General Causes of
WWI
The Causes in a Nutshell
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A- Alliance: European nations signed secret treaties that created a
system of alliances pitting nation versus nation.
N - Nationalism: There were intense feelings of nationalism on the
part of subjugated nationalities. These feelings would eventually lead
to rash acts.
I - Imperialism: Competition to develop vast empires caused tension
and conflict.
M - Militarism: Nations built huge armies to defend themselves and
help to gain these empires. It was a natural feeling for them to want to
use these militaries.
A - Anarchy: There was no international organization to help them
deal with their problems.
L - Leadership: It was poor. Just look at the system they set
up...quite poor indeed.
Cause #1: Kaiser Wilhelm II
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Grandson of Queen Victoria
He was born with a weak left arm which became
something he needed to compensate for
He joins the military at 18 and excels
He is full of “complexes” and insecurities that are fueled by
a love of the military
Bismark had created a series of alliances between
Germany, France, Britain, Russia and Austro-Hungary.
These alliances created a tenuous “balance of power”
Kaiser Wilhelm upset this delicate balance by boasting &
threatening the other nations with talk of German
greatness. This alienated France, Russia and Britain. Only
Austro-Hungary remained loyal and that country was
unstable
Cause #2: Social Problems
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Industrialization produced a huge disparity between
“haves” and “have nots”. Power rested with the few
“haves” and the many “have nots” wanted more.
In Britain women suffragettes used civil disobedience to
demand political rights. The British government’s reaction
was cruel and harsh. Women were jailed and force fed.
The populations in many industrial nations became angry
and frustrated and began to lose faith in their
governments.
Socialism was an “idea” that promised equality and
prosperity, but for Radicals, revolution seemed the only
way to bring about change.
1912 Socialist convention attempted to stave off war in
Serbia a country alternately controlled by Russia and
Austro-Hungary.
Cause #3: Shifts in world
power
► Imperialism
brought new countries into the
world picture (the U.S. & Germany)
► Imperialism led to an arms race. Military
growth became a part of the economic
growth experienced by industrial nations.
► Nationalism (strong identification to one’s
country) creates new loyalties to country
and a sense of entitlement to all the world
has to offer.
Cause #4: Russia and the Czar –
Nicholas II
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Marries Alexandria, a German princess. She was a staunch
“monarchist” who believed in maintaining the absolute
power of the monarchy. This made her unsupportive of
socialist reforms.
He is related to British and German royalty by both blood
and marriage
Alexi, his only son, was a hemophiliac and sickly. Rasputin
became the family “healer” and advisor, but he gave really
bad advice.
The royal family lived at their country palace, isolated and
completely out of touch with the people and the revolution
brewing under their noses.
The Russian masses (largely impoverished) had begun to
consider the socialist ideals of greater equality. This
growing instability would lead to revolution in 1917.
Cause #5: German Arrogance
► German
nationalism, arrogance and a belief in
German superiority gave rise to imperialist goals
► Socialist Democratic Party represented workers
(proletariat) who were vocal, angry & volatile.
► This working class wanted to share in Germany’s
new wealth, something most believed could be
achieved through military conquest.
Cause #6:
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The Balkans
Ethnic Slavs were determined to rid themselves of A-H
control and unite Serbia
The Black Hand was terrorist group that killed the
Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, during their visit
to Sarajevo in July 12, 1914
A-H Empire insists on punishing the Serbs
A-H declares war on Serbia (allied with Russia)
(Allied w/Germany)
(Allied w/Italy)
(Allied w/Britain)
(Allied w/France)
WWI is ignited by a single event (assassination of
Ferdinand) which pulls in 60 countries united through a
system of secret and known alliances (Triple Alliance = G,
A-H, I and Triple Entente R, GB, F).
Cause #7: General Rationale
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Germany used the recent events as an excuse to mobilize
her “war machine”
Many in Europe saw war as a much needed and beneficial
thing
The assassination of Jarey (a famous French Socialist and
pacifist). He had worked to organize reform and peace in
Serbia at the Socialist Convention of 1912. France sees his
death as a reason to fight Germany. This is ironic because
the death of a peaceful man became a cause for violence.
“Honor” must be defended. WWI was a product of old
values and a “colonial” understanding of international
conflict.
War brought an end to Socialist Movements world wide, an
end to monarchy governments and marked the beginning
of a violent century.
Alliances on the Eve of WWI
Political Governments 1914
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