The Main Causes Of World War I

Alliance systems in the beginning of the 20th century was the utmost important cause of the war. Powerful nations teamed up due to tensions arising from nationalism and land disputes that would later cause every European country to inevitably join the war. At the start of the century, tensions between powerful European nations were at an all-time high. Germany as one, did not feel as they deserved the lack of respect they were given. Germany was motivated to became as powerful as Great Britain and to become a powerful industrial empire. Germany would look to have the strongest Navy in the world and ‘control the waters’ and to have superiority over other powerful nations in Europe. Great Brittan felt threatened by Germany’s quest for power and

To force Germany to fight a two-front war, France allied with Russia. On the other side of Europe, Russia was seeking to take over the Straits when the crumbling Ottoman Empire would eventually fall. Great Britain however was looking to control the Suez Canal, and if Russia controlled the strait, Great Brittan would not be able to reach British India (Class Lecture: Causes of World War I). There were also high tensions in the Balkan’s, often referred to as the “powder keg”. Serbia was angered that they were controlled by Austria-Hungary and wanted independence. Russia made an agreement to join Serbia in a fight due to nationalistic ties. Both Russians and Serbians had Slovik backgrounds. These nationalistic tensions were an inherent cause for the formation of alliances in Europe. The Austrian-Hungary empire ruled over many different ethnic groups which sparked the fight for independence (Class Lecture: Causes of World War I). Austria-Hungary’s imperialism and rule over Serbia caused tensions from nationalism and eventually would trigger World War I. In June 1914, a Serbian terrorist assassinated the heir to the Austrian throne and his

The Triple Entente was made up of Russia, Great Britain and France and Central Powers consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire. Great Britain and Russia created an alliance despite land disputes from the fall of the Ottoman Empire because Great Britain felt threated by Germany’s militarization and growth of their navy (211). Great Britain would eventually join the war when Germany declares war on Belgium. Belgium was a neutral nation and did not want Germany to mobilize troops through their nation and Germany however chose move through Belgium provoking the inclusion of another powerful nation. Italy would later join the war as promised land in Croatia from the Allies. It was inevitable for the United States to join the war. The United States would join the war on the Allied side. The United states would join when Russia withdraws due to revolutions and when Germany promised American land to Mexico for joining the war. The large scale war between all powerful nations in Europe and all that was at cost made it almost impossible for the United states to assist (Class Lecture: Causes of World War I). By August, all of Europe would be involved in the war due to alliances and the war would last until 1918. If it weren’t for pacts made between nations prior to the war, the war could have easily not have started and inhibit the breakout of war across the whole continent of