what were the main causes of world war 1 essay

• Modern History

The four MAIN causes of World War I explained

The First World War was the first conflict that occurred on a staggering scale. World War I (WWI) was unprecedented in its global impact and the extent of its industrialization.

However, the reason why the war originally began is incredibly complex. To try and explain the causes of the war, historians have tried to simplify it down to four main causes.

They create the acronym: MAIN. 

Imperialism

Nationalism.

This simplified acronym is a useful way to remember the four MAIN causes of the war.

However, we will explain each of these concepts out of order below.

One of the most commonly discussed causes of WWI was the system of alliances that existed by 1914, the year the war started.

An 'alliance' is an agreement made between two countries, where each side promises to help the other if required.

Most of the time, this involves military or financial assistance. When an alliance is created, the countries involved are known as 'allies'.

By the dawn of the First World War, most European countries had entered into one or more alliances with other countries.

What made this an important cause of WWI, was that many of these alliances were military in nature: that if one country attacked or was attacked, all of their allies had promised to get involved as well.

This meant, that if just one country attacked another, most of Europe would immediately be at war, as each country jumped in to help out their friends. 

Imperialism, as a concept, has been around for a very long time in human history. Imperialism is the desire to build an empire for your country.

This usually involves invading and taking land owned by someone else and adding it to your empire. 

By the 19th century, many European countries had been involved in imperialism by conquering less advanced nations in Asia, the Americas or Africa.

By 1900, the British Empire was the largest imperial power in the world. It controlled parts of five different continents and owned about a quarter of all land in the world.

France was also a large empire, with control over parts of south-east Asia and Africa.

By 1910, Germany had been trying to build its own empire to rival that of Britain and France and was interested in expanding its colonial holdings.

This meant that when an opportunity for a war of conquest became available, Germany was very keen to take advantage of it.

Militarism is the belief that a country's army and navy (since air forces didn't exist at the start of WWI) were the primary means that nations resolved disagreement between each other.

As a result, countries like to boast about the power of their armed forces.

Some countries spent money improving their land armies, while others spent money on their navies.

Some countries tried to gain the advantage by having the most number of men in their armies, while others focused more on having the most advanced technology in their forces.

Regardless of how they approached it, countries used militarism as a way of gaining an edge on their opponents.

An example of this competition for a military edge can be seen in the race between Britain and Germany to have the most powerful navy.

Britain had recently developed a special ship known as a 'dreadnought’. The Germans were so impressed by this, that they increased their government spending so that they also had some dreadnoughts.

The final of the four causes is 'nationalism'. Nationalism is the idea that people should have a deep love for their country, even to the extent that they are willing to die for it.

Throughout the 19th century, most countries had developed their own form of nationalism, where they encouraged a love of the nation in their citizens through the process of creating national flags and writing national anthems.

Children at schools were taught that their country was the best in the world and that should it ever be threatened, that they should be willing to take up arms to defend it.

The growing nationalist movements created strong animosity between countries that had a history of armed conflict.

A good example of this is the deep anger that existed between Germany and France.

These two countries had a recent history of war and struggling over a small region between the two, called Alsace-Lorraine.

Germany had seized control of it after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, which the French were deeply upset by.

As a result, France believed that they should be willing to fight and die to take it back.

Conflicts and Crises

In the two decades before WWI started in 1914, there were a number of smaller conflicts and crises that had already threatened to turn into global conflicts.

While these didn't eventually start the global war, it does show the four causes mentioned above and how they interacted in the real world.

The Moroccan Crisis

In 1904, Britain recognized France's sphere of influence over Morocco in North Africa in exchange for France recognizing Britain's sphere of influence in Egypt.

However, the Moroccans had a growing sense of nationalism and wanted their independence.

In 1905, Germany announced that they would support Morocco if they wanted to fight for their freedom.

To avoid war, a conference was held which allowed France to keep Morocco. Then, in 1911, the Germans again argued for Morocco to fight against France.

To again avoid war. Germany received territorial compensation in the French Congo in exchange for recognizing French control over Morocco.

The Bosnian Crisis

In 1908, the nation of Austria-Hungary had been administrating the Turkish regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1878, but they formally annexed it in 1908, which caused the crisis.

The country of Serbia was outraged, because they felt that it should have been given to them. As a result, Serbia threatened to attack Austria-Hungary.

To support them, Russia, who was allied to Serbia, prepared its armed forces. Germany, however, who was allied to Austria-Hungary, also prepared its army and threaten to attack Russia.

Luckily, war was avoided because Russia backed down. However, there was some regional fighting during 1911 and 1912, as Turkey lost control of the region. 

Despite this, Serbia and Austria-Hungary were still angry with each other as they both wanted to expand into these newly liberated countries.

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5 Key Causes of World War I

Illustration by Hugo Lin. ThoughtCo.

• M.A., History, University of Florida
• B.A., History, University of Florida

World War I, known as the "war to end all wars," occurred between July 1914 and November 11, 1918. By the end of the war, over 17 million people had been killed, including over 100,000 American troops. The causes of the war are infinitely more complicated than a simple timeline of events, and they are still debated and discussed to this day.

However, the list below provides an overview of the most frequently cited events that led to war. These include a combination of mutual defense alliances, imperialistic rivalries, the rise of militarism, fervent nationalism, and the immediate catalyst—the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Watch Now: 5 Causes of World War I

Mutual defense alliances.

Countries throughout the world have always made mutual defense agreements with their neighbors, treaties that could pull them into battle. These treaties meant that if one country was attacked, the allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1 began, the following alliances existed:

• Russia and Serbia
• Germany and Austria-Hungary
• France and Russia
• Britain, France, and Belgium
• Japan and Britain

When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia got involved to defend Serbia. Germany, seeing that Russia was mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France by marching through Belgium pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war to support its British allies. Later, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, etc.).

Imperialism

Imperialism  is when a country increases its power and wealth by bringing additional territories under its control, usually without outright colonizing or resettling them. Before World War I, several European countries had made competing imperialistic claims in Africa and parts of Asia, making them points of contention. Because of the raw materials these areas could provide, tensions around which country had the right to exploit these areas ran high. The increasing competition and desire for greater empires led to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into World War I.

As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun, primarily over the number of each country's warships, and the increasing size of their armies—countries began training more and more of their young men to be prepared for battle. The warships themselves increased in size, number of guns, speed, method of propulsion, and quality armor, beginning in 1906 with Britain's HMS Dreadnought . Dreadnought   was soon out-classed as the Royal Navy and Kaiserliche Marine quickly expanded their ranks with increasingly modern and powerful warships. 

By 1914 , Germany had nearly 100 warships and 2 million trained soldiers. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies during this time. Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved into war.

Nationalism

Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria-Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. This specific essentially nationalistic and ethnic revolt led directly to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand , which was the event that tipped the scales to war.

But more generally, nationalism in many of the countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but to the extension of the war across Europe and into Asia. As each country tried to prove its dominance and power, the war became more complicated and prolonged.

Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The immediate cause of World War I that made the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, and nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand  of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian-nationalist terrorist group called the Black Hand sent groups to assassinate the Archduke. Their first attempt failed when a driver avoided a grenade thrown at their car. However, later that day a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip shot the Archduke and his wife while they were driving through Sarajevo, Bosnia, which was part of Austria-Hungary. They died of their wounds.

The assassination was in protest of Austria-Hungary having control of this region: Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The assassination of Ferdinand led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize to defend its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances.

The War to End All Wars

World War I saw a change in warfare, from the hand-to-hand style of older wars to the inclusion of weapons that used technology and removed the individual from close combat. The war had extremely high casualties over 17 million dead and 20 million injured. The face of warfare would never be the same again.

In 1914, British author H.G. Wells published his book "The War That Will End War," discussing the change in warfare and coining the phrase that would eventually become synonymous with World War I.

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• World War 1: A Short Timeline Pre-1914
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• Table Of Contents

What was the main cause of World War I?

World War I began after the assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand by South Slav nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914.

What countries fought in World War I?

The war pitted the Central Powers (mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) against the Allies (mainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and, from 1917, the United States).

The Allies won World War I after four years of combat and the deaths of some 8.5 million soldiers as a result of battle wounds or disease.

