Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Causes of WW1, Social Darwinism, A system of alliances caused a minor…
Causes of WW1
Nationalism
Anglo-German Rivalry:
The creation of this rivalry stokes tensions in Europe as the great powers begin to take sides and form alliances against or for one of these nations
Germany became a nation in 1871. Now they (you could say the German leaders, government, or/and Kaiser) want to become an empire like Britain, France, Russia, and Austria.
-
-
-
-
-
Germany forming is directly tied to French humiliation. Seeking revenge, France takes an aggressive foreign policy against Germany by making new alliances.
-
-
Russian Empire has a rising sense of slavic nationalism. They see themselves as the protector of all the slavic peoples. When Austria Hungary is acting against Serbia, a Slavic nation, Russia intends to stand in to protect them.
-
-
-
Nationalism also fuelled conflict in the Balkans, who had a significant number of different ethnicities, which in an empire like Russia or Austria was very bad as these nations were incredibly diverse.
Nationalism also caused citizens to support war more, as a greater sense of community meant that they were more willing to see other countries as existential rivals.
Militarism
Anglo-German Naval Arms Race:
Germany wants a strong navy, while Britain wants to stay the naval superpower. This leads to other European countries an armsrace for more numerous and more powerful ships so that one side may get an upperhand if a war were to break out.
-
-
-
-
France is angry about the 1870 war against Germany. They want to humiliate Germany and regain territories in Alsace-Lorraine.
-
Russian loss to Japan in 1904 is a national humiliation. It shows that Russia is weak which is noted by Germany while also pushing Russia to be bold in its foreign policy in order to reestablish itself as a strong nation.
-
An arms race was fuelled by the Industrial Revolution. Newer guns and greater economic power meant nations could support much larger armies. For example, by 1914 over 85% of French men and 50% of Germans had served in the army or navy.
Diplomacy
-
-
-
Germany wants to keep Russia weak, because if they become too powerful they will overrun Germany.
-
In Europe there were two main alliances, the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance (which did not last the start of the war).
The Entente was made up of Britain, France, and Russia. Britain had a "moral obligation" to help France against Germany officially. Meanwhile Russia and France had built up an alliance that would mean that they would help each other against Germany in the case of war.
-
The Triple Alliance was made up of Germany, Italy and France.
-
Imperialism
Scramble for Africa
German Colonies
Germany has blocked off British ambition for "Cape to Cairo" with Tanzanian colony
This image depicts the aftermath of the Scramble for Africa. It shows how the Germany colony in Tanzania (in eastern Africa) blocked off the British from having a line of colonies from north to south across Africa.
-
-
-
Empires such as Britain and France found new competition with Germany who sought to create its own overseas Empire. This was something seen as not favourable since it meant that the status quo powers had to deal with another competitor for strategic resources across the world.
This is exemplified by the fact that after the war, all of the German colonies were ceased by powers including Britain, France, and Japan. Other nations also lost territory to other empires, such as the Ottomans (being basically completely divided up) or Austro-Hungary being divided up into a new Balkan order of states.
This image depicts the division of the Ottoman Empire after WW1
Germany was quickly becoming the largest economic power in Europe. This was something frightening to the other European powers because the continental trend was towards reliance on German trade. This disruption to the status quo created support for war, which could re-establish the old European order. Even if Germany did not go to war, European domination would still occur, just through economic means.
This also connects to the fight for colonies around the world, as strategic resources such as oil in the Middle East or rubber in the East Indies could provide a strategic advantage in the case of war.
Leaders and Beliefs
The Hasburgs
-
-
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Fired Otto von Bismarck, taking control of foreign policy to terrible effect
1896 congratulations to Boer leader Paul Krueger because of defeat of a British attack:
this angered the British and sowered relations with Germany.
-
Supported expansionist and militarist policies, causing tensions to increase in Europe since nations like Britain were competing for stronger military power in the case of war. This disruption of the status quo meant that the nations already in powerful positions in Europe would be more willing to support a war against those who threatened them.
-
-
Tsar Nicholas the II
Bloody Sunday, 1905 was a protest for people to have better working conditions. It was led by radical priest Georgy Apollonovich Gapon. This stirred up a lot of controversy.
Bloody Sunday led to the Tsar losing control over large parts of Russia (as in social society), being seen as one of the key causes of WWI
-
-
The Tsar chose to mobilize his army in 1914 in response to the Balkan crisis, which was seen as an act of war causing other nations (Germany and Austria) to respond.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Empires committed to maximizing their territory found conflict with new rising powers in Europe, specifically Germany
The Industrial Revolution fuelled a military build-up that would create fear, as well as armies that would make the next war disastrous.