WW1

MAJOR CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

MAIN Causes

  • Militarism

    • Definition: The belief in maintaining a strong military capability and readiness to use it aggressively.

    • Between 1910-1914, defense spending increased significantly across Europe.

      • France: +10%

      • Great Britain: +13%

      • Germany: +73%

    • German Naval Laws increased battleships, highlighting militaristic expansion.

  • Alliances

    • Definition: Formal agreements for mutual support in war.

    • Key alliances:

      • Russia and Serbia, supported by France.

      • Great Britain had agreements to protect France and Belgium in case of invasion.

  • Imperialism

    • Germany maintained colonies in Africa, signifying its imperial ambitions.

    • Europe dominated Africa except Liberia and Ethiopia.

    • France controlled parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.

    • Great Britain claimed India, termed the British Raj.

  • Nationalism

    • Rising national sentiments fueled conflicts, especially between France and Germany.

      • Source of anti-German feelings in France due to the loss of Alsace-Lorraine in 1871.

    • Germany, unified in 1871, aimed to assert its position as a world power.

    • Ethnic tensions in Austria-Hungary: multiple ethnicities seeking independence, including Czechoslovakians and Serbians.

CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS

Issues Involving Austria-Hungary and Serbia

  • Austria-Hungary viewed Serbia as a threat to its empire, especially after annexing Bosnia in 1908, a move that angered Serbia seeking Balkan unity.

  • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, a supporter of Serbian nationalism, on June 28, 1914, escalated tensions.

  • This event polarized European powers, leading to alliances forming against one another:

    • Russia supported Serbia.

    • Germany backed Austria-Hungary, leading to a domino effect of alliances activating.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

Countries Preparing for Conflict

  • France: Increased military readiness following the lost territories.

  • Russia: Mobilized troops in support of Serbia, creating tensions with Germany.

  • Schlieffen Plan: Germany's military strategy to avoid a two-front war, focusing first on France before diverting forces to the East against Russia.

Changes Introduced

  • Introduction of conscription through measures like the Derby Scheme and Compulsory Military Service Bill in 1916.

  • Conscientious objectors faced societal rejection and punitive measures.

ANALYSIS OF SOURCES

T.E.A.L. Method for Political Cartoons

  • T: Topic sentence - brief sentence that answers the question

  • E: Evidence - historical evidence that backs up the main points in the topic sentence

  • A: Analyse - Explain how your evidence supports the points that you are making

  • L: Link - Link your point back to your main thesis in your topic sentence