Some 8,500,000 soldiers died as a result of wounds or disease during World War I. Perhaps as many as 13,000,000 civilians also died. This immensely large number of deaths dwarfed that of any previous war, largely because of the new technologies and styles of warfare used in World War I.

Four imperial dynasties—the Habsburgs of Austria-Hungary, the Hohenzollerns of Germany, the sultanate of the Ottoman Empire , and the Romanovs of Russia—collapsed as a direct result of the war, and the map of Europe was changed forever. The United States emerged as a world power, and new technology made warfare deadlier than ever before.

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World War I , an international conflict that in 1914–18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia , the United States , the Middle East , and other regions. The war pitted the Central Powers —mainly Germany , Austria-Hungary , and Turkey —against the Allies—mainly France , Great Britain , Russia, Italy , Japan , and, from 1917, the United States . It ended with the defeat of the Central Powers. The war was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused.

World War I was one of the great watersheds of 20th-century geopolitical history. It led to the fall of four great imperial dynasties (in Germany , Russia , Austria-Hungary, and Turkey ), resulted in the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and, in its destabilization of European society, laid the groundwork for World War II .

The last surviving veterans of World War I were American serviceman Frank Buckles (died in February 2011), British-born Australian serviceman Claude Choules (died in May 2011), and British servicewoman Florence Green (died in February 2012), the last surviving veteran of the war.

The outbreak of war

With Serbia already much aggrandized by the two Balkan Wars (1912–13, 1913), Serbian nationalists turned their attention back to the idea of “liberating” the South Slavs of Austria-Hungary . Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijević , head of Serbia’s military intelligence , was also, under the alias “Apis,” head of the secret society Union or Death , pledged to the pursuit of this pan-Serbian ambition. Believing that the Serbs’ cause would be served by the death of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand , heir presumptive to the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph , and learning that the Archduke was about to visit Bosnia on a tour of military inspection, Apis plotted his assassination . Nikola Pašić , the Serbian prime minister and an enemy of Apis, heard of the plot and warned the Austrian government of it, but his message was too cautiously worded to be understood.

At 11:15 am on June 28, 1914, in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo , Franz Ferdinand and his morganatic wife, Sophie, duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead by a Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip . The chief of the Austro-Hungarian general staff , Franz, Graf (count) Conrad von Hötzendorf , and the foreign minister, Leopold, Graf von Berchtold , saw the crime as the occasion for measures to humiliate Serbia and so to enhance Austria-Hungary’s prestige in the Balkans . Conrad had already (October 1913) been assured by William II of Germany ’s support if Austria-Hungary should start a preventive war against Serbia. This assurance was confirmed in the week following the assassination , before William, on July 6, set off upon his annual cruise to the North Cape , off Norway .

The Austrians decided to present an unacceptable ultimatum to Serbia and then to declare war, relying on Germany to deter Russia from intervention. Though the terms of the ultimatum were finally approved on July 19, its delivery was postponed to the evening of July 23, since by that time the French president, Raymond Poincaré , and his premier, René Viviani , who had set off on a state visit to Russia on July 15, would be on their way home and therefore unable to concert an immediate reaction with their Russian allies. When the delivery was announced, on July 24, Russia declared that Austria-Hungary must not be allowed to crush Serbia.

Serbia replied to the ultimatum on July 25, accepting most of its demands but protesting against two of them—namely, that Serbian officials (unnamed) should be dismissed at Austria-Hungary’s behest and that Austro-Hungarian officials should take part, on Serbian soil, in proceedings against organizations hostile to Austria-Hungary. Though Serbia offered to submit the issue to international arbitration, Austria-Hungary promptly severed diplomatic relations and ordered partial mobilization.

Home from his cruise on July 27, William learned on July 28 how Serbia had replied to the ultimatum. At once he instructed the German Foreign Office to tell Austria-Hungary that there was no longer any justification for war and that it should content itself with a temporary occupation of Belgrade . But, meanwhile, the German Foreign Office had been giving such encouragement to Berchtold that already on July 27 he had persuaded Franz Joseph to authorize war against Serbia. War was in fact declared on July 28, and Austro-Hungarian artillery began to bombard Belgrade the next day. Russia then ordered partial mobilization against Austria-Hungary, and on July 30, when Austria-Hungary was riposting conventionally with an order of mobilization on its Russian frontier, Russia ordered general mobilization. Germany, which since July 28 had still been hoping, in disregard of earlier warning hints from Great Britain, that Austria-Hungary’s war against Serbia could be “localized” to the Balkans, was now disillusioned insofar as eastern Europe was concerned. On July 31 Germany sent a 24-hour ultimatum requiring Russia to halt its mobilization and an 18-hour ultimatum requiring France to promise neutrality in the event of war between Russia and Germany.

Both Russia and France predictably ignored these demands. On August 1 Germany ordered general mobilization and declared war against Russia, and France likewise ordered general mobilization. The next day Germany sent troops into Luxembourg and demanded from Belgium free passage for German troops across its neutral territory. On August 3 Germany declared war against France.

In the night of August 3–4 German forces invaded Belgium. Thereupon, Great Britain , which had no concern with Serbia and no express obligation to fight either for Russia or for France but was expressly committed to defend Belgium, on August 4 declared war against Germany.

Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia on August 5; Serbia against Germany on August 6; Montenegro against Austria-Hungary on August 7 and against Germany on August 12; France and Great Britain against Austria-Hungary on August 10 and on August 12, respectively; Japan against Germany on August 23; Austria-Hungary against Japan on August 25 and against Belgium on August 28.

Romania had renewed its secret anti-Russian alliance of 1883 with the Central Powers on February 26, 1914, but now chose to remain neutral. Italy had confirmed the Triple Alliance on December 7, 1912, but could now propound formal arguments for disregarding it: first, Italy was not obliged to support its allies in a war of aggression; second, the original treaty of 1882 had stated expressly that the alliance was not against England .

On September 5, 1914, Russia, France, and Great Britain concluded the Treaty of London , each promising not to make a separate peace with the Central Powers. Thenceforth, they could be called the Allied , or Entente, powers, or simply the Allies .

The outbreak of war in August 1914 was generally greeted with confidence and jubilation by the peoples of Europe, among whom it inspired a wave of patriotic feeling and celebration. Few people imagined how long or how disastrous a war between the great nations of Europe could be, and most believed that their country’s side would be victorious within a matter of months. The war was welcomed either patriotically, as a defensive one imposed by national necessity, or idealistically, as one for upholding right against might, the sanctity of treaties, and international morality .

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• 20th Century

The 4 M-A-I-N Causes of World War One

Alex Browne

28 sep 2021.

It’s possibly the single most pondered question in history – what caused World War One? It wasn’t, like in World War Two, a case of a single belligerent pushing others to take a military stand. It didn’t have the moral vindication of resisting a tyrant.

Rather, a delicate but toxic balance of structural forces created a dry tinder that was lit by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo . That event precipitated the July Crisis, which saw the major European powers hurtle toward open conflict.

The M-A-I-N acronym – militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism – is often used to analyse the war, and each of these reasons are cited to be the 4 main causes of World War One. It’s simplistic but provides a useful framework.

The late nineteenth century was an era of military competition, particularly between the major European powers. The policy of building a stronger military was judged relative to neighbours, creating a culture of paranoia that heightened the search for alliances. It was fed by the cultural belief that war is good for nations.

Germany in particular looked to expand its navy. However, the ‘naval race’ was never a real contest – the British always s maintained naval superiority.  But the British obsession with naval dominance was strong. Government rhetoric exaggerated military expansionism.  A simple naivety in the potential scale and bloodshed of a European war prevented several governments from checking their aggression.

A web of alliances developed in Europe between 1870 and 1914 , effectively creating two camps bound by commitments to maintain sovereignty or intervene militarily – the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance.

• The Triple Alliance of 1882 linked Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
• The Triple Entente of 1907 linked France, Britain and Russia.

A historic point of conflict between Austria Hungary and Russia was over their incompatible Balkan interests, and France had a deep suspicion of Germany rooted in their defeat in the 1870 war.

