Causes of World War One

Immediate Causes

• Besides the high death count, World War One weakened Western European powers, allowing nationalism and self rule ideas to grow within their colonies in Africa and Asia.

• The immediate cause of the Great War was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

• Gavrilo Princip: The killer of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and member of the black hand terrorist group.

• The Black Hand: Nationalist and terrorist organization devoted to ending Austro-Hungarian presence in the Balkans.

• After Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assignation,

  • Austria-Hungary demanded an end to anti-Austrian agitation in Serbia.

  • Serbia declined the ultimatum, leading Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia on July 28th 1914.

  • Serbia gained assistance from Russia, Austria-Hungary gained assistance from Germany.

  • Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st 1914, and on France on August 3rd.

  • Britain declared war on Germany and Austria declared war on Russia.

  • Japan joined the Allies (Austria) by the end of August, making the war truly global.

Long Term Causes

• Tensions in Europe had been heating up for decades prior to WW1, MAIN

  • Militarism: European countries were spending lots of money on military, weapons, recruitment. Competition grew between them over who was strongest.

  • Alliances: Tensions with a common country caused some to join together as allies, promising to protect an ally if they were attacked. This made the initial war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary go global quick.

  • Imperialism: Once all avaliable land to colonize was claimed, European powers began to fight each other over land, making bitter rivals join alliances with shared rival countries.

  • Nationalism: Multinational empires had multiple nationalist movements within their subjects, creating ethnic tensions.

• Self-Determination: Idea that people of the same ethnicity, culture, language, ideals, should be united and form their own independent nation-state.

  World War One Alliances

World War One Consequences

• WW1 led to the downfall of monarchies in Russia, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Germany.

• Territories of Europe redrawn due to redistribution on Austria-Hungarian and Ottoman land.

• Beginning of the end of colonialism.

• Disrupted European economies led to rise of Communism and fascism, colonial revolts, and genocide.

• Global power shifted from Europe to the United States.

• Germany was forced to take blame for the war and made reparations, gave rise to authoritarian regimes causing tensions for a future war (WW2).