CAUSES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR I : CONTENT POINT:
Outline the Main Causes of Both Wars: - World War One OUTCOME: HT 5-4: Explain and analyse the causes and effects of events and developments in the modern world and Australia. HT 5-7: Explain different contexts, perspectives and interpretations of the modern world and Australia. |
There were multiple factors that contributed to the outbreak of World War One. The catalyst of this international conflict was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, by a Bosnian revolutionary, Gavrilo Princip on the 28th of June 1914. However, one must also consider the impact of imperialism, nationalism, militarism and the several crises that amplified tension between the European power blocs; causing them to be represented by the media at the time as a ‘boiling pot of tension’. Therefore the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir was the last international crisis to finally provoke these powers into war.
Imperialism
Imperialism refers to the extension of national power and influence via the means of colonisation or military force. By 1900, Britain attained vast control that extended over 5 continents and France extended their influence over large areas and provinces in Africa. The amount of lands that were controlled by both of these major powers increased rivalry and international tensions, particularly with Germany.
Nationalism
Nationalism refers to being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's country. The Congress of Vienna, held after Napoleon's exile to Elba, aimed to sort out problems in Europe. Delegates from Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia (the winning allies) decided upon a new Europe that left both Germany and Italy as divided states. Strong nationalist elements led to the re-unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany in 1871. The settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war left France angry at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany and keen to regain their lost territory. Large areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to differing nationalist groups, all of whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.
Militarism
Militarism means that the army and military forces are given a high profile by the government. The growing European divide had led to an arms race between the major powers countries. The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany.
Moroccan Crisis
In 1904 Morocco had been given to France by Britain, but the Moroccans wanted their independence. In 1905, Germany announced her support for Moroccan independence. War was narrowly avoided by a conference which allowed France to retain possession of Morocco. However, in 1911, the Germans were again protesting against French possession of Morocco. Britain supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of French Congo.
Bosnian Crisis
In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish province of Bosnia. This angered Serbians who felt the province should be theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia, allied to Serbia, mobilised its forces. Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary mobilised its forces and prepared to threaten Russia. War was avoided when Russia backed down. There was, however, war in the Balkans between 1911 and 1912 when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area. The states then fought each other over which area should belong to which state. Austria-Hungary intervened and forced Serbia to give up some of its acquisitions. Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high.
Formation of Alliances:
1879 The Dual Alliance: Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from Russia
1881 Austro-Serbian Alliance: Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining control of Serbia
1882 The Triple Alliance: Germany and Austria- Hungary made an alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking sides with Russia
1894 Franco-Russian Alliance
1907 Triple Entente: This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.
1907 Anglo-Russian Entente: This was an agreement between Britain and Russia
1904 Entente Cordiale: This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between France and Britain.
Ultimately, the combination of these factors strongly contributed to the rising tensions between the major European powers, thus resulting in total war.
Imperialism
Imperialism refers to the extension of national power and influence via the means of colonisation or military force. By 1900, Britain attained vast control that extended over 5 continents and France extended their influence over large areas and provinces in Africa. The amount of lands that were controlled by both of these major powers increased rivalry and international tensions, particularly with Germany.
Nationalism
Nationalism refers to being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's country. The Congress of Vienna, held after Napoleon's exile to Elba, aimed to sort out problems in Europe. Delegates from Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia (the winning allies) decided upon a new Europe that left both Germany and Italy as divided states. Strong nationalist elements led to the re-unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany in 1871. The settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war left France angry at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany and keen to regain their lost territory. Large areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to differing nationalist groups, all of whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.
Militarism
Militarism means that the army and military forces are given a high profile by the government. The growing European divide had led to an arms race between the major powers countries. The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany.
Moroccan Crisis
In 1904 Morocco had been given to France by Britain, but the Moroccans wanted their independence. In 1905, Germany announced her support for Moroccan independence. War was narrowly avoided by a conference which allowed France to retain possession of Morocco. However, in 1911, the Germans were again protesting against French possession of Morocco. Britain supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of French Congo.
Bosnian Crisis
In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish province of Bosnia. This angered Serbians who felt the province should be theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia, allied to Serbia, mobilised its forces. Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary mobilised its forces and prepared to threaten Russia. War was avoided when Russia backed down. There was, however, war in the Balkans between 1911 and 1912 when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area. The states then fought each other over which area should belong to which state. Austria-Hungary intervened and forced Serbia to give up some of its acquisitions. Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high.
Formation of Alliances:
1879 The Dual Alliance: Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from Russia
1881 Austro-Serbian Alliance: Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining control of Serbia
1882 The Triple Alliance: Germany and Austria- Hungary made an alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking sides with Russia
1894 Franco-Russian Alliance
1907 Triple Entente: This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.
1907 Anglo-Russian Entente: This was an agreement between Britain and Russia
1904 Entente Cordiale: This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between France and Britain.
Ultimately, the combination of these factors strongly contributed to the rising tensions between the major European powers, thus resulting in total war.
NOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN WHAT LED THE WORLD, AND AUSTRALIA, INTO 'THE GREAT WAR', LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHY WORLD POWERS, ONCE AGAIN, WERE DRAWN INTO CONFLICT 21 YEARS AFTER THIS WAR!