The alliance system primarily came about because after 1870 Germany, under Bismarck, set a precedent by playing its neighbours’ imperial endeavours off one another, in order to maintain a balance of power within Europe

‘Hark! hark! the dogs do bark!’, satirical map of Europe. 1914

Image Credit: Paul K, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Imperialism

Imperial competition also pushed the countries towards adopting alliances. Colonies were units of exchange that could be bargained without significantly affecting the metro-pole. They also brought nations who would otherwise not interact into conflict and agreement. For example, the Russo-Japanese War (1905) over aspirations in China, helped bring the Triple Entente into being.

It has been suggested that Germany was motivated by imperial ambitions to invade Belgium and France. Certainly the expansion of the British and French empires, fired by the rise of industrialism and the pursuit of new markets, caused some resentment in Germany, and the pursuit of a short, aborted imperial policy in the late nineteenth century.

However the suggestion that Germany wanted to create a European empire in 1914 is not supported by the pre-war rhetoric and strategy.

Nationalism

Nationalism was also a new and powerful source of tension in Europe. It was tied to militarism, and clashed with the interests of the imperial powers in Europe. Nationalism created new areas of interest over which nations could compete.

For example, The Habsburg empire was tottering agglomeration of 11 different nationalities, with large slavic populations in Galicia and the Balkans whose nationalist aspirations ran counter to imperial cohesion. Nationalism in the Balkan’s also piqued Russia’s historic interest in the region.

Indeed, Serbian nationalism created the trigger cause of the conflict – the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

The spark: the assassination

Ferdinand and his wife were murdered in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Bosnian Serbian nationalist terrorist organization the ‘Black Hand Gang.’ Ferdinand’s death, which was interpreted as a product of official Serbian policy, created the July Crisis – a month of diplomatic and governmental miscalculations that saw a domino effect of war declarations initiated.

The historical dialogue on this issue is vast and distorted by substantial biases. Vague and undefined schemes of reckless expansion were imputed to the German leadership in the immediate aftermath of the war with the ‘war-guilt’ clause. The notion that Germany was bursting with newfound strength, proud of her abilities and eager to showcase them, was overplayed.

The first page of the edition of the ‘Domenica del Corriere’, an Italian paper, with a drawing by Achille Beltrame depicting Gavrilo Princip killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo

Image Credit: Achille Beltrame, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The almost laughable rationalization of British imperial power as ‘necessary’ or ‘civilizing’ didn’t translate to German imperialism, which was ‘aggressive’ and ‘expansionist.’ There is an on-going historical discussion on who if anyone was most culpable.

Blame has been directed at every single combatant at one point or another, and some have said that all the major governments considered a golden opportunity for increasing popularity at home.

The Schlieffen plan could be blamed for bringing Britain into the war, the scale of the war could be blamed on Russia as the first big country to mobilise, inherent rivalries between imperialism and capitalism could be blamed for polarising the combatants. AJP Taylor’s ‘timetable theory’ emphasises the delicate, highly complex plans involved in mobilization which prompted ostensibly aggressive military preparations.

Every point has some merit, but in the end what proved most devastating was the combination of an alliance network with the widespread, misguided belief that war is good for nations, and that the best way to fight a modern war was to attack. That the war was inevitable is questionable, but certainly the notion of glorious war, of war as a good for nation-building, was strong pre-1914. By the end of the war, it was dead.

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• Understanding the Causes of World War I

The causes of World War I have been a topic of much debate and analysis for decades. This pivotal event in human history, also known as the Great War, had far-reaching consequences that shaped the modern world we live in today. It was a global conflict that involved many of the world's most powerful nations and resulted in an unprecedented level of destruction and loss of life. While there is no single cause that can be attributed to the outbreak of World War I, a combination of political, economic, and social factors all played a role in setting the stage for this catastrophic event.

Imperialism

Nationalism, the power of alliances.

In the years leading up to the war, Europe was divided into two main alliance systems: the Triple Entente (consisting of France, Russia, and Britain) and the Triple Alliance (consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy). These alliances were formed as a way to protect each country from potential enemies and to maintain a balance of power in Europe. However, instead of promoting peace, these alliances actually increased tensions between countries. Each nation felt obligated to defend their allies and this created a sense of militarism and aggression. When one country declared war, the others were pulled in due to their alliances, resulting in a domino effect that ultimately led to the start of World War I.

The Role of Imperialism

The influence of nationalism.

This ideology, which emphasizes loyalty and devotion to one's own nation, had been growing in Europe since the late 19th century. Many European countries, such as Germany and Italy, had only recently united and were eager to assert their power and dominance on the world stage. This desire for national greatness often led to aggressive and militaristic policies, as countries competed for resources and territories. This was especially true in the Balkans, where nationalistic tensions between different ethnic groups often resulted in violence and conflict. Nationalism also played a part in the complex system of alliances that ultimately led to the outbreak of war. Many countries felt a strong sense of duty to defend their allies and protect their national interests, even if it meant going to war. The rise of nationalist ideologies also contributed to a sense of exceptionalism and superiority among nations.

The Impact of Militarism

This arms race created an atmosphere of suspicion and fear among nations, as each tried to outdo the other in terms of military might. In addition to the arms race, militarism also had a strong influence on foreign policies and diplomacy. Leaders were quick to resort to military action as a means of resolving conflicts, rather than diplomatic negotiations. This aggressive approach to international relations only added to the already tense climate in Europe. Furthermore, the glorification of war and military heroes was widespread in many European countries. This mindset led to a romanticized view of war and encouraged young men to join the military, fueling the growth of armies and further contributing to the arms race. The impact of militarism can also be seen in the alliances that formed between countries.

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Causes of World War One

Part of History (Environment and society) World War One

What caused World War One?

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When World War One started millions of men volunteered to fight. Were they fearless patriots doing their duty or unlucky victims of government propaganda?

When Britain entered the war in August 1914 the government proclaimed that it needed to honour a long standing commitment to protect Belgium. In the short term, this was indeed one of the spurs for British involvement but the underlying reasons for war stretched back over many years.

Wars occur when the aims and ambitions or the interests of countries clash and they are unable to resolve them peacefully. Events in the summer of 1914 may have sparked off the conflict but the long term factors were what propelled the great European powers into conflict.

What alliances were formed in the lead up to World War One?

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• Triple Entente : As Germany grew more powerful, the balance of power between the nations of Europe became unstable. In 1907 Britain, France and Russia signed the Triple Entente, an alliance designed to hem in a powerful Germany.
• Triple Alliance : Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy signed the Triple Alliance in 1882.

The intention of these alliances was to act as a deterrent towards aggression. A country knew that to start a war would invite a response from an entire alliance.

However, if this deterrent did not work, it also ran the risk of dragging all the countries into a war, even if they were not directly involved in the initial events.

Trench warfare

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What was life like on the front line in World War One?

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The end of World War One and the Treaty of Versailles

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• The Main Causes of WW1

World War One  (also known as the First World War or the Great War) was arguably the most significant event of the 20th century, leading to geopolitical maps being redrawn, new nations emerging, and  communism  and  fascism  rising across  Europe . However, the causes are as important as the results, as they reveal key details about the conflict and its place in history. Therefore, investigating the contributing factors that led to the First World War is a worthwhile endeavor.

The Assassination Of The Archduke Franz Ferdinand

In 1878, following the end of the Russo-Turkish War, the Austro-Hungarian Empire occupied the previously  Ottoman -controlled  Bosnia-Herzegovina . The Empire then formally annexed Bosnia in 1908, prompting anger from the numerous different ethnic groups in the region. Serbian nationalists were particularly incensed by this incursion. Thus, with the Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand scheduled to visit the capital of Sarajevo in June 1914, Young Bosnia, a particularly militant Serbian nationalist group, planned an assassination.

On June 28, at about 10:00 a.m. Nedeljko Čabrinović threw a grenade at the Archduke's motorcade, damaging the vehicles and injuring the politician. About an hour later, Gavrilo Princip, after getting lost and seemingly missing his opportunity to carry out the assassination, stumbled across the motorcade. Princip proceeded to shoot Ferdinand and his wife, killing them both and setting off a chain reaction that  resulted in Europe going to war.  

Understanding the event that started the Great War is crucial. But, comprehending  why  it was the spark plug is even more important. In other words, how did a conflict that began in the Balkans escalate into a global affair? Analyzing some longer-term factors explains why this occurred.

