Julia McKenna
Mr. Chambers
IB World History
Oct 31, 2011
What Were the Underlying Causes of WWI?
1. Emile Zola’s main point is that war is necessary for war Nations to survive. War
will sort out the weak countries from the strong countries. War teaches the
soldiers and citizens of the country discipline, sacrifice and courage. I think that
Zola has definitely been influenced by Charles Darwin and his ideas about
survival of the fittest. Charles Darwin once said "In the struggle for survival, the
fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting
themselves best to their environment." This applied directly to what Zola said
countries needed do what was best for them so they fought. During Zola’s time
the ideas of evolution and natural selection were being applied to human society,
so was most definitely influenced by this. This kind of belief could certainly
become an underlying cause of going to war. Today, we have a negative
connotation of war but with this belief people would be more willing and eager
to go to war.
2. These three quotations are all showing how positive people were about the
aspect of war. They had not idea about the horrors that were about to come.
People knew there was tension between the countries and they just wanted to
get war over with and win. These statements definitely suggest and underlying
reason for WW1. Since people were anxious and excited at the prospect of war it
made it inevitable. Countries wanted to show their strength against each other
and thought it only take a short period of time, which obviously was not the case.
3. The two great alliances were the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The
Triple Alliance was made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Triple
Entente included the United Kingdom, France, and Russia.
4. This cartoon is from the Chicago Tribune on August 5, 1914. The cartoon artist is
John T. McCutcheon. In the cartoon the countries are all blaming each other for
the war. Russia, England, Belgium and France all blame Germany for the war,
while Germany blames Russia. Austria and Serbia blame each other. Italy does
not want to take any part in the madness. No country wants to take
responsibility for what has happened. The cartoonist is saying that the death of
the peace of Europe is the cause of “the greatest crime of the century.” No one
knows who is responsible for this death, so they all blame each other.
5. These two songs are militaristic because they talk about being superior to other
countries and defending their way of life. If they need to fight to protect their
country and their ruler they will. These documents do not have much in common
with the Star Spangled Banner. The Star Spangled Banner is more about strength
and patriotism of the US against enemies while the others send the message that
their superiority will come at the expense of others.
Julia McKenna
Mr. Chambers
IB World History
Oct 31, 2011
6. The Black Hand was a secret society whose main objective was the creation of a
greater Serbia, by means of violence. It’s stated aim was "To realize the national
ideal, the unification of all Serbs. This organization prefers terrorist action to
cultural activities; it will therefore remain secret." The objective of the Black
Hand is connected to the songs in Document 5. The songs in Document 5 say
they will fight other countries in order to preserve their country just like the
Black Hand will use terrorist actions to unify the Serbs.
7. Armaments are military weapons and equipment such as machine guns, tanks,
grenades, poison gas, etc. Between 1910 and 1914 Germany increased its
military spending at the fastest rate. In 1910 they spent about 61 million pounds
and in 1914 they spent 115 million pounds. Great Britain spent the greatest
percent on their Navy because they are surrounded by the ocean. Great Britain
was able to gain their power through having a strong Navy.
8. Basically, Prince von Bulow is saying that he would rather the Germany nation
be the one attacking than the one getting attacked. If he happens to be the one
being attacked he wants to have the means to defend the German nation.
9. In this cartoon Germany is the fool and her folly is increasing her armaments by
an additional expenditure of fifty million pounds. Based on “The Growth in
Armaments” chart this British cartoonist is justified to his opinion. Great Britain
kept their expenditure the same while Germany increases theirs by fifty million
pounds. Based on the previous documents I do believe that militarism was an
underlying cause of the war. Nations began to pour money and resources into
their military and then wanted to “show off” the strength of their military.
German militarism should absolutely be included as an underlying cause of the
war. Germany built up their military so much it is inevitable that they would go
to war.
10. Germany is the source of this cartoon and England is the target. Germany thinks
that England is taking over the world. They have colonies/interests in all the
places where the octopus stretches. After seeing this cartoon it is likely that
someone may be convinced that England is trying to take over.
11. The short definition of colonialism is “the policy or practice of acquiring full or
partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and
exploiting it economically.” Britain controlled the largest colonial area and the
largest colonial population in 1913. I definitely understand the concern of the
German cartoonist. To Germany and other countries it could seem like Britain
was slowly trying to take over. Britain had about 11 times more land of colonial
Julia McKenna
Mr. Chambers
IB World History
Oct 31, 2011
populations that Germany in 1913 which could lead Germany to think that
Britain was up to something.