Causes of World War I

Overview

• Focus on four main causes: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.
• Each cause contributed to the complex situation in Europe leading to the outbreak of World War I.

Militarism

• Definition: Belief in building strong militaries and using them aggressively.
• Context: Industrial manufacturing increased weapon production and lethality.
• Germany's Role: Rapid industrialization and military buildup, leading to a powerful military force.
  • Concerns: France felt threatened due to comparatively weak military.
  • Great Britain: Maintained a strong military but at high national resource cost.

Alliances

• Early 20th Century: Balance of power through two major alliances:
  • Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  • Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia.
• Purpose: National security and isolation of rivals.
• Impact: Led to military mobilization plans that were difficult to stop once initiated.
  • Railroads played a crucial role in troop mobilization.

Imperialism

• Historical Context: Marked by European imperial expansion.
• Germany’s Influence: Sought to expand empire, increasing competition and conflict.
  • Colonial Conflicts: Led to creation and strengthening of alliance systems.

Nationalism

• Definition: Emphasis on national glory and unity, with rival states seen as enemies.
• Impact: Promoted belief that national identity was paramount and under threat.
  • Result: Conflicts were met with force rather than compromise.

The Spark: Assassination in the Balkans

• Event: Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• Consequences:
  • Nationalistic retaliation by Austro-Hungarians.
  • Alliance System Activation: Serbian alliance with Russia and Austro-Hungarian alliance with Germany escalated the conflict.
  • Led to a broader mobilization and the onset of World War I.

Conclusion

• Combination of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism created a volatile environment.
• The assassination was the immediate trigger, but underlying causes led to a global conflict.

• Next Steps: Follow-up videos will explore the progression of World War I.
• Additional Resources: Video note guides available for deeper understanding and retention of the course content.