In 1882, motivated by anti-Russian and anti-French sentiments,  Germany , Austria-Hungary, and  Italy  formed the Triple Alliance. This alliance was made so that if one of them was attacked, the other two needed to provide military support. The French and Russians followed this with their own agreement in 1894, evolving into the Triple Entente by 1907--a three-way military alliance between the  United Kingdom ,  France , and  Russia .

Despite emerging out of a desire for stability, these alliances contributed to the exact opposite. Indeed, following the assassination of the Archduke, Austria-Hungary declared war on  Serbia . Russia, a Serbian ally, then declared war on Austria-Hungary. Being part of the Triple Alliance, Germany was obligated to go to war with Russia, which then brought in the United Kingdom and France. In short, alliances were largely responsible for a regional conflict snowballing into a general European war, as they made military involvement obligatory if one's ally was attacked.

Militarism 

The late 1800s also saw increased militarism. Perhaps the most obvious example of this was the Anglo-German naval arms race. By the 1870s, Britain had the largest navy in Europe. Feeling threatened,  Kaiser Wilhelm II  began to build up Germany's maritime force. This prompted even more naval investments by the UK, leading to the creation of the Dreadnought--a new ship that far outclassed any others in Europe. It soon became clear that no matter what Germany did, its navy could not match that of the British. Nonetheless, tensions caused by such militarism undeniably contributed to the general fear of a prospective European war. Moreover, these improvements in military technologies ensured that any future conflict would be enormously destructive. 

Imperialism/Colonialism

At the 1884 Berlin Conference,  Africa  was divided between the major European powers, the most notable of which were Britain, France, and  Belgium . Despite this diplomacy, difficulties arose. For instance, Germany, not having a particularly strong foothold in Africa, wanted to weaken France's position on the continent. Therefore, on March 31, 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm II visited French-controlled  Morocco , touring the city of Tangier and declaring his support for Moroccan independence. Shortly afterward, the Moroccan Sultan rejected a series of French policies. This became known as the First Moroccan Crisis. While Germany did agree to stop interfering in French colonial business following the Algeciras Conference, the crisis resulted in a deepening of alliances, with Austria-Hungary coming to Germany's defense and Britain supporting France. In short, these imperial and colonial affairs increased divisions between the Entente and the Central Powers, contributing to a geopolitical atmosphere that made war possible.

Nationalism

In 1871, Germany and Italy unified, signifying the rise of  nationalism  across Europe. This change contributed to the perception of politics as a battle between people or races rather than political leaders, posing an existential threat to multiethnic empires like the Austria-Hungary Empire comprising Germans,  Hungarians ,  Czechs ,  Serbians ,  Croatians ,  Poles , Ruthenians, and  Romanians . Furthermore, no one group in this Empire made up the majority of the population. All this meant that the Empire was a powder keg, with different nationalities vying for power. As demonstrated by Serbian nationalists assassinating Franz Ferdinand, these often violent sentiments directly led to World War One.

The Great War occurred due to a multitude of factors. The most direct cause was the assassination of Austria-Hungary's Archduke on June 28, 1914. However, the deeper roots can be traced to alliances, militarism, imperialism, and nationalism. These elements thus culminated in one of the deadliest conflicts in world history. 

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The First World War’s Long- and Short-Term Causes Essay

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The First World War remains one of the most devastating historical events ever experienced. Numerous conflicts witnessed in Europe towards the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th formed the basis for resentment, hate, and the arms race that led to the Great War. Still, the war had no single cause but emerged due to a combination of numerous long- and short-term factors. Notably, the formation of alliances and imperialism were the long-term causes, while the death of Archduke Ferdinand and Serbia’s failure to honor the ten-point ultimatum were the immediate causes of WW1.

Undoubtedly, the build-up towards the First World War started early in the mid-19th century due to imperialism. The industrialized European powers were competing for colonies across the world, especially in Asia and Africa ( World War I , n.d.). Apart from viewing imperialism as an economic venture, most Europeans perceived that their military, culture, and race were superior and should influence the entire world. As more European powers realized the financial advantage and prestige that came with colonies, the idea became more competitive to the extent of nations clashing and almost starting war.

Britain and France acquired the most significant share, which angered other European countries ( World War I , n.d.). As a result, rivalries emerged, but Britain and France perceived their vast colonies as confirmation of being influential states in Europe.

Imperialism created hostility and paved the way for the formation of alliances. After the Franco-Prussian war of 1871, the German states united while defeated France remained disgruntled after losing part of its territory, Loraine and Alsace ( World War I , n.d.).

To cushion herself from future war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, France allied with Russia. Britain also sought an alliance with France after realizing it was friendless following the Second Boer War in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. Russia also allied itself with Serbia in the Balkan region. Due to Russia’s large population, Germany and Austria-Hungary saw it as a potential threat and decided to form an alliance ( World War I , n.d.). Thus, two antagonistic groups were formed; Triple Entente comprising France, Russia, and Britain, while Triple Alliance consisted of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy.

At the same time, the Ottoman Empire was disintegrating with different ethnic groups seeking independence. Rising nationalism led to various wars in the Balkan region, with the Second Balkan War of 1912-1913 promoting Serbia to increase its size ( World War I , n.d.). Austria-Hungary had equally gained territory from the Ottoman Empire, including Bosnia Herzegovina, inhabited mainly by South Slavic people. Serbia wanted to unite all the Serbs in the Balkan region, but Austria-Hungary was not ready to surrender Bosnia Herzegovina. The Serbs in Austria-Hungary were also pushing to break away and join Serbia.

At the height of nationalism, one young Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, shot dead Austria-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia while visiting Bosnia. The tension between Serbia and her allies and Austria-Hungary and her friends heightened ( World War I , n.d.). Austria-Hungary gave Serbia a ten-point ultimatum, which Serbia honored only nine points. Russia promised Serbia support in case Austria-Hungary, which Germany had pledged reinforcement, attacked. On July 14, 1914, World War One officially started and continued for the next four years before ending in 1918.

Overall, the First World War started due to various factors. However, historians agree that among the long-term causes were imperialism and the formation of alliances. Triple Entente became the Allied Powers while the Triple alliance was Central Powers during the war. However, the most immediate causes of the war were the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. Moreover, Serbia’s failure to honor Austria-Hungary’s ten-point ultimatum escalated the conflict.

World War I . (n.d.). HistoryNet. Web.

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Causes of World War 1

This essay will examine the causes of World War I. It will explore the complex web of political, military, and cultural factors that led to the outbreak of the war, including nationalism, militarism, alliances, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. PapersOwl showcases more free essays that are examples of Conflicts.

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At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the world was seething with an explosive, hair-trigger force waiting to explode. Capitalism was undergoing a transition to imperialism. The world’s territory was divided among the world’s most powerful nations. Colonies were scattered throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The struggle between the new empires and the old ones was getting larger and larger.

As new forces began to snatch resources, uneven economic development and inadequate allocation of resources among countries created international pressure and conflict.

It was an era rife with nations enthusiastic about their military status’ and national pride. This perfect combination of pressure led to the beginning of the First World War in July 1914. There were four main causes of WWI — militarism, alliance, imperialism, and nationalism — that escalated into a global conflict. This free essay about the causes of WWI will explore the interconnectedness of these four concepts.

Militarism is when a country develops strong military and advanced technological weapons to pursue its own interests aggressively. This tactic highlights the national status and is a means to protect, expand, and intervene in territorial disputes as needed. During this time, nations raced to create advanced-power weapons and get them into the hands of their soldiers, a competition referred to as an arms race. Nations were investing in the idea that a strong military indicated a strong country, and those with the most progressive technology and efficient troops were perceived as the most powerful adversaries.) Before World War I, the most drastic forced competition was between Great Britain and Germany, respectively, showing their supremacy in military powers. This embrace of militarism, while not unique to these countries, also meant other nations were prepared for warfare.

In the early 20th Century, Great Britain possessed the strongest naval forces of developed nations. The battle-hardened British Navy helped Great Britain conquer a quarter of the world’s landmass. In 1889, the British Parliament passed the “Naval Defense Act,” which effectively doubled the size of the established British navy and established its size as even larger than the next two competing nation’s navy’s combined, with 62 warships of over 5,000 tons possessed by the British Navy, while the Germans had only 12.

