CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I
The World in 1900
It can be argued that the causes of WWI date back to the unification of Germany in 1871. The creation of large, powerful and industrialized state in Central Europe upset the status quo and the balance of power system that was established at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The established powers of Europe- Britain, France and Russia- felt especially threatened. Before we go any further, let's quickly review the situation in Europe in the second half of the 19th Century.
It can be argued that the causes of WWI date back to the unification of Germany in 1871. The creation of large, powerful and industrialized state in Central Europe upset the status quo and the balance of power system that was established at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The established powers of Europe- Britain, France and Russia- felt especially threatened. Before we go any further, let's quickly review the situation in Europe in the second half of the 19th Century.
Britain
- possessed the largest empire the world had ever seen and added India (then India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) following the Indian Mutiny of 1857. At its peak the British Empire covered one fifth of the globe. Britain was in 'splendid isolation' from European affairs and preferred to focus on its colonial interests. The empire allowed Britain to sustain a booming economy, supplied vital raw materials and provided a huge market for British manufactured goods. However, by the end of the 19th century, Britain's economy had been overtaken by Germany and the USA.
France - possessed a large empire as well with colonies mostly in Asia and Africa. France had been humiliated by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1) and had also suffered the ignominy of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine. Desperate for revenge, they had been left isolated by the German Chancellor Bismarck's Realpolitik. It was not until 1894 that France was able to impose itself on the European continent by signing the Franco-Russian Alliance.
Russia - had been rapidly industrializing since 1861. They also had a large empire, controlling parts of what is now Poland and Slovakia, as well as Finland and large areas in Central Asia. They also competed for Influence in Persia (modern day Iran) with Britain. However, the massive social changes brought about by industrialization, together with a repressive regime under the tsars and growth of nationalist and radical political movements, had produced an increasingly unstable regime. The last tsar of Russia, Nicolas II of the Romanov dynasty, was rather like (for those Game of Thrones fans) King Joffrey. See the clip below for an explanation:
France - possessed a large empire as well with colonies mostly in Asia and Africa. France had been humiliated by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1) and had also suffered the ignominy of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine. Desperate for revenge, they had been left isolated by the German Chancellor Bismarck's Realpolitik. It was not until 1894 that France was able to impose itself on the European continent by signing the Franco-Russian Alliance.
Russia - had been rapidly industrializing since 1861. They also had a large empire, controlling parts of what is now Poland and Slovakia, as well as Finland and large areas in Central Asia. They also competed for Influence in Persia (modern day Iran) with Britain. However, the massive social changes brought about by industrialization, together with a repressive regime under the tsars and growth of nationalist and radical political movements, had produced an increasingly unstable regime. The last tsar of Russia, Nicolas II of the Romanov dynasty, was rather like (for those Game of Thrones fans) King Joffrey. See the clip below for an explanation:
In fact, it was Nicolas' incompetent leadership that led to the ill-fated Russo-Japanese War of 1905 and subsequent attempted revolution.
Germany - formed following the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. This war showcased the effects of industrialization on warfare- railways were used to quickly mobilize German troops. The heart of Germany was most definitely Prussia (the most powerful German state prior to unification) and following 3 successful wars of unification (the other wars were fought against Denmark and Austria), German society became very militaristic. Kaiser Wilhelm I had the savvy Bismarck as his chancellor, whose realpolitik recognized that Germany was a threat to other powers and sought to alleviate geopolitical concerns of encirclement (particularly by France and Russia) by creating a careful web of alliances. When Wilhelm I died in 1888 and was succeeded by his son (also called Wilhelm), Bismarck was relieved of his position. Wilhelm II abandoned Realpolitik in favor of Weltpolitik , which called an overseas German Empire- a "place in the sun".
Germany - formed following the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. This war showcased the effects of industrialization on warfare- railways were used to quickly mobilize German troops. The heart of Germany was most definitely Prussia (the most powerful German state prior to unification) and following 3 successful wars of unification (the other wars were fought against Denmark and Austria), German society became very militaristic. Kaiser Wilhelm I had the savvy Bismarck as his chancellor, whose realpolitik recognized that Germany was a threat to other powers and sought to alleviate geopolitical concerns of encirclement (particularly by France and Russia) by creating a careful web of alliances. When Wilhelm I died in 1888 and was succeeded by his son (also called Wilhelm), Bismarck was relieved of his position. Wilhelm II abandoned Realpolitik in favor of Weltpolitik , which called an overseas German Empire- a "place in the sun".
