What where the causes of WW1

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The Causes of the First World War.

An event happened on the 14th of august 1914 that led to the death of over 20 million people both military and civilians with a further 21 people wounded and 7.5 million taken as prisoners. It was then when all the nations in Europe including the five great powers Germany, Britain, Austria-Hungary and France and Russia declared war on each other causing a great war often known as the First World War. The war finally ended on 11th of November 1918, however majority of the damage was caused after the war ended.  The consequences of this war where huge a flu epidemic spread  across the globe killing at least 20 million more people, Furthermore, the land throughout Europe was destroyed due to the heavy artillery and trench warfare. Cities in France, Germany, Russia, and other countries were in ruins. Not to mention the huge unemployment rate and economic damage.

In this essay I will discuss the causes of the First World War both long term and short term. I will discuss the  MAIN long-term causes of world war one  Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism,  and several short term causes such as the Balkan wars, Boer wars and the Agadir crisis among many others. Firstly I will focus on nationalism and how it contributed to the start of world war one I will discuss different instances of nationalism such a the Treaty of San Stefano and how the French where defeated when they attempted to stop Germany was becoming an independent and how that lead to the French seething with hatred. Secondly I will look at imperialism and how it caused the nations of Europe to fight over certain countries such as the Fashoda incident which led to the British and the French to clash over Sudan thus finding themselves in very difficult position. I will also focus on how countries developing their weaponry and defences can cause aggression, confidence and tension between nations. And how militarism contributed to the commencement of world war one. Furthermore how alliances caused Europe to be divided into two dangerous sides and how this meant that if  country wages war on another all the allying countries are forced to join in. lastly I will explain the final steps to the war that killed millions. World War One, otherwise known as  "The Great War, or "The War to End All Wars" was a conflict so traumatic and so ghastly, that when it finally ended, not only had the map of the world changed beyond all recognition, but the world itself would never again be the same. 

Nationalism means being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's country. During the late nineteenth and into the twentieth century’s, Nationalism was a prominent movement that had spread itself across Europe. All major powers had strong feelings toward the concepts of supporting their own nation. Nationalists believed that their own nation's needs must be met before