Britain saw Germany as a potential military threat and continued to intensify its efforts to develop its military, especially the Navy. This was largely due to Germany’s leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who believed that formidable military strength would bring Germany untold prestige and power, firmly planting it as a center of European power. Germany passed the First Fleet Act in 1898, authorizing it to divert time and energy toward the development of a strong, competitive Navy.

Technological advancements followed suit, and Britain acquired new steel battleships, significant upgrades from previous wooden ones. The most imposing style was the steel ship the Dreadnought, equipped with 12-inch guns. Countries immediately aspired to create this new type of fearsome sea weapon. In 1914, Britain was the global leader in naval personnel, with 209,000 soldiers and 29 Dreadnought battleships. Meanwhile, Germany took second place with 79,000 soldiers and 17 Dreadnought ships but ultimately grew to have 38 of the fearsome ships.

Germany set Britain as a military target and then attempted to catch up with it. Germany Kaiser Wilhelm II believed that formidable military strength will bring Germany prestige and power. Meanwhile, Germany will be received respect from other European nations. If Germany could not possess powerful troops and advanced weapons, there would be no place and no discourse power for Germany in many European countries. Wilhelm II’s call boosted the passing of The German First Naval Law in 1898. The law claimed to begin the process of building a powerful navy.

After that, the second law required double the size of the German Navy from 19 battleships to 38. Wilhelm II’s encouragement supported the improvement of naval forces: “Germany is a young and growing empire. She has worldwide commerce, which is rapidly expanding and to which the legitimate ambition of Patriotic Germans refuses to assign any bounds. Germany must have a powerful fleet to protect that commerce and her manifold interests in even the most distant seas. She expects those interests to go on growing, and she must be able to champion them manfully in any quarter of the globe”. Moreover, Germany had the most powerful army, the Prussian army, which defended itself against the French in 1871, and the victory made them the most dangerous and effective military force in Europe. (Cleary)

The national governments of many European nations constantly instilled militarism into people’s minds, regarding leaders as heroes, advocating officers, and glorifying and romanticizing militarism. The nations permeated this idea into every corner. A strong military force could bring them prestige, protection, expansion, and improvement of the economy. Fighting, then, rather than negotiations, seemed to be the most reasonable method for resolving international conflict.

Militarism cannot begin a war alone. In order to succeed, nations need to form alliances. An alliance is an agreement of two or more countries in regard to political, military, or economic cooperation. European countries had many alliances before World War I, though they were often short-lived. Some were due to the emergence of new leaders or the replacement of old alliances with new ones. Some were due to the collapse of the countries or the betrayals between nations. Europe, the melting pot of ethnic and territorial disputes, is a place where change was possible and was happening fast.

One example of these fluid alliances was in 1873 with the Three Emperors’ League. Germany, Russia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Within five years, Russia pulled out of the league to attend to its own national conflicts, and the league officially collapsed in 1878. Germany and Austria-Hungary formed The Dual Alliance in 1879, eventually adding Italy and becoming the Triple Alliance in 1882, allowing all three nations to support one another. In response, the Franco-Russian Alliance emerged, partnering with France and Russia in 1894.

Military alliances usually require signatory nations to support each other when they have wars with other countries, showing up in battle or with financial support, aligning against shared common enemies. Britain, Russia, and France overcame cultural differences and historical tensions to form a new alliance, the Triple Entente, in 1907. Britain was hoping to achieve victory in their arms race against Germany, while France was attempting to recapture provinces that had been previously ceded to Germany, uniting the two nations.

Additionally, Russia was still fighting with Austria-Hungary for control of the Balkan territory. These intertwined conflicts and disputes divided Europe into two major alliances, which lit the fuse of the bomb of World War I that followed. “The alliances created an excessively rigid diplomatic framework, within which relatively small detonators could produce huge explosions,” said A. J. P. Taylor, an English historian who specialized in 19th- and 20th-century European diplomacy. (European History)

The third contributing factor to World War I is Imperialism, loosely defined as using military might and force to overtake or influence other nations.s. Usually, colonies were controlled by the imperial nation or governed by a local puppet government. Military troops stationed locally in aid of maintaining order and suppressing rebellions. Colonization allowed imperial nations to acquire abundant resources, cheap laborers, and advantages of trade or commerce.

Before World War I, Great Britain was the largest and wealthiest dominant imperial power in the world. It possessed a quarter of the global landmass and was called “the empire on which the sun never sets” due to its immense size. Britain had colonies on every continent except Antarctica. The British Empire’s imperialism focused on expanding and maintaining trade. It used the colonies as factories to provide its home country with raw materials and manufactured goods as well as cheap labor. France maintained colonies in what are modern-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, some islands in the Pacific and Caribbean, small territories in South America, and areas of West Africa and India. German colonies included one province in China, Shandong)New Guinea, Samoa, numerous Pacific islands, and several areas in central and southwest Africa.

Before World War I, as empires grew stronger and larger, the competition between them also became fierce as they clamored for land, power, and money Germany and Italy were two relative newcomers to empire-building. When they first joined this imperial group, they found out much of the world’s land was controlled by their European neighbors. As such, Germany plotted to invade and take control of large swaths of East Africa. Within six years of their imperial outset, Germany controlled much of the region and established the German East Africa Company. However, the British and French Empires reckoned that Germany had threatened their holdings in Eastern Africa, increasing European tensions and conflicts.

The scramble for empire in Africa caused diplomatic incidents. One such conflict happened in Morocco in North-West Africa. Although Morocco was not a colony of France, its location of Morocco led it to be influenced by France’s control. France was trying to expand its rule in Morocco, but the German Kaiser stirred up tensions between France and Morocco by giving a speech that encouraged Moroccan independence. This had angered the French government and sparked wrathful diplomatic actions. When France attempted to suppress a revolt in Morocco, the German troops attacked an armed vessel at the Moroccan port of Agadir. Germany’s provocation almost touched off the war. Another event that made the European situation become unstable and intense. The decline of the Ottoman Empire attracted tensions of other European nations. After several failed wars, the Ottoman Empire almost collapsed. Other empires were eager to gain territory and influence in this dying empire. Austria-Hungary, Russia, Germany, France, and Britain all had colonial and trade interests in this region, leading to increased nationalism as they clamored to gain power.

Nationalism is when a country puts its own interests above all. It inspires citizens’ patriotism and a sense of national honor. Nationalism is the most significant contributor to World War I as it permeates militarism, alliances, and even imperialism. Nationalism is the base that triggers these three reasons. Countries pursued military strength and competed due to this nationalistic belief that they were superior to other neighboring nations. However, Nationalism is not relegated only to the matters of weapons.

Nationalism persuades people that their country is supreme in military, economic, and cultural aspects and is often displayed through music, visual arts, literature, and even theater. In a bid to convince people that their own countries are supreme, literature usually included libel or grand falsified statements to shed their opponents in a negative light.

Nationalism made countries excessively confident and gave them the illusion of military strength. Countries all believed their own military capacity was the best. The British were proud of the country’s naval power and developed economy. The French reckoned that they had solid defenses to block the attack of other nations. In Russia, the emperor believed he and his empire were under divine protection. They had the largest land force, which contained 1.5 million men, and their massive population made the country believe it would defeat other smaller countries easily. Germany’s advantages were shown in its developed advanced military weapons and increasing battleships and U-boats. The Germans believed their Schlieffen Plan would be effective and successful. (Nationalism)

Throughout Europe, great powers were considering an invasion of neighboring nations while also accounting for their own defense and national supremacy. The less powerful nations, who opposed these powers, were hoping to gain independence and freedom. The conflict came to a head in the Balkans of Eastern Europe. The Slavic people, who lived in the Balkan region and some of what is presently Serbia, felt they should have their own country. Serbia held a large Slavic population, but it was controlled and influenced by the Austria-Hungary Empire. Slavic nationalists were outraged by the invasion of Austria-Hungary, especially the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young Slavic nationalists joined the “Black Hand ” group to oppose the Austria-Hungary Empire and its presumed heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

The combination of the fuel of independence and nationalism was powerful, and the “Black Hand” group made a drastic decision that would change the direction of international relations forever – they assassinated the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, Franz Ferdinand. The assassination of Archduke Frank Ferdinand by the Black Hand in Sarajevo directly led to the outbreak of World War I as nations scrambled to support their ally countries and vested interests abroad.