Austria-Hungary
- a large, mostly land-locked empire in Central and Eastern Europe controlled by the Hapsburgs. A rise in Slavic nationalism contributed to growing unrest within the empire as more peoples sought independence. However, the Austrians were also trying to profit from the slow break-up of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans- a policy that would eventually bring them into conflict with Russia and Serbia.
Ottoman Empire - the heirs to the great Islamic empires of the Umayyad and Abbasids. The Ottomans were from modern day Turkey and had controlled the Middle East and North African coastlines, as well as much of the Balkan peninsula. However, internal problems during the 19th Century led to the slow break-up of their empire, causing them to be labeled "the sick man of Europe". Their control of the Balkans began slipping after the Crimean War in the mid-19th century and the "Young Turk" revolution of 1908 contributed to both Balkan crises prior to WWI.
This is only background information to help you understand the greater context of European affairs by 1900. For the interests of the exam, this is when most of the long-term causes of WWI start, although some related to Germany do begin before 1900.
More in-depth reading on the Great Powers prior to WWI (you can ignore sections on Japan and USA):
Ottoman Empire - the heirs to the great Islamic empires of the Umayyad and Abbasids. The Ottomans were from modern day Turkey and had controlled the Middle East and North African coastlines, as well as much of the Balkan peninsula. However, internal problems during the 19th Century led to the slow break-up of their empire, causing them to be labeled "the sick man of Europe". Their control of the Balkans began slipping after the Crimean War in the mid-19th century and the "Young Turk" revolution of 1908 contributed to both Balkan crises prior to WWI.
This is only background information to help you understand the greater context of European affairs by 1900. For the interests of the exam, this is when most of the long-term causes of WWI start, although some related to Germany do begin before 1900.
More in-depth reading on the Great Powers prior to WWI (you can ignore sections on Japan and USA):
Long Term Causes of WWI
M ilitarism
A lliances
I mperialism
N ationalism
M ilitarism
A lliances
I mperialism
N ationalism
| militarism.docx |
| alliances.docx |
| imperialism.docx |
| nationalism.docx |
Short Term Causes of WWI
The short term causes of WWI are less complex. By June 1914, conditions in Europe were conducive for war. All that was needed was a spark to light the fuse. That spark would be the Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on the 28th of June by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princep of the Black Hand Gang in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This was used by Austria as an excuse to punish Serbia. Austria were further emboldened by Germany's 'blank cheque'- a guarantee to support Austria militarily in the Balkans.
The assassination led to a crisis known as the "July Days". Despite telegrams between cousins Wilhelm of Germany and Nicolas of Russia (known as the 'willy-nicky' telegrams), Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on the 28th of July. This was when the alliance system and war planning kicked in.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia first, but Germany was the first country to attack another- taking their cue from the mobilization of Russian troops on the 30th of July (The Schlieffen Plan was dependent upon the immediate response to mobilization). They invaded Belgium on the 3rd of August.
The short term causes of WWI are less complex. By June 1914, conditions in Europe were conducive for war. All that was needed was a spark to light the fuse. That spark would be the Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on the 28th of June by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princep of the Black Hand Gang in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This was used by Austria as an excuse to punish Serbia. Austria were further emboldened by Germany's 'blank cheque'- a guarantee to support Austria militarily in the Balkans.
The assassination led to a crisis known as the "July Days". Despite telegrams between cousins Wilhelm of Germany and Nicolas of Russia (known as the 'willy-nicky' telegrams), Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on the 28th of July. This was when the alliance system and war planning kicked in.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia first, but Germany was the first country to attack another- taking their cue from the mobilization of Russian troops on the 30th of July (The Schlieffen Plan was dependent upon the immediate response to mobilization). They invaded Belgium on the 3rd of August.
