Main Causes of World War I 7.2

Main Causes of World War I

Militarism

• Definition: The belief that states should maintain strong military forces and prepare to use them aggressively to protect national interests.

• Industrialization allowed for increased military production, resulting in deadlier weapons.

• Key Player: Germany emerged as a powerful military force in Europe after unification, leading to concern among neighboring countries, especially France.

• Impact on France: France's military was relatively weak compared to Germany, creating insecurity.

• Britain’s Approach: As a global empire, Britain had the largest military but suffered from resource depletion due to their heavy militarization.

System of International Alliances

• Europe divided primarily into two alliances:

  • Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungarian Empire.

  • Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia.

• Alliances were formed for national security and to isolate rivals, these actually increased tensions.

• Implemented military mobilization plans that were complex and hard to reverse once initiated, leading to escalated conflicts.

• Railroads constructed for troop mobilization requirements highlighted dependency on strict military timetables.

Imperialism

• Definition: The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.

• European nations competed for global dominance, seeking to enhance their empires which fostered rivalry.

• Germany, feeling empowered by its military and industrial strength, sought to expand its own empire, leading to conflicts with other European powers over colonial territories.

Nationalism

• Definition: Loyalty and devotion to a nation, prioritizing national interests over global considerations.

• Nationalistic sentiments from the 19th century fueled tensions, leading nations to view other states as competitors or enemies.

• The belief in national superiority made compromise difficult, as nations were unwilling to yield to perceived threats.

• Impact of Nationalism: Ensured nations reacted forcefully to conflicts rather than diplomatically, leading to a readiness for war.

The Spark: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Incident: Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary.

• The assassination was viewed through the lens of nationalism as a serious provocation, leading Austria to seek retaliation.

• The complex web of alliances meant that conflict between Austria and Serbia quickly escalated to a wider war involving multiple nations.

  • Russia allied with Serbia.

  • Austria-Hungary allied with Germany.

  • Germany allied with Italy.

  • Russia allied with Britain and France.

• The intertwined relationships among nations and the pre-existing tensions resulted in the outbreak of World War I after the assassination.