WWI (1914-18)

Causes, Practices and effects

Long-term causes

militarism, economic competition, secret alliances, imperialism and nationalism

Short-term cause

July crisis

Militarism (cause)

deterrence, conscription, new military technology, increase military spending, influence of military leader on political decision

economic competition (causes)

infustralization wasn’t equal in all states, which creates economic competition and increases political and diplomatic tension

neo-mercantilism development, which provokes the increase of colonial holdings. This could led to disputes between colonial holdings

Imperialism (causes)

“scramble for Africa”, the possibility of ths causing disputes was high.

Weltpolitik, it almost cost a war between Germany and France

Secret alliances (causes)

Triple alliance(Austro-Hungary, Germany and Italy) and Triple Entente (UK, Rusia and France)

Secret and and public alliances increases tension and suspicion between great powers

Nationalism (causes)

Best demonstration in the Balkans. Slavs wanted to distach from Ottoman Empire with Austro-Hungary’s help, which had their own expansionism plans in the region.

Pan-slavic nationalism relying on Serbia waked by Rusia’s Balkan aspirations

Serbia formed the Balkan League with Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece. Serbia defeated Bulgaria

Serbia wanted Albania, this attracted international attention due to its acces to the meditarrenean sea,

Russia backed down once Austro-Hungary intervined

July Crisis (causes)

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Serbian military supported Black Hand

Austrian officials used the assassination to crush south slav nationalism

Black cheque

Slavs accepted ultimatum but Austria still went to war

Austrian’s mobilization in Russia’s border, seen as a threat

Germany owned Austria its full support

Shlieffen Plan (practices)

Massive concentration of Germany army in the west against France

Seven armies would sweep through Luxemburg and Belgium into Northern France and conquer Paris within 41 days

New Technology (practices)

Aircraft, tanks, gas, communications channels, machine guns and submarines

Trench Warfare (practices)

Stalemate developed in the western Front

Those who were defenssive were stronger than those who were offensive

Germany were defenders trying to hold the territory gained

lasted 4 years

Empires Collapse (effects)

Dual Monarchy of Austria had collapsed and split. Ottoman Empire was dismantled by treaty

International Systems (effects)

league of nations, red cross and international law

Peace Conference in Paris/treaty of versailles (effects)

France and Britain wanted harsh terms on Germany

it stripped Germany from its colonies

restricted building their army

led to WWII

Other Effects

Decolonization due to Wilso’s Fourteen Points speech, women got the right to work/vote and America becomes a superpower