The essay on the causes of World War 1 highlighted that the four causes are closely related. A single reason is not enough to cause a Great War between several nations or between two alliances, though nationalism seems to be the most powerful. However, when these factors come together, they increase the possibility of war. Nationalism played the most important role in this because it led to military competition, land expansion, and cliques.

There were various factors that contributed to Germany’s decision to start WWI, including territorial ambitions, frustration with the Treaty of Versailles, and a belief in their own superiority. Germany sought to expand its empire and viewed itself as deserving of more power and land. Additionally, they presumed they could win the war quickly and simply, further fueling their desire to take action.

The primary causes of World War I were militarism, alliances, and imperialism. Militarism refers to the belief that a powerful military is crucial for a nation’s security. Alliances are pacts between nations to support each other in case of war. Imperialism denotes the desire to extend a nation’s authority and influence by acquiring additional territories.

To write about World War 1 in an essay, one must understand that it was a catastrophic global conflict that caused immense loss of life and lasted over four years. It commenced in 1914 following a chain of events that prompted various nations worldwide to mobilize their forces. Ultimately, the Allied Powers emerged triumphant over the Central Powers in 1918 to end the war.

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What were the main causes of World War One?

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Ph.D in early American history and M.A. I taught literature as well as European, world, and US history in public high schools for ten years.

There are many causes of the First World War. Let us look at four main ones:

• Militarism: For at least three decades before the war, the powers of Europe, especially Germany, France, and Great Britain, had undertaken a program of military development, especially a naval buildup. On the one hand, these large militaries were intended to serve as deterrents to rival powers. On the other, they reflected an attitude that a nation's honor was tied to its military power. This belief would repeatedly contribute to increased tension in the years and months ahead of World War One. 
• Imperialism: Part of the reason for the military buildup was that the European powers thought it necessary to maintain and expand their empires. Germany in particular was anxious to acquire an empire that might rival that of Great Britain, and this led to repeated crises and an overall atmosphere of aggression and competition.
• Ethnic tensions: This especially applied to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where many different ethnic groups vied for increased autonomy and even independence. Serbia, an independent state in the Balkans, sought to foster independence among Serbian people in neighboring Bosnia, under the control of Austria-Hungary. Indeed, many Bosnian Serbs wished to join their homeland to a pan-Slavic state. It was this struggle that led to the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914, the spark that started the war.
• Alliance systems: It was the alliance systems that dragged the entire continent, and ultimately the world, into war. These alliances had been built many years earlier, and had shifted to the point that Great Britain, France, and Russia were joined in what was known as the Triple Entente, and Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance. War between any of the powers threatened to drag everyone into war. This in fact occurred because many of these nations also had other alliances. Russia, for example, was allied with Serbia, and when Austria-Hungary went to war with that country in retaliation for the assassination, it meant war between the two powers. This, in turn, enmeshed Germany in a war with Russia. 

Further Reading

• https://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm

Cite this page as follows:

Cranford, Alec. "What were the main causes of World War One?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 17 Nov. 2015, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/what-were-main-causes-ww1-555371.

Educator since 2009

16,815 answers

I currently teach middle school history and have taught at various K–12 levels over the last 13 years.

What are the main causes of World War I? 

There will be many different answers here.  I tend to think that one of the primary causes of World War I was the rising tide of nationalism.  Nations in Europe had started to embrace nationalism to such an extent that they sought to crowd out other nations.  Nationalism in World War I, or zealous love of country, represented a form of exceptionalism, or belief that one's nation is fundamentally superior to all others.  This made the embrace of war a natural consequence.  Nationalism was a critical reason why when Archduke Francis Ferdinand was killed, so many nations plunged into war so readily.  

Along these lines, I would say that another cause of World War I was the rapid rise of national militarism.  Advancements in war-fighting weapons made the war something easily envisioned.  The use of "new" weapons such as tanks, machine guns, planes, and chemical warfare enabled the fighting machines to become an accepted reality across the continent.  This helped to accelerate war with rapid intensity.  

At the same time, I would also submit that the presence of secret alliances being brokered so easily across the continent helped to increase the likelihood of war.  When nations entered into secret agreements and helped to develop the alliance system, when one nation was under attack, it pulled multiple other nations with it.  This helped to make World War I a protracted affair across the continent.

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/origins_01.s...

Kannan, Ashley. "What were the main causes of World War One?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 14 Mar. 2015, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/what-were-main-causes-ww1-555371.

What was the cause of World War I?

Like all wars, there were many very complex causes of World War I, many of which had their origins in the nineteenth century. But the immediate cause of the war was the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on June 28, 1914. Ferdinand's assassin was Gavrilo Princip, a member of a radical Serbian group known as the Black Hand, who sought to drive the Austro-Hungarian Empire out of Bosnia and make it part of a pan-Slavic state under the control of Serbia. Princip and his co-conspirators had some support among the Serbian government, and the Austrian government used the incident to punish the Serbs, who the increasingly regarded as a threat in the region. With the encouragement of Germany, they issued a deliberately provocative ultimatum to Serbia. Serbian leaders turned to their ally Russia, who opted to mobilize their armed forces against Austria. Germany responded by declaring war on Russia, and the alliance systems dragged the entire continent into war.

Cranford, Alec. "What were the main causes of World War One?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 6 Dec. 2011, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/what-were-main-causes-ww1-555371.

Educator since 2018

163 answers

I am a social studies teacher with a passion for educating and sharing knowledge.

What caused World War I?

On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a member of a nationalist Serbian group called Black Hand, assassinated Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria-Hungary. The assassination, which took place in Sarajevo, was politically motivated. At the time, many ethnic Serbs lived in the Austro-Hungarian territory of Bosnia. Many of these Serbs, including the members of Black Hand, hoped that Bosnia would be able to break away from Austria-Hungary and unite with the neighboring country of Serbia. The assassination lit the fuse for World War I to begin. Austria-Hungary created a list of demands to the nation of Serbia, and when these demands were not met by the Serbian government within a month, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

You may ask how the assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist caused a global war the likes of which the world had never seen before. This can be answered by examining the four major causes that historians have found to be at the root of World War I. The four major cited causes of the war are militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. These four factors can be remembered through the acronym MAIN.

The first major factor of the war was militarism. In the decades leading up to World War I, many European powers began the buildup of their militaries. Countries began dedicating more of their financial resources toward the enlarging of their armed forces. Due to the increased funding of the military, military leaders also gained greater power within their national governments. The increased influence of military leaders on government was most notable in Russia and Germany.

As the major powers of Europe learned of the buildup in neighboring countries' militaries, they felt that they must keep up with their neighbors for security purposes. This was arguably most evident in the naval race between Britain and Germany beginning in the final years of the 19th Century. During the time, each navy created numerous battleships, and the Germans doubled the size of their naval fleet. With so much invested into military spending, and with the increased involvement of military leaders in government policy, many European nations were eager to utilize their militaries. By the time World War I rolled around, European nations were well armed and ready for war.

The second major factor to examine would be alliances. Europe, in the years leading up to World War I, had a network of secret alliances. Many countries in Europe had developed secret alliances promising to assist each other in the case of war. These interlocking alliances were responsible for causing a chain reaction that expanded the war far beyond the initial nations involved.

Serbia held an alliance with Russia, while Russia held alliances with Britain and France. This led to the involvement of Russia, Britain, and France (known as the Triple Entente) when war was declared on Serbia. Austria-Hungary maintained alliances with Germany and Italy; this tripartite would become known as the Central Powers. Additionally, Austria-Hungary had an alliance with Bulgaria, and Germany maintained an alliance with the Ottoman Empire. With the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria-Hungary, all of the above listed nations were also dragged into the conflict. These secret defense treaties led a conflict between two nations to develop into a much larger war.

Imperialism was also central to the causes of World War I. The European powers had developed great rivalries due to their own imperialist ambitions. The major nations of Europe each sought to establish overseas colonies to expand their own influence and wealth. These rivalries, when combined with continued imperialist goals, provided added incentive for European powers to engage in war.

