Causes of WW1- European Theatre
- Created by: GalleyGirl
- Created on: 21-04-17 17:24
Ideological- Militarism
*German expansion of forces -agressive competition
-Economic justification for war
-Suspicion and tension from other countries
(e.g. GB and France)
*Arms race - expanding navy
- Specifically causing tension with G.B.
- Other countries suspicious
*Supported by countries nationalism and political insecurities
*1870-1914, fourfold increase on amount spent on the military amongst Great Powers of Europe
Ideological- Imperialism
Germany only had a few colonies in Africa and S. Pacific
- Desire for growth
- Wanted empire as big as G.B.
G.B. empire 1/5 of earth/ 1/4 of population
- Desire to maintain superiority
-Suspicious of Germany threatening control, real fear Germany would successfuly challenge
-Only equivalent military strength would offer security
* Competition between Great Powers and escalating suspicion and hatred
-Gave nations resources for war
-Made war more likely but NOT inevitable, other factors
Ideological- Nationalism
*Great Powers competition
-Popular nationalist support for agressive policies
-British public demand more dreadnoughts!
*Germany's desire for 'Place in the sun'
-Kaiser agressive policies and determination to make Germany great
-Refusing to back down and lose face
*Balkan independence campaigns
*Russia's use of nationalism to detract from domestic problems
-Humiliation from Russo- Japanese war, shameful defeat.
-Need to regain face and military strength
Alliances
*Triple entente -France, G.B., Russia (1907)
*Triple alliance -Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (1882)
*Individual alliances
- Russia/Serbia
-G.B./ Japan
-G.B/ Belgium
-Germany/ Ottoman empire
-Austria-Hungary/Bulgaria
Effectively split world in two, us and them, increased tensions.
-Caused conflict to escalate drew other countries in
Territorial
*Imperial competition around the world
-'Scramble for Africa'
-G.B. dominant
-German desire for better territory, interferenca in Morocco and S. Africa
*Conflict over Balkans
-A-H and Ottoman Empire dominant
-Balkan nationalism/independence campaign, causing conflict
-Russia 'protector of Slavic people', wanted access to sea, detract from failures at home.
Economic
*German Expansionism
- War offers possible economic gains in territory
- Justifies military expenditure
*British Imperial strength
-Global economic leader, gave confidence for war
-Justified expensive arms race with Germany
1914 1914
Britain 1 Dreadnought 29 Dreadnoughts
Germany 0 Dreadnoughts 17 Dreadnoughts
Short-term events
*Assassination of Archduke Franz Fedinand and wife Sofia by 'Blackhand' gang, Gavrilo Princip (Serbian nationalist).
*Austrian ultimatum to Serbia, promoted by unconditional German support. (Not expected to fulfill)
-Serbia then backed by Russia
*Russian Mobilization
-Determined not to back down, be seen as strong.
*25 July Russia mobilizes
*28 July A-H declares war on Serbia
*Germany gives ultimatum for Russia to demobilize, refused, declare war on 1 August
*France mobilizes 1 August, Germnay declares war on 3 August
*G.B declare war on 4 August, when Belgium neutrality violated
Summary
*Other factors much more symptomes of ideolgical causes
-MAIN causes- Militarism/Allainces/Imperialism/Nationalism
*Territorial factors direct result of ideology
*Economic more bonus than cause
*Short-term events more result of building up tension
-A-H desire to maitain empire
-Germany desire to be seen as strong
-Russian desire to be seen as strong, and have popular nationalist support from people
-G.B. and French desire to maintain power and dominance
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