Causes of World War I

Introduction

• Focus on the four main causes of World War I.

Militarism

• Belief in building strong militaries and using them aggressively.
• Industrial manufacturing increased weapon production and lethality.
• Germany's rapid industrialization and military buildup made it a dominant force in Europe.
• France felt threatened due to its weaker military.
• Britain's large military drained national resources more than Germany.

International Alliances

• Early 20th-century power balance expressed in two major alliances:
  • Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  • Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia.
• Alliances aimed for national security and isolation of rival states.
• Mobilization plans were elaborate and relied on railroads.
• Mobilization was difficult to stop once started, risking chaos.

Imperialism

• Driven by desire to expand power and achieve great power status.
• Led to European competition and conflicts.
• Germany's ambition to expand its empire heightened tensions.
• Conflicts over existing colonies contributed to alliance creation.

Nationalism

• Emphasis on national glory and identity, defining others as enemies.
• Spread through education, military service, and media.
• Fueled belief that national identity was under threat from rivals.
• Contributed to conflict resolution through force instead of compromise.

The Spark: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, assassinated the Archduke.
• Sparked by nationalism, seen as an act demanding retaliation by Austria.
• Alliance system activated:
  • Serbia allied with Russia.
  • Austria-Hungary allied with Germany.
  • Russia allied with Britain and France.
  • Germany allied with Italy.
• Mobilization and alliance tensions led to World War I.

Conclusion

• The interplay of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism created a volatile environment.
• The assassination was the spark that ignited a global conflict.