The Causes of World War One
Some people believe that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was the primary cause of World War I, but it was just one event that triggered the conflict. Many other events and political beliefs combined to lead thirty-two nations into war. Resentments from earlier wars, advances in technology and military strength and a chain of alliances all contributed to the first "Great War" of the Twentieth Century. The United States tried to remain neutral, but it was pulled into the Great War, and changed America forever.
In the years before the war, Europe was very unstable. Nationalism, the belief that loyalty to a person's nation and its political and economic goals come first, was growing. People of the same heritage, language, culture and political beliefs wanted to form their own independent nations or states. During the 1800's many groups were separated and angry. The Congress of Vienna had caused Germany to be divided into many parts. Italy was also divided with some parts under foreign control and the Belgians were under Dutch rule. Belgium won its independence in 1830, Italy became unified in 1861 and Germany united in 1871. This led Germany and Italy to become two great world powers.
But in the early 1900's, the Balkan Peninsula was the "Powder Keg of Europe." Many different groups were under the control of the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, and they wanted to be independent. In 1912 and 1913 the Balkan Wars took place. In the first war, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro took control away from the Turks. In the second war, Serbia, Greece, Romania and Turkey forced Bulgaria to give up a large part of Macedonia to the other four count...
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World War I, also referred to as the Great War, was global conflict among the greatest Western powers and beyond. From 1914-1918, this turf war swept across rivaling nations, intensifying oppositions and battling until victory was declared. World War I was immediately triggered by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, however several long-term causes also contributed. The growing development of militarism, the eruption of powerful alliances, as well as the spread of imperialism, and a deepening sense of nationalism, significantly promoted to the outbreak of the Great War.
It may seem like wars start abruptly, with little cause, but usually there is a bigger story. New policies, lack of equality, military influence, and too much government involvement usually stir up the peace initially. These turn the country or area into a ‘powder keg’, ready to explode into war at the smallest spark. Although the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand was the spark of World War I, policies at the time like nationalism and militarism were the underlying causes of the war.
Hall, Richard C.. The Balkan Wars, 1912-1913 prelude to the First World War. London: Routledge, 2000.
The underlying cause of World War I was the build up of Nationalism, Imperialism, and Militarism in the 1800s. The “three isms” caused this great war due to the outcry in which they caused within the countries and their citizens including military build up, severe nationalism, patriotism, and extending a country 's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
In my opinion, the main cause of World War One was alliances between countries throughout Europe. In case that one country went to war they were provided with aid and support. After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, they declared war against Serbia, and other countries were involved due to alliance agreements.
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Austrian Archduke, is often cited as the direct cause of WWI. While it was a significant catalyst to the war, the circumstances surrounding WWI were actually more complicated. The first great world war was caused by a variety of factors including: tensions between countries due to a threatening system of alliances, stockpiling of weaponry, and nationalism.
During the period of July 1914 to November 1918 was when the world took a turn of events, and had an everlasting effect on the world including the people in it. Yet, the main focus was Europe and the United States. The causes of World War 1 also known as the Great War included both short, and long term occurrences. Some of the reasons for these occurrences included a multipolar power in Europe, Imperialism, the alliance system, nationalism, imperial rivalries in Africa / Asia, and a sudden assassination. However, this was based on what the public thought, and was some of the reoccurring things the public seen as the main reasons. In my opinion, I feel the main causes for the Great War starting off was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand which led up to nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and alliances. I say this because I seen all these as a cause and effect thing, opposed from everyone
“The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 grew out of a short term
There are many contributors and reasons as to how World War 1 had started, but three large factors were militarism, nationalism, and the alliance system. The alliance system was made with two separate groups - the Central powers and the Allied powers. The alliance system is when countries join forces or worked together to achieve a certain goal or for safety reasons. Joining an alliance system was often done in secret and then later revealed to the public at a later time. If Germany never allied with Austria-Hungary, we could have totally avoided that war. When Germany declared war on a specific country, the other countries allied to Germany had to declare war on said country. The alliance system that were formed by Germany and Austria-Hungary was named the “Dual Alliance” and was a promise to declare war on Russia if they ever attacked either country. When countries started practicing militarism, other countries began to get intimidated (like Germany intimidating everyone via militarism.) As Germany kept continuing their
Great War, also known as The First World War, lasted for four year (1914 to 1918). It brought a huge development of war technics and weapons. More number of countries had been involved in the Great War than any previous war. It involved the mobilization of the whole nations, not just an enormous army that turned the war into a “total war”. (Clare 6) However, historians are still arguing about the major cause of the World War I. The major cause will be one of the four long-term causes of WWI, which are Militarism, Alliance, Imperialism, and Nationalism. In my opinion, the two major causes would be Alliance and Nationalism. Alliance is an association between two or more countries for mutual benefits that formed with different treaties, while Nationalism is feeling and principles of patriotic.
For four years, Europe was engulfed in war. Although Franz Ferdinand`s assassination led declarations of war across Europe, the causes of World War I can be traced further back. Imperialism in Africa and the Balkans created tensions across Europe, while alliance systems created predetermined enemies. Nationalism sparked a desire for more land and led to an arms race between Britain and Germany. All of these combined caused ``the war to end all wars``.
World War I was triggered due to the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand in Sarajevo. However, the causes of the First World War were present well before 1914. The Boxer Rebellion, imperialism, militarism, and a tangled system of alliance all were root causes in a chain of event that ultimately concluded in WW1. The United States initially supported neutrality, being somewhat detached from the conflict due to distance, and the Germans having not made any direct threat towards the United States. The American government was also of the view that entering the war in Europe would be economically detrimental. Ultimately America’s entry into the war was forces due partially to Germany’s submarine warfare.
Specifically, France had never gotten over the loss to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to dominate in the Balkans. Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and other ethnic groups led to demands for independence. The Great Powers established their powerful military system, the great war broke out.
What triggered WWI to occur was the killing of Archduke Francis, a heir of Austria and Hungary, on June 28, 1914 who was killed by a Serbian nationalist. The nature of this war was between countries for the acquiring colonies, territories, and resources.The invasion of Serbia was another caused for the war to break out, and at the same time of the invasion Germany invaded Belgium, Luxembourg and France. There were a number of new alliances formed which later cited conflict to spread around the world. Austria and Hungary invasion of Bosnia caused indignation in many European nations. At the time, Europe was divided into countries that had strategic political and military confederation.
In conclusion, World War I was a global disaster that disrupted the peace in many different areas. Along with nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the alliance system, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was a cause that sparked the horrific event of World War I. With the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were two opposing groups, and two specific clashing forces were Germany and Russia. Although an attempt to spread harmony throughout Europe was made, all it did was cause a much greater threat to the peace around the world.