Ww1 Causes

World War One started with the assassination of the Archduke ferdinand, June 28th, 1914. His death being the cause for the start of WWI is undisputable, however there were many underlying causes for the war. These causes were spread among the European countries, though most were exemplified by Germany. It was the European countries rises in Militarism, Imperialism and their alliances that quietly started what would be known as “The Great war” until 1939. Militarism of nations in the early 1900s was a major underlying cause of WWI, as all Europeans were struggling to hold the “biggest stick” as the analogy goes. All of Europe was terrified of the others and the only way to solve that was to become better than the other European powers. Between

A German propaganda poster from 1917 depicts the British Empire as an octopus who has gotten ahold of so many parts of the world. It refers to Britain as “The bloodsucker of the world”, which shows the negative view in Germany of Britain's colonization. Great Britain’s mass colonization would scare any smaller country or any of Britain’s enemies. Believing that if one’s country does not colonize they too will become colonized, losing their national identity, is a real driving force. The depiction of Great Britain is also propaganda, which depicts Great Britain as evil, which allows the Germans to justify whatever actions they may take in order not to become like Britain’s colonies, like colonizing themselves. (DOC.E) In 1913 Great Britain’s total colonized land was 12,740,000 square miles, with an overall population of 400 Million. France had the second most land and population, while Germany had the third most, but neither were even close to Britain’s collective land of population. THis would have caused a bit of anxiety in Germany and other European countries, and also quite a bit of friction between everyone, all believing the other was out to conquer them.

Alliances are fine, but too many and when war breaks out you have to decide who you’re loyal too. Proximity also causes problem, as smaller countries end up stuck between two allied countries, and a two front war breaks out. THis is about Germany, and how its major alliance, the Triple Alliance was between France and Russia, two countries allied with each other and the United Kingdom in the Triple Entente. At this time the United Kingdom and France were powerful countries, making their alliance that much more scarier to the Triple Alliance and other smaller countries. Russia and France being allies, didn't help Germany's’ paranoia about a two front war, and suddenly that possibility was much more likely. If Germany annoyed one country, they would have five more enemies in no time flat. These alliances helped weaker countries seem stronger but they also heightened the paranoia and worry throughout Europe. More and more weaker countries started banding together, fearing the power of the stronger alliances. Eventually something would break. (DOC.A) The problem with alliances started showing: since The United Kingdom was allied with Belgium they had to jump into a war that wasn't really theirs to fight. Alliances meant that you had to support your allie, no matter what, which during and before WWI was a major issue. Italy wasn’t in an alliance at this time so they stayed neutral, which is what other countries