Causes of WWI

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  • CAUSES OF WORLD WAR ONE
    • Fischers Thesis
      • Germany went to war to achieve European and World Wide domination
      • Germany hoped the 'Blank Cheque' would result in war
      • Roots of Germany going to war lied in social/economic/ political tensions pre-1914
      • Evidence: Reizler Diaries, War Council 1912, Schlieffen Plan
    • International Tensions and Crises
      • First Moroccan Crisis 1905, humiliated the Germans and strengthened the Entente. Increased feeling of encirclement
      • Second Moroccan Crisis 1911 led to increased Franco-German relations
      • Bosnian Crisis 1908 embittered Russia and Serbia who promised never to back down again, Dual Alliance strengthened
    • Alliances
      • Franco-Russian alliance 1894  Anglo-French 1904    Anglo-Russian/ Entente 1907
      • Triple Alliance 1882 Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany. "Dual Alliance" (AH+G) became over reliant on one another.
      • Germany had opportunities to sign an alliance with Britain in 1901 but believed they wouldn't find friends elsewhere and didn't. Couldn't guarantee neutrality in outbreak of war.
      • Dreikaiserbund 1881 lapsed by Germany made them prone to 2 front attack hence Schlieffen Plan needed
      • Played a key part in the July Crisis - pulled all European countries in
    • Germany
      • Weltpolitik - aggressive pursuit of power could have caused naval race and other powers feared Germanys growth
        • Germany went to war to achieve European and World Wide domination
      • Naval Threat, HMS Dreadnought launched 1905. British feared German supremacy as Germans expanded.   Between 1909-13 tensions continued although claimed to be settled in 1914
      • Domestic Policy - as Germany revolutionised demand for reforms grew. Kaiser felt threatened by forces of change and some of the General Staff and Officials felt war would provide a distraction from these problems
        • Roots of Germany going to war lied in social/economic/ political tensions pre-1914
    • July Crisis
      • The 'Blank Cheque' drew Germany into war.
      • Russia and Serbia were the main opposition to Austria and Germany. Wouldn't back down after Moroccan Crisis
      • France was drawn in as Germany wouldn't change the Schlieffen Plan
      • Alliances played a huge part in causing countries involvements
  • Second Moroccan Crisis 1911 led to increased Franco-German relations

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