First World War: Causes and Consequences?

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infoWhy this? The origins of the First World War show how militarism, alliances, imperial rivalry, nationalism, and individual decisions interacted to turn a Balkan crisis into a global, industrialised conflict. The enquiry develops rigorous causal reasoning by distinguishing long-term pressures from the immediate spark and weighing their relative significance.

scheduleWhy now? The preceding studies of empire and industrialisation provide essential context for understanding international rivalry, global reach, mass armament, and new military technology before 1914. This enquiry then establishes the causes and character of the conflict whose aftermath shaped the Second World War.

European countries were building up powerful armies and navies to prepare for war.
Many leaders believed having a strong military made their country more important.
The HMS Dreadnought was first built in 1906 and made all other warships obsolete.
Between 1906 and 1914, Germany and Britain competed to build more Dreadnoughts to have the biggest and most powerful navy.
In 1905, the Russian Empire lost a war to Japan.
The Tsar of Russia began to build up the Russian army to prevent further defeats.
Countries made secret and public promises to support each other if war broke out.
By 1914, two major groupings had formed: the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, although Italy did not join its Triple Alliance partners in the war in 1914.
Alliances meant that a conflict between two countries could quickly escalate to involve many others.
European countries were competing for colonies and power, especially in Africa and Asia.
Competition for colonies and power created tension between countries such as Britain, France, and Germany.
Britain had the largest empire in the world at this time. France also had a large empire in Africa and Asia.
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany wanted more colonies and felt left out of empire-building.
Kaiser Wilhelm II's policy of building a German Empire to rival France and Britain was called 'Weltpolitik'.
Kaiser Wilhelm II challenged British and French imperial ambitions by expressing support for the independent South African Republic and for Moroccan independence.
Many people believed their nation was the best and were willing to fight for it.
Serbia was already independent, but some Serbian and other South Slav nationalists wanted to unite South Slavs living under empires such as Austria-Hungary.
Russia supported Serbia because of Pan-Slavic ties and its strategic interests in the Balkans.
National pride made countries less willing to back down in arguments or crises.
In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav nationalist who sought South Slav unification.
Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and declared war.
Russia supported Serbia, Germany supported Austria-Hungary, and France supported Russia, while Britain entered the war after Germany invaded neutral Belgium rather than because of a binding alliance with Russia.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is known as 'the Spark' that began the First World War.
Within weeks, most of the major European powers were at war, although Italy remained neutral in 1914.
Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism worked together to turn a regional conflict into a global, industrialised conflict of exceptional scale, fought by states and empires across several continents.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

Describe the meaning of militarism, imperialism, alliances, and nationalism.
Provide examples of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism as causes of the First World War.
Explain how militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism contributed to the outbreak and escalation of the First World War into a global conflict.
Analyse sources to determine what they reveal about European countries' attitudes and policies before the First World War.
Evaluate the most significant factor or factors in causing the First World War.

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