Introduction
The Causes behind "The Great War" (1914-1918)
World War One was caused by a number of intricate factors
that had been developing for over 20 years into the lead-up. National rivalries,
territorial jealousy, military competition, economic competition and the rush
to colonise new land all contributed to the conflict and tension.
Through this conflict and tension between European nations that had been building for years, the immediate trigger that initialised the commencement of World War I was the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by Bosnian Serbs on the 28th of June 1914. The main factors that contributed to the lead-up of the war included Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism throughout European nations.
Militarism created tension through the fierce competition between the European powers in efforts to improve and expand their army and military forces (known as the ‘arms race’). French and German armies had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914. There was also fierce competition between Britain and Germany for the control of overseas empires which lead to the heavy manufacturing of ‘Dreadnoughts’ battleships.
Alliances were another source of tension. By 1907, the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) were the results of the two main alliances formed by six major European nations, giving countries no option but to wage war if their allies were involved in conflict.
Imperialism was where countries expanded their territory and therefore their power and rule, which resulted in further rivalry and competition, and nationalism was a further underlying factor as it meant being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one’s country. Large parts of Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to nationalist groups, who wanted freedom from the states they lived in at the time.
All these issues contributed to the main event that set off ‘The Great War’ (WWI), which ended in 1918.
Through this conflict and tension between European nations that had been building for years, the immediate trigger that initialised the commencement of World War I was the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by Bosnian Serbs on the 28th of June 1914. The main factors that contributed to the lead-up of the war included Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism throughout European nations.
Militarism created tension through the fierce competition between the European powers in efforts to improve and expand their army and military forces (known as the ‘arms race’). French and German armies had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914. There was also fierce competition between Britain and Germany for the control of overseas empires which lead to the heavy manufacturing of ‘Dreadnoughts’ battleships.
Alliances were another source of tension. By 1907, the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) were the results of the two main alliances formed by six major European nations, giving countries no option but to wage war if their allies were involved in conflict.
Imperialism was where countries expanded their territory and therefore their power and rule, which resulted in further rivalry and competition, and nationalism was a further underlying factor as it meant being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one’s country. Large parts of Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to nationalist groups, who wanted freedom from the states they lived in at the time.
All these issues contributed to the main event that set off ‘The Great War’ (WWI), which ended in 1918.