factors which led to the war

Naval race

• The naval race, particularly the competition for supremacy at sea, saw Britain and Germany expanding their fleets significantly, with the launch of dreadnought battleships marking a new era in naval warfare.

• The naval race refers to the intense competition between major powers, primarily Britain and Germany, leading up to World War I, regarding the expansion and modernization of their naval fleets. Each nation sought to outdo the other in battleship construction and naval strength, driven by the belief that a powerful navy was essential for national security and global influence. This buildup of naval power contributed to rising tensions and an atmosphere of distrust across Europe, which was one of the factors leading to the war.

Alliance system

• a system started by ottovan Bismark in 1871 as a way to isolate France since Germany had taken Frances Alses Loraine.

militarism

• Militarism is the belief in strengthening armed forces for war, emphasizing military power and readiness for armed conflict to fulfill national goals. In the pre-World War I era, European nations exhibited militaristic attitudes, with military leaders influencing national policy. This focus on military readiness and expansion heightened tensions and competition between countries, significantly contributing to the conditions leading to World War I.

Sarajevo assassination

• The Sarajevo assassination refers to the event on June 28, 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist and member of the secret society known as the Black Hand. Serbia was bitter about the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary as this blocked her dream of the formation of the Yugoslav Nation. This act was a significant catalyst for World War I, as it triggered a series of diplomatic crises among the major European powers. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination, leading to tensions that ultimately resulted in the declaration of war. After consulting Germany about this Germany gave Austria a blank cheque full off military support. On 23 July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and within a week the whole of Europe was ablaze. Russia was warned to not interfere but was not willing to see a fellow Slav country (Serbia), crushed by a stronger opponent. Russia also had Balkan ambitions of her own and saw it as an opportunity to pursue them. When Russian armies were ordered to mobilize this was a threat to Germany who sent two ultimatums they were that Russia should stop her mobilization and France must guarantee her neutrality. After they refused Germany first declared war Russia on August 1 then declared war on France on August 3. Then on 4 August Britain declared war on Germany ,on the Same day Austria also declared war on Russia. The major powers of Europe were engaged in the most costly war the world had yet witnessed.

arms race

• The arms race was a competition among nations to build up their military forces before World War I, particularly between Germany and Britain. Countries stockpiled weapons and developed new military technologies, driven by a belief that they needed to be prepared for conflict. This buildup created distrust and tension in Europe, contributing to the atmosphere that led to the war.

Nationalism

• played a crucial role in the lead-up to World War I, as various ethnic groups sought independence and national unification, further straining relationships between empires and nations.

The Balkan Wars

• Which occurred in 1912 and 1913, were key conflicts that heightened tensions in the region, as Balkan states sought to expand their territories at the expense of the weakening Ottoman Empire, creating further instability in Europe.

The Schlieffen Plan

• This was Germany's military strategy for a quick victory in World War I devised by General Alfred Von Schlieffen in 1905 aimed at avoiding a two-front war by swiftly defeating France before turning to confront Russia. The violation of Belgian neutrality by Germany in 1914 was a significant factor that escalated the conflict, as it prompted Britain to enter the war, further entangling the alliances and increasing the scale of the global conflict.

The Moroccan crisis / Tangier Crisis of 1905

• Britain and France had agreed that Morocco would be under the control of France and Britain would be in control of Egypt but Germany was interested in Morocco as she had economic and trading interests there and would not allow France to takeover Morocco.

• since they did not include Germany in the fate of Morocco the kaiser was keen to show that Germany was an important power in the area and he also wanted to test the strength of the Anglo-French entente (Entente cordial of 1904)

• At this time Russia was too weak to be a reliable ally as she had been defeated in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904

• the Kaiser made a speech on how Germany would support the sultans in their independence and Britain and France were angered by this behavior and they threatened war

• Germany then demanded on having a conference to settle the dispute this was the Algeciras conference of 1906 held in Spain.

The Algeciras Conference of 1906

• it was held in Spain

• it was attended by Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Russia, Italy

• here they saw that British support for France was real

• At this conference The Kaiser was humiliated as his views were rejected he was bitter about the way he was treated as if he had no right to speak on such matters

• only Austria -Hungary supported her ,The rest of them supported French control over Morocco.

• They agreed on Morocco’s independence but French and Spanish soldiers were put to enforce order

• the kaiser who was humiliated vowed to reverse the decision when Germany’s Navy was powerful enough.

