Causes of WW1

Militarialism
1. Great Britain was last to introduce conscription
  1. GB followed policy of 'Splendid Isolation'
    1. Didn't need large army - needed larger navy instead, as it is an island
      1. 1900 - Britain had largest navy
2. The Naval Race of 1906
  1. 1898 - Kaiser Wilhelm orders Admiral Tirpitz to build up German navy
  2. 1906 - First Dreadnought made
    1. New, superior battleship
  3. British public were behind the Arms Race
    1. "We want 8, and we won't wait"
  4. 1914 - Britain: 34 Dreadnoughts built, Germany: 22
Alliances
1. 1907 - Triple Entente
  1. Britain, France, Russia
2. 1882 - Triple Alliance
  1. Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary
3. 1904 - Entente Cordiale
  1. Britain, France
4. All alliances made in secret
5. Too much support
  1. Local disputes turned into bigger problems due to alliances
6. Race to build up arms
  1. Therefore becoming militarily stronger
7. Series of conflicts
  1. Increased tensions
  2. Strengthened alliances, creating a volatile situation
Imperialism
1. Weltpolitik ("World Politics")
  1. Foreign policy of Kaiser Wilhelm
  2. Germany = strongest industrial country in Europe; most powerful army in the world
    1. However, as it was a new country, it didn't have an empire
  3. Aim of Weltpolitik = enable Germany to take its "place in the sun"
    1. Therefore, in order to gain an empire, Germany needed a stronger navy
      1. This alarmed Britain
2. Moroccan Crisis - 1905-1906
  1. France wanted control of Morocco
    1. Germany supported Morocco's army against the French
      1. Algeciras Conference of 1906: GB and Russia support France and Germany has to back down
        Alliances strengthened; Germany feels encircled
3. Agadir Crisis - 1911
  1. France puts down a rebellion in Morocco
    1. Germany sends a gunboat - The Panther - to Agadir to support the rebels and intimidate France
      1. GB supported France; Germany had to back down; tensions increased between Germany, France and Britain
4. Bosnian Crisis - 1908
  1. Bosnia was part of the Balkans: an area recently taken over by Turkey
    1. Both Austria-Hungary and Russia wanted to control the area for access to the sea
      1. A-H annexes Bosnia; Russia and Serbia protest, but A-H is supported by Germany, so have to back down
        Tensions increased: Serbia wanted revenge; Russia was humiliated and built up its army
Nationalism
1. The belief that your country is better than others.
  1. This made nations assertive and aggressive.
2. Many citizens of different countries were spoiling for war, due to their hatred of a certain country or due to their intense love for their own country.
  1. They wanted to see their country win: have the best navy, army etc.
    1. Lead to Militarilism

Next up

Description

Resource summary

Similar

	Created by meg.richardson24 over 8 years ago