Alliance system
Alliance system also contributed a lot as a cause for the First World War because the Europe was divided in two opposing Alliances.
Germany had defeated France in the 1871 war so Germany was feared by French desire for revenge. Germany signed a dual alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879. This became the Triple Alliance when in 1882 Italy was included. The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia.
In 1894 France and Russia was felling isolated in Europe and signed dual alliance. They agreed to help each other in the case of war. Britain was worried about Germany because the Kaiser had made it clear that he wanted Germany to have empire and strong navy as Britain had so Britain threatened by Germany. France also threatens by Germans powerful army and strong industries. Germany also wanted some colonies in France. Then Britain signed entente cordial with France. They both had agreements about colonies in Africa in 1904. They also planned together how to fight a future war against Germany. After three years Russia joined Britain and France because Russia also feared by growth of the Germans army, signed triple entente. Britain and Russia settled differences in central Asia. The triple entente was not a formal military alliance.
Arms race and tension in Europe
The cause of the tension in Europe was the naval rivalry which develops after 1900. Britain had ruled the seas without any challenge. Her navy was the most powerful in the world but in 1898 Germany announced her intension to build a powerful German navy increased tension and the competition started between great powers in Europe. Then in 1906 Britain launched HMS Dreadnought, the first of a new class of warships. Britain and Germany spent million on their new ships. So these were cause the tension and competition between European great powers. While Britain and Germany built-up their navies all other major powers of the Europe were also building up their armies. Every major power had trained their army. They forced young men to become soldiers for a year. From 1900 to1914 European powers double their spending on their armies. They spent a lot to get more weapons such as machine gun and huge field guns. The situation was that if one power increased its army other power would follow her. Arms race and naval race increased tension and lead to war.
Britain in First World War
There were several reasons for Britain to go for the war in august 1914. Britain had rivalry with Germany. Britain was allied to France and Russia. Britain thought to help her friends even the alliance was not a military alliance. Thinking not to go for a war would be bad for Britain because if Germany defeated France then Germany would dominate Europe and be a greater threat for Britain, same with France if France won, she would not trust Britain any more Britain. Britain also sympathised with little Serbia being invaded by large Austrian empire. Belgium was the main reason for British entry. In 1839 Britain and other great powers signed the treaty of London about neutrality of Belgium in a future war. So these were the reasons for Britain to go for the war.
Morocco Crisis
In 1904 Britain and France signed the Entente Cordial because Britain and France both worried about growth of Germany and her growing military so they resolve their arguments on colonies of Africa. They agreed that Britain should have Egypt and Sudan, while France should have morocco. Germany was not happy about it she was worried that Britain and France becoming close to each others. Germany was also angry because Britain and France were sharing Africa between themselves without Germany. The German Emperor Wilhelm II wanted to break the entente. In 1905 Kaiser Wilhelm visited morocco and declared that morocco should be free from French control and called an international conference. But her plan was not work out. Britain backed France as other states did. Germany was only backed by Austria. Germany was humiliated by the rejection of German’s view that morocco should be independent. This pushed him closer to Austria.
In 1911 the ruler of morocco asked France to help. The French occupied the Fez, capital of morocco. Germany was thinking that France would take over morocco. Germany sent a gunboat and demanded compensations. Germans aim was to break the Entente Cordial. Britain called for international conference, Britain was worried that Germans were attempting to establish a naval base in morocco. Britain warned Germany that she would backed France even if need to go war against Germany. Germany backed down after getting some land in central Africa. Germany was humiliated again and thinks to not to backed down again. The second crisis again increased tension between the great powers. The both Britain and France come closer.
The Bosnian Crisis 1908-1909
In 1908 Austria sent troops in to Bosnian. So again and international conference called. Many people of Bosnia were Serbian. Serbia wanted to incorporate Bosnian into Serbia at one point. Serbia appealed Russia for support. Russia demanded an international conference but Austria rejected Russian request. Germany backed her and told Russia do not interfere otherwise there would be a war. Russia was forced to back down. Again tension built up that already existed in Europe. She aimed to catch Germany up and increased her military.
