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Causes of WW1 (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918) - Coggle Diagram
Causes of WW1 (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918)
Long-term causes
Imperialism
Russia wanting to take Asian trade routes to India,
tension w/ British
Germany
wanted to expand & develop overseas empire bc of population & capitalist pressures, but globe alr divided up among european powers
colonial rivalry
main cause of tension: wanted to establish itself as a naval power with an empire overseas through policy
Weltpolitik
Both Morroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911 heightened Franco-German and Anglo-German tensions, strengthening triple entente and creating more divide betw allied powers. + establishing Germany as threat and creating atmosphere of war
2nd crisis triggered a strong reaction and brought countries on the brink of war, british criticism of 'gunboat diplomacy'
initially economically motivated but taken over by belief of social darwinism, that spreading western civilization was gods work
Russian humiliation at their loss during Russo-Japanese war result of Russia attempting to colonise Korea and North-China
militarism + industrialisation
rapid mobilisation and need to prove themselves after bosnian crisis
Decaying Ottoman Empire gave rise to 'Eastern Question' and left vacuum of power
led to bosnian crisis
1908
, causing serbian outrage. proved auh + germany strong alliance and weak triple entente -- connect to nationalism
Also led to Balkan wars which created deeper serb-auh tensions and heightened serb nationalism and military strength
creation of albania caused serbian resentment towards auh
Russia wanted to limit auh expansion whlie gaining access to borporas and dardanelles
Militarism
Arms race
naval arms race (dreadnought) - established germany as enemy and inc anglo-german tensions that decreased british hesitance to join the war + morroccan crisis of 1911
german naval expansion forced britain to seek alliances with its former colonial rivals, france and russia, forming the triple entente
russia driven by failure in crimea war and russo-japanese war which is why it also mobilised much faster than expected in the Schlieffen Plan
war could have been avoided if russia didn't mobilise without informing France, hasty to establish position
militarism + nationalism + industrialisation (tech devs etc) eg. in Germany where Reichstag little importance
massive increase in armaments, no limits on arms production as well as large standing armies + conscription
after tensions increased to a certain point, mobilization was vert swift and quick eg. french plan 17 involved swift attack
war plans eg. schlieffen, plan 17 allowed countries to act quickly
militarism and rapid industrialisation of germany led it to purposefully conflict w/other colonial powers that heightened tensions and came close to war
great military power of prussians in franco-prussian war humiliated france
Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
- France undermined, humiliated & Germany established as potentially dominant power, France wanted to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine
Nationalism
Slav nationalism
during decline of Ottoman empire cause of concern for AUH; encouraged by
Russia
so it could establish its influence but heavily opposed by AUH
literature, press & educational material + popular press made war seem short and heroic, caused inflated confidence and blind to faults of own nation. demonised rival nations eg. anti-british sentiments after boer war in germany, greedy
Bosnian Crisis created big tensions of a ‘Greater Serbia’
all Great Powers considered their. nations to be militarily superior, fostering a. sense of military overconfidence
Pan-Slavism opposed to auh empire and its influence in the balkans— aggravated by bosnian crisis, many young serbs joined radical nationalist groups like black hand to achieve ‘Greater Serbia’
Inspired the assassination of archduke franz ferdinand, directly leading to the outbreak of war
nationalist movements of diff ethnic groups weakened ottoman empire leading to vacuum of power —> instability in the Balkans
German Kaiser Wilhelmina II highly nationalistic, led to Weltpolitik and morrocan crises
austria exaggerated potential threat of serbia and was determined to make war
Alliances
1839
Treaty of London
acknowledged Belgium as neutral state, so when German troops invaded considered as violation by british
1873 Three Emperors League
isolated France and formed basis of Triple Alliance after Russia left due to disorder in the Balkans
1879 Dual Alliance
- Germany + AUH agreed to provide military support if attacked by Russia, welcomed by German nationalists
1882 Triple Alliance
AUH + Germany + Italy; if attacked by 2 or more powers would offer assistance
1894 Franco-Russian Alliance
; after Reinsurance treaty allowed to lapse, response to Triple Alliance—freeing France of isolation and creating possibility of two-front war for Germany
1904 Entente Cordiale
; settled rivalry with France over colonial issues, first steps towards Anglo-French alliance
1907 Anglo-Russian Entente
; reduced British concern over Asian territories, restored good relations
1907 Triple Entente
formed bc Franco-Russian alliance already present
Weltpolitik policy
caused Britain to seek alliances with former colonial rivals, forming 3 Entente’s which marked the end of British neutrality
Made Germany feel trapped and move closer to AUH, giving blank cheque during July Crisis + stopping auh in balkan war #2
Russia mobilized without informing France, causing France to get swept into the war after Germany declared
Secret Clauses
eg. Reinsurance Treaty heightened suspicion and tension between nations
Russo-Serbian alliance could have led Serbia to reject the ultimatum, resulting in the July Crisis and also didn’t restrain serb nationalism causing instability in the balkans