Long Term Causes of World War 1

Economic

Political

increasing power for countries with abundance of resources

SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (1870-1914)

Britain -coal, iron, steam power, textiles, cotton {India}

Russia- pig iron, steel, railway network however heavily agricultural

Germany- railways, iron, steel, big businesses, factories, chemical industry (synthetic dyes)

USA- factories, mining, railroads, steel production

made most progress, however railway system not as efficient as other countries due to vast size

​​​​​​MILITARISM

Insecurities due to economic rivalries and growth of armed forces

-iron and steel, manufacturing industry>> production of modern military technology

-extensive, efficient railways>> rapid transportation of troops and supplies

IMPERIALISM

An empire gave economic and political power, and prestige

Balkans

Russia

Serbia

Austria-Hungary

Ottoman Empire

-dominated B. since 1500's

-failing strength led to smaller Balkan states>>Serbia (1817) and Bulgaria (1878

-big empire in control of much of central, eastern Europe and wanted to further influence in Balkans

-clash with Russia and Serbia who promoted pan-Slavism

-feared revolt due to multi-ethnic empire with substantial number of Slavic peoples

- wanted to create Albania, to prevent threatening, growing Serbia from having access to sea and ports>> hindering economic development

- promoted nationalistic vision of BIG, GREAT SERBIA

*remember* Serbia is part of the Balkans!

- increased militancy with fierce pro-Russian, nationalistic Karadjordjevic dynasty

-victorious in Balkan Wars>> increased territory by 80%

- growth threatened others especially Austria- Hungary

Balkan Wars (1912-1913)

- two wars over possession of European territories of Ottoman Empire

-involved Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia, Greece, and Ottoman Empire

-victory: Serbia

Pan-Slavism

-"ethnic and linguistic grouping of eastern European peoples whose languages include Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Polish and Czech"

- motivated by ideological commitment (nationalism)

- pro-Slavism (included Russia!!) means pro-Serbia and defender of Serbia

- BUT also for political, strategic reasons >>

>access for Russian merchant and warships through Black Sea and Mediterranean

>limit Austro-Hungarian (rival) territorial expansion

Austro-Hungarian and Russian previous conflicts and rivalries in the Balkans

- 1878, A.H. mobilized army against Russian influence in the region due to Russo-Turkish War>>

>resolved through diplomacy however settlement left Russia dissatisfied, increasing tensions towards Austria-Hungary and Germany (Dual Alliance 1878)

- Tensions rose again in 1908>> A.H. annexed region of Bosnia-Hrzegovina

>Russia militarily too weak so resolved with diplomatic protest, but made them more determined to prevent further events such as this

Moroccan Crises (1905-1911)

Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878)

-Ottoman vs. Russia

-over territorial control in Balkan region

-victory:Russia

Britain

France

Germany

- increase during rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II (1888)

-wanted to be recognized

-weltpolitik

- threaten French and British imperial interests, who had majority of colonial ports

-"we don't put to put anyone else in the shade, but we too demand our place in the sun"

-diplomatic clashes between Germany and France over Morocco (N. Africa considered French Sphere of interest>>supported by Anglo-French Entente [1904])

-1905: France tried to get more control, Germany object

- Algericas Conference (1906), Britain and France forced Germany to agree to France's control over Morocco

-1911>>same as 1905>>Germany forced to accept French Congo instead>>humiliation

- rivalries and nationalism stimulated

"It was the growing military strength of the major powers which made crises generated by imperial rivalries more likely to trigger the outbreak of real hostilities."

ALLIANCE SYSTEMS

Entente Cordiale, French-Russian military alliance, Anglo-Russian Convention>> Triple Entente

-to increase security

-countries joined more according to their needs not only for others

Dual>>Triple Alliance

-D.A. between Germany and Austria Hungary, 1878

-"largely response to German insecurity" following tensions due to Balkan rivalry

-Triple Alliance 1882

>>Italy joins

>defensive military alliance (provide military assistance should one be attacked by other Euro powers)

-Franco-Russian mil. alliance, 1894 (worried about Germany)

- E.C. between Britain and France, 1904

>>series of agreements settling and respecting imperial rivalries and spheres of influence

- ​​​​​​Anglo-Russian Convention, 1907

>>similar agreement with E.C.

-Triple Entente, 1907

>> not a military alliance​​​

Arms/ Naval Race

Naval Race

-Britain vs. Germany in decade before 1914

-Germany jealous of Britain's Royal Navy, Britain sees Germany as a threat

-Britain creates new class of battleship in 1906>>Dreadnought (high tech)

-Germany responds by creating own kind of dreadnought in 1908

Arms Race

-investment in increasing standing armies

-Triple Entente had most advantage in terms of size and rate of growth

-Germany, the slowest growth

Standing Army

"A permanent, professional army maintained in times of peace and war

LONG TERM CAUSES

-anxious Germany key in escalating crisis >> sparks other countries

- attitude of 'war sooner the better'

MILITARY PLANS

Austro-Hungary

-danger of multiple front war

-Serbia in the south, Russia in the east, and Romania (if joined, they did) ..somewhereidk

-weak technologically compared to enemies

-hoped for assistance from Germany

Germany

-danger of two-front war (surrounded by Triple Entente powers)

-Schlieffen Plan to avoid two front problem by first attacking French avoiding heavily fortified places and then turning around to attack Russia

>>swift movements of hook formations in France

>> rapid mobilization crucial

France

-offensive

-concentrated attack through Lorraine on German forces

-exaggerated optimism of high officials

Britain

- relatively small standing army

-rapid mobilization to assist France

-use navy to destroy German navy, impose blockade on Germany, protect Triple Entente;s supply shipping from attacks by enemy

Russia

-early mobilization to compensate for large size however not for threatening reasons like Schlieffen Plan

>>dramatically escalates war

-importance of the rapid offensive

-optimistic military planners expected short war

-swift mobilization crucial

NATIONALISM

"A devotion to the interests and culture of one's nation, often leading to the belief that certain nationalities are superior to others."

-decades before, growth in aggressive nationalism

-industrial, military, imperialistic developments, rivalry between countries stimulate nationalism

-"created an environment in which war..was rather seen as an opportunity to assert dominance."

-encouraged feeling of optimistic victory