History Test 2/25/25 - Causes of World War 1

Causes of World War 1:

Militarism

• Glorifying military power and values in society (defined)

• European nations believed their power was largely based on their ability to wage war.

• Soldiers gained new status/respect by the public

• Resulted in an arms race between western european nations.

Arms race -

• Germany was competing with the Great Britain to build dreadnought battleships.

• Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies.

• Each nation developed mobilization and war plans in the event of an attack.

Example of a war plan -

• Schlieffen Plan - German plan to defeat France by going through neutral Belgium. Germany thought Great Britain would not get involved - they were wrong.

Alliances

• A complex series of alliances formed dividing Europe into two sides:

• Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Italy.

• Italy would not hold up their part of the alliance

• Triple Entente: Great Britain, France, Russia, and United States (although not until 1917).

Nationalism

• An intense form of patriotism that celebrates one’s own national identity, while often putting down others in the process. (defigned)

• Call for increased military - willingness to die for country.

• Can be portrayed as songs, anthems, flags, media, and propaganda

• Propaganda: The spreading of ideas to promote a cause or damage an opposing cause.

• Nationalism led to overconfidence because each country believed it would win the war quickly.

• Nationalism boiled down: basically saying “we are strong, they are weak, war is easy!” (could not be further from the truth)

Imperialism

• Rivalries formed as powers competed for colonies in Africa, Southeast Asia, and spheres of influence in China.

• Led to competition and bad feelings

• British feared Germany in Africa

• Austrians feared Serbia/Russians in the Balkans

• Germany, having unified in 1870 and rapidly industrialized, was a latecomer to imperialism, and was trying to “catch up.”

Assassination

• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne by Gavrilo Princip a Serbian nationalist.

• Black Hand - Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo- wanted bosnia to be part of Serbia and a wider Yugoslavia, not Austria-Hungary.

• Balkans were known as the “Powder Keg” of Europe.

• Blank Check Agreement: On July 5, 1914, Germany gave Austria a “Blank Cheque” in handling its punishment of Serbia regarding the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne. It led to the start of the first world war.