, the
Russians supported Balkan Nationalism because they wanted to annex more land and
have a better foothold in Europe. The Austrians had a similar idea, figuring they
could conquer/annex any land lost to the Ottoman Empire. After a group of Serbian
nationalists assassinated the heir to the Austrian Hungarian throne (Franz
Ferdinand), the Austrians threatened to invade Serbia. The Russians felt if they
supported Serbia and all those other countries, they would annex them and not face
similar problems because they were all Slavs and therefore wouldn't see the
Russians so much as foreign rulers.
11.
How did nationalism in the Balkans impact the start of the war?
Imperialism
Imperialism is when a country takes over new lands or countries and makes them subject
to their rule. By 1900 the British Empire extended over five continents and France had
control of large areas of Africa. With the rise of industrialism countries needed new
markets. The amount of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased the rivalry with
Germany who had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and only had small areas
of Africa. Note the contrast in the map below.
12. What role did imperialism play in causing WWI?
Germany:
1879: The Dual Alliance
1882: The Triple Alliance
Austria-Hungary:
1879: The Dual Alliance
1881: Austro-Serbian Alliance
1882: The Triple Alliance
Serbia:
1881: Austro-Serbian Alliance
Bosnian Crisis 1908-1909
Italy:
1882: The Triple Alliance
Britain:
1904: Entente Cordiale
1907: Anglo-Russian Entente
1907: Triple Entente
1914: Triple Entente
France:
1894: Franco-Russian Alliance
1904: Entente Cordiale
1907: Triple Entente
1914: Triple Entente
Russia:
1894: Franco-Russian Alliance
1907: Anglo-Russian Entente
1907: Triple Entente
1914: Triple Entente
Germany:
Title of Agreement
1879: The Dual
Alliance
1882: The Triple
Alliance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Austria Hungary:
Title of Agreement
1879: The Dual
Alliance
1881: Austro-Serbian
Alliance
1882: The Triple
Alliance
Serbia:
Title of Agreement
1881: Austro-Serbian
Alliance
EVENT
The Bosnian Crisis
What was the result of the crisis between AustriaHungary and Serbia
Italy:
Title of Agreement
1882: The Triple
Alliance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Alliance With…?
Significance
Britain:
Title of Agreement
1904: Entente
Cordiale
1907: Anglo-Russian
Entente
1907: Triple Entente
1914: Triple
Entente—no
separate peace
France:
Title of Agreement
1894: Franco-Russian
Alliance
1904: Entente
Cordiale
1907: Triple Entente
1914: Triple
Entente—no
separate peace
Russia:
Title of Agreement
1894: Franco-Russian
Alliance
1907: Anglo-Russian
Entente
1907: Triple Entente
1914: Triple Entente
No separate Peace