2nd Moroccan Crisis/ Agadir Crisis/ Panther Crisis of 1911

• The kaiser was disappointed by the outcome of the Algeciras conference

• The kaiser sensed danger of French total control of Morocco sent a German gunboat ( called the panther) to the Westcoast port of Morocco at Agadir claiming to protect the Germans that lived there (no Germans lived there)

• the real reason was to (a) frighten France into giving her some colonial territory and (b) Germany also wanted to test the strength of the Anglo-French Entente of 1904

• the British and French suspected that Germany wanted to establish a Naval base at Agadir which would threaten Britain’s trade routes. they also suspected that Germany wanted to destroy either the Anglo-French or the Triple Entente.

• The three countries made preparation for war.

• the tension eased when France agreed to give part of French Congo to Germany however Germany demanded the whole French Congo in return Germany withdrew the Panther and this crisis ended without a war

Who was to blame for the outbreak of World War One

Germany

• Bismarck’s alliance system which was an attempt to isolate France turned Europe the world into two Hostile camps

• The German Schlieffen Plan was an indication that she wanted war.

• she took part in Arms Race.

• Germans Weltpolitik

• Germany declared war on France

Austria-Hungary

• Declared war on Serbia

• involved in the alliance system

France

• took part in arms race

• took part in alliance system

• had a war plan called 17

• took part in militarism

etc

Course of ww1

battle fronts during the war

• Western front

• Eastern front

• Balkan front

• Turkish front

• Austro-Italian front

Western Front

• countries which fought on this front Germany, France, Britain, Belgium and USA

• The war broke out in accordance to the Schlieffen Plan it is a war plan which was devised by General Alfred Von Schlieffen in 1905.

• on the Plan Germany was to fight on two fronts against France ad=nd Russia on the same time

Battle of Marne

This battle was fought on the western front on the 6th to the 10th of September 1914. it was fought between Germany and France. France was invaded by Germany.

Zollverein Economic Unification

The Zollverein (German Customs Union) was a significant economic union formed in 1834, aiming to unify the German states under a single economic entity. It played a crucial role in Germany's economic development and eventual political unification.

Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) was an Italian revolutionary and leader of the movement for Italian unification, known as the Risorgimento. He founded the secret revolutionary society Young Italy in 1832 to promote the unification of Italy as a democratic republic. Mazzini's beliefs included: 

• Nationalism: Mazzini believed that nationalism meant liberating people from foreign rule. 

• Education: Mazzini believed that Italians had forgotten their history, culture, and language, and that educating them would help them realize they were one people. 

• Thought and action: Mazzini believed that every thought must be followed by action. 

Mazzini's involvement in the Italian unification movement included:

• Young Italy

  Mazzini founded Young Italy in 1832, and the movement organized insurrections in Piedmont-Sardinia in 1833 and 1834.

• First War of Italian Independence

  Mazzini participated in the war of Piedmont-Sardinia against Austria in 1848-49.

• Roman Republic

  Mazzini served in the government of the short-lived Roman Republic in 1849. 

Mazzini was disillusioned when Italy was unified and became a parliamentary monarchy under the House of Savoy in 1861. He refused to participate in the government and continued to agitate for a democratic republic until his death in 1872.

The French Revolution was a pivotal event in modern history that transformed France and had far-reaching consequences for Europe and the world. It began in 1789 with the Estates General of 1789, a gathering of representatives from the three estates of the French population: the clergy, nobility, and commoners ¹. The revolution was sparked by a combination of social, economic, and financial factors, including widespread poverty, inequality, and discontent with the monarchy.

Key Causes of the French Revolution:

- Financial Crisis: France was deeply in debt from the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

- Social Inequality: The nobility and clergy held vast amounts of power and wealth, while the commoners were burdened with heavy taxes and limited rights.

- Enlightenment Ideas: The writings of thinkers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu spread ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy.

The revolution gained momentum with the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a symbolic event that marked the end of the absolute monarchy ¹. The National Assembly, which represented the commoners, adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a foundational document of modern democracy.

Major Events of the French Revolution:

- Establishment of the National Convention: The National Assembly gave way to the National Convention, which executed King Louis XVI in 1793.

- Reign of Terror: Radical Jacobins, led by Maximilien Robespierre, d