Causes of the First World War

first Moroccan crises, the Tangier crisis of 1905 was caused from Germany’s feigned offence at Frances preparations for making Morocco part of its empire. This feigned offence allowed Germany to protest to Frances actions and almost caused outright war. This gave Germany the ability gauge the strength of Britain’s tie’s with France. However Germany didn’t get the chance as the matter was solved at a conference before any fighting could break out. But Germany had stopped Morocco being made part of the French empire although they did have certain rights in Morocco. This crisis eventually lead up to the second Moroccan crisis in 1911 in which Moroccan rebels attacked the attacked the town of Fez and France sent 20,000 soldiers to drive them back. The Kiser accused the French of invading and sent a war ship to Agadir. The British navy was sent to Agadir and once again war might have broken out if Germany hadn’t withdrawn her ships. This conflict had scared both Britain and Germany and both increased the building of Dreadnoughts in case of future conflict. This although allowing Germany an incite in to French – British connections strengthened French – British alliance and caused an agreement that if France was attacked by sea Britain would come to its aid. Although the Moroccan crisis was not a direct cause of the war and so not a trigger, it did increase tension In Europe and so was a short term cause. This although being a major cause of tension was not as important to the war as the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the War might have been avoided or postponed if it wasn’t for it. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austrian throne was assassinated on June the twenty-eighth 1914 by Gaverilo Pricip in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Gaverilo Pricip was a member of a Serbian terrorist group called the Black Hand who wanted to show their opposition to Bosnia becoming part of Austria Hungary. His death had massive consequences for Serbia and Austria Hungary who blamed Serbia for the assassination and issued an ultimatum against Serbia which consisted of 10 points, 9 of which Serbia accepted, the one rejected consisting of delegates from Austria Hungary taking part in the inquiry against those involved in the murder. This they could not accept because it would mean that Serbian courts would be influenced by a foreign country and Serbians independence would be threatened. This eventually caused Austria Hungary to declare war on Serbia as it took its opportunity. This then caused Russia to enter its alliance with Serbia and declare war with Austria Hungary who was joined by Germany. This was the eventual trigger that lead to war in 1914 as Germany set the Schlieffen plan in to effect.   Although the Moroccan crisis did add tension between the counties of Europe it wasn’t a direct cause or even a trigger of the war whereas the assassination of Franz Ferdinand gave the opportunity that Germany and Austria Hungary needed to start war and in my opinion is the main cause of the war because of this. Alexander Achilleos A1 History essay 04/02/09