Nationalism is the fourth factor that is critical to the outbreak of World War I. In the decades prior to the outbreak of World War I, nationalism was on the rise in Europe. Each nation felt a sense of superiority to the others. Increased pride, plus a sense of superiority, led many to believe that if war were to come, their nation would be victorious. We can also see an example of nationalism in the motivation for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Black Hand had hoped to unite Serbs in a Serbian nation free from Austro-Hungarian control.

To summarize, it was a combination of four major factors that led to World War I. Military buildup made large-scale war possible and encouraged nations to fight. Secret alliances expanded the conflict from a regional one to a global one. Imperialist attitudes fueled European rivalries and provided added incentive for war. Nationalism led to overconfidence and a sense of superiority in Europe's great powers. With all of these factors building in the decades leading to World War I, all that was needed was a spark to ignite the conflict. That spark came with Gavrilo Princip's assassination of Franz Ferdinand. The result would be the deadliest conflict the world had ever seen to that point.

World War I would rage for over four years before the Treaty of Versailles would bring the war to an end with a victory for the Triple Entente over the Central Powers. The effects of World War I would, however, be felt for years to come. Not only would millions die and millions more be affected by the conflict, but the harsh punishment of Germany in the Treaty of Versailles would lead to the rise of the Nazi party, and ultimately to World War II.

• http://www.u.arizona.edu/~salvador/Spring%20thru%20Februa...
• https://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/nationalism/
• https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/outbreak-of-wo...

Peter, Curtis. "What were the main causes of World War One?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 18 July 2018, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/what-were-main-causes-ww1-555371.

Educator since 2010

1,856 answers

The primary underlying cause of World War I was a series of alliances between European nations and a rising sense of nationalism by people of Europe who were denied a homeland. Poland had ceased to exist after it had been partitioned three times by European powers. Similarly, the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine (typically French) had been taken by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. This latter event had been particularly bitter for the French who never forgave Germany for the insult.

Otto von Bismarck, in an attempt to protect Germany's position, had created a series of alliances which resulted in the creation of still other alliances in opposition. Ultimately two great alliances were formed:

• Austria, Germany and Italy formed the Triple Alliance.
• Great Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente.

Actual fighting began with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie by a Serbian nationalist in Bosnia. Austria thereafter declared war on Serbia in response to which Russia began a general mobilization. Germany, fearful of a large Russian army on its border, issued an ultimatum to Russia to cease mobilization, which was ignored. Germany then declared war on Russia. Germany then demanded that France state its intentions, and France stated it would look to its own interests. Germany then declared war on France. To invade France, Germany troops invaded Belgium, whose neutrality had been guaranteed by the British. In response to the violation of Belgian neutrality, Britain declared war on Germany, and the war was fully engaged.

Austria-Hungary, a dual empire, had gained the right to "occupy and administer" Bosnia and Herzegovina, a fact which was bitterly resented by the people there who were culturally close to Russia.

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Gates, Larry. "What were the main causes of World War One?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 29 Jan. 2012, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/what-were-main-causes-ww1-555371.

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Causes of World War 1 Essay | Essay on Causes of World War 1 for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Causes of World War 1 Essay:  First World War is one of the greatest wars that is known in the history of humankind. The War came to be known as ‘The Great War’ because of the great impact that the War had throughout the world and his significance in history.

World War 1 was the first worldwide destructive conflict that Western Civilization had faced. The War has been the focus of a numerous analysis which gave different explanations, interpretations and re-examinations of the countless causes that led to the start of the War.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Causes of World War 1 for Students and Kids in English

We provide the students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic Causes Of World War 1 for reference.

Long Essay on Causes of World War 1 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Causes of World War 1 is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

World War 1 was a worldwide war that started in July 1914 and officially came to an end on November 11, 1918. The War had originated in Europe, and it gradually developed into a world war. Similarly known as ‘the war of all ends’, it led the mobilization of 70 million military personnel, which included 60 million Europeans making it one of the largest wars in history.

Tension among the European countries had been increased due to militarism, nationalism, imperialism and mutual defence alliances which served as major causes that led to the War.

Militarism is the trend towards developing military resources for both national defence and protection of colonial interest. As the world walked into the 20th century, a race of arms had begun. Germany, by 1914 had the greatest increase in their military build-up.

Both Great Britain and Germany increased their navies in this period. Further, in Russia and Germany, particularly the military establishment started to have a great influence on public policies. This increase in militarism pushed the countries to get involved in the War.

A major reason for the War was based on the desire of the Slavic people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be a part of Austria Hungary but rather be a part of Siberia. This is why nationalism directly led to the War. However, in a more general way, the nationalism of various European countries contributed not only to the beginning but also the extension of the War in Europe. Each country tried their level best in proving their dominance and power.

When a country increases its power and wealth by bringing in additional territories under their control, it is known as imperialism. Africa and parts of Asia, before World War 1, were points of dispute among the European countries. This was principally true because of the raw materials that these areas provide. The desire for greater empires and increasing competition led to an increase in the conflict that helped push the world towards the Great War.

Over time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defence alliances that eventually would pull them into battle. Treaties were signed, that meant that if one country was attacked that the other countries were bound to defend the country.

The immediate cause of World War 1 was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which other points come to play. In June of 1914, the Black Hand a Serbian-nationalist terrorist group was sent to assassinate the Archduke.

They failed at their first attempt when the driver avoided the grenade thrown at their car. However, later the same day a Serbian nationalist GavriloPrincip assassinated the Archduke and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia, a part of Austria Hungary. This was done in protest to Austria-Hungary having control over the region. Serbia wanted to take over Herzegovina and Bosnia.

Austria-Hungary announced war on Serbia as a result of this assassination. Russia began to mobilize its forces due to its alliance with Serbia when Germany declared war on Russia. Hence began the expansion of the War and all those countries involved in mutual defence alliances got involved.

Short Essay on Causes of World War 1 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Causes of World War 1 is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The causes of World War 1, the deadliest War in the history of humanity, remain controversial. The War began in Balkans on June 28, 1914, and lasted for almost four years and finally came to an end on November 11, 1918.

The War also resulted as one of the deadliest conflicts in history with an approximate of 9 million combatant deaths 13 deaths of civilians as a direct result of the War. The main factors that led to the War were nationalism, imperialism, alliances and militarism.

By the end of the War over 17 million people would have lost their lives, and the reasons why the War had erupted is much more complex than a simple list of causes. Even though it is a chain of events that led to the fighting, the actual causes are more complicated and deeper that remains a part of continued debate and discussion.

10 Lines on Causes of World War 1 in English

• The main cause of World War 1 was a difference over foreign policies.
• World War 1 was an all-encompassing universal war that was centred in Europe but affected the whole world.
• World War 1 lasted for exactly four years, three months and fourteen days.
• One hundred thirty-five countries took part in World War 1.
• More than 15 million people died.
• It was a military conflict that lasted for four years from 1914 to 1918.
• There were two opposing alliances – the Central Powers and the Allies.
• Austria declared war on Serbia on July 28, that is when World War 1 officially begun.
• India supported Britain as a British Colony.
• The First World War was also called the Trench War as it was fought from trenches.

FAQ’s on Causes of World War 1 Essay

Question 1.  Name the two allies of the First World War.

Answer: The Central Powers and the Allied Powers.

Question 2. Which countries formed the Allied Powers?

Answer: Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Russia and the USA formed the Allied Powers.

Question 3. Which countries formed the Central Powers?

Answer: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and Turkey formed the Central Powers.

Question 4. Why did the First World War end?

Answer: When both the allies signed the Peace Treaty known as armistice, the First World War came to an end in November 1918.

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Home — Essay Samples — War — Trench Warfare — The Alliance System as the Leading Cause of World War I

How The Alliance System Was The Main Cause of Ww1

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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Introduction, how the alliance system caused ww1, expansion and formation of the alliances, loyalty of the alliances towards one another, coalition between major powers, works cited:.

• Caravaggio, M. (2007). Caravaggio: The Complete Works. Taschen.
• Gash, J. (2013). Caravaggio. Reaktion Books.
• Graham-Dixon, A. (2011). Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Langdon, H. (1999). Caravaggio: A Life. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Laurie, A. (2013). Caravaggio’s Secrets. University of Chicago Press.
• Lucco, M. (2010). Caravaggio. Parkstone Press.
• Marini, M. A. (1999). Caravaggio. Abbeville Press.
• Puglisi, C. (1998). Caravaggio. Phaidon Press.
• Spike, J. T. (2010). Caravaggio. Abbeville Press.
• Vodret, R. (2008). Caravaggio. Skira.

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What Are The Causes Of World War 1 Essay

World War 1 also known as the The Great War or War to End All Wars had a lot of reasons that were rooted to the main cause or causes of World War 1. The main causes of World War 1 are militarism, mutual defense alliances, and the assassination of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. As World War 1 had lot’s of causes, the cause that had the most impact on causing War World 1 was the the assassination of Austrian archduke and his wife. The death of Austrian archduke and his wife was the most important cause of World War 1 because it is widely acknowledged to have sparked the outbreak of World War 1. A guy named Princip fired into the car, shooting Franz Ferdinand and Sophie at point-blank range. Then Princip continued to kill himself. The assassination of Franz-Ferdinand and Sophie set off a huge out roar of bad things. Austria-Hungary and many other countries …show more content…

In the Naval Races, Germany and Britain were competing for who has finer weaponry; this being caused by nationalism since they both thought their countries were superior to the others. These countries are being very blinded by them being superior to one another, they just continued competing and making commodious military forces. Conclusively the assassination of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife caused this mess between the nations. It was the cause of alliances, militarism and the assassination of Austrian archduke and his wife. Some may argue that the assassination was not the start of World War 1 but considering the huge spark and arguments it started it justifies some of that. These nations all thought they were superior to one another when they were arguing and that started the war when they started to declare war on each other which eventually leaded to a full on

Five Main Cause Why World War I Happen Essay

The fifth cause of World War One was the event of an assassination. Austria Hungary demanded that Serba take action against those responsible for the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand. When Serbia failed to meet these demands, Austria Hungary declared war on them. This was one of the main events that kick started World War One because soon after, Germany got involved alongside them, and Serbia’s allies got involved.

Cause of World War I Essay

World War I, a war that started out locally in Europe between Austria-Hungary and Serbia that later ended up including thirty two different nations. This war has been around for almost a century and yet the causes of it are still being debated. There are many different scenarios that have been considered. Some of the key reasons that were believed to have instigated WWI were nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and an arrangement of treaties. Also the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was believed to be one of the immediate causes.

Why Did the First World War Break Out in 1914? Essay

The chain of events starts with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Some people tend to think that this event was the one total cause of World War One, but that is not the case. The assassination is only one small trigger.

How Did World War 1 Start Essay

There were many reasons as to why World War I began. According to Document 2 the event that started World War I was the death of the Archduke of Austria-Hungarian, Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Bashia. The other main causes of World War I was militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. Militarism was the policy of aggressive preparedness, european nations began arming to protect their assets. Alliances is when European nations formed alliances to create a balance of power throughout Europe. The Triple Alliance was a secret agreement

Wwi Causes Essay

Even today, the causes of World War one is still being debated and the great war started 96 years ago and ended 92 years ago. Yet today after so much time the main cause of the war still remains unexposed to this day. What triggered the whole war was the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie of Austria-Hungary on June 28th 1914 by The Black Hand. The assassination happened because of feelings toward the Serbians. The Archduke and his wife were on a parade route in their car during their visit to Sarajevo. Many assassins were lined up to take the kill of the Archduke but all failed, there was one young assassin named Gavrilo

World War 1 Dbq Essay

During world war one there were many things the came to the start of it. Countries allied together, leaders were blamed for pushing their people to war. Armies went to action starting the wars and everyone blamed each other for it.The way people thought that war was good at the time. All these causes that could have lead to it. Many can argue that nationalism was the cause or alliances etc. However, Militarism was the underlying cause in World War 1.

World War 1 Dbq

One underlying cause of World War 1 was the alliance systems. There were two major alliances. The triple entente and the triple alliance (Document A). The triple entente consisted of Russia, United Kingdom, and France. The triple alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and italy. Alliances were quick to support their allies (Document B). Each country had a different point of view of who started the war. So this created a chain reaction (Document B). Those are a few ways alliance systems caused World War 1.

Many contributions lead to the spark of World War I. The three main causes included the assassination of Francis Ferdinand, alliance systems, and militarism. Although imperialism and nationalism are said to be contributing factors to the cause of World War I, the assassination of Francis Ferdinand, alliance systems, and militarism were three of the most important causes of The Great War. An immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Austria-Hungary’s archduke, Francis Ferdinand.

The Events Of World War I Essay

World War One was many years in the making with separate incidences occurring between the empires that ultimately lead up to war beginning. With many powerful empires on edge and wanting to be the most powerful, they did whatever they could to make this happen. The First World War was not sparked by one event or motive, but in turn was started due to many major factors. The war’s blame can be placed on all of the countries involved, rather than solely Germany. These factors from World War One were the product of each empire and their long-term needs such as nationalism, imperialism, militarism and the alliances. The short-term event that was the final push to start the war was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

How Did Archduke Franz Ferdinand Cause Ww1

World War 1 was the introduction to a series of political, economical and social issues that involved almost every major super power in the world. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 was the primary source of struggle that triggered a series of events which lead to World War 1. Many nations, such as Germany, Britain and France were already armed and ready for a war before the assassination of Franz Ferdinand occurred due to political unrest at the time between the two countries.

What Were The Underlying Causes Of World War 1

The underlying causes of World War One were militarism, alliances, and nationalism. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand is considered to have been the spark of World War One (“DBQ: What Were the Underlying..., Background Essay). However, it is not necessarily the main reason for the war. Many other factors influenced the war much greater than the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. Militarism, Alliances, and Nationalism are the underlying causes of World War One.

America And The Great War Essay

Throughout history there has been competition for resources and domination. This competition has led to conflicts that have caused destruction, social disruptions and death. World War I was no exception to this competition. World War I was known as the war to end all wars and was caused by a combination of factors. Some causes of World War I was nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the main cause which was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip of Serbia. While the United States attempted to remain neutral and stay out of the war, Germany choose actions that gave the U.S. no choice but to enter and help their Allies defeat the other powers.

How Did Nationalism Lead To World War 1

Before World War 1 began there were many conflicts between many countries, these conflicts are what eventually led to the war. Nationalism lead to World War 1 for reasons people believed they needed to fight for their country, many people who weren’t fighting wanted to support their soldiers, and many soldiers felt as if they couldn’t back out of the war. Militarism was a cause because each country was building up their weapons and ammunition, as well as building up their armies. Finally Kaiser Wilhelm II was a cause because he had a very strong hate towards Britain, he was a very aggressive leader and he wanted Germany to be the number one country. Nationalism, militarism and Kaiser Wilhelm II were the three main causes of World War 1.

Franz Ferdinand And The Outbreak Of World War One

While there was a chain of events that directly led to the outbreak of World War One, the actual root causes are much deeper and part of continued debate and discussion. Decades before the beginning of the war even began, were the ideas that gave nationalism, militarism and imperialism a position of upmost importance. These beliefs gave each country a strong wish for gaining a powerful military position and that war was the way to obtain this. These three concepts got people excited imagining war as a glorious adventure of opportunity. All the countries who were looking forward to war, waiting for the right moment, assassination of Franz Ferdinand was a catalyst in the the beginning of the war. This prime opportunity drew Austria-Hungary, Germany

Was Germany Responsible For World War One

It is arguable that the main spark that started world war one which was with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. In the summer of 1914 archdukes Franz Ferdinand (the nephew of Franz Joseph I, which was the current Austrian emperor) and Therefore, Russian Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne, therefore, he decided to visit Sarajevo, Bosnia. Sarajevo was a dangerous place for the royal family of Austria-Hungary to visit because of the Serb/Bosnian national groups. Franz was told that his visit would cause trouble, yet he still went regardless which led to him and his wife getting shot. The assassination was used by Austria-Hungary as a way to 'settle accounts' with Serbia.

Related Topics

• World War I
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
• German Empire
• United States
• Bosnia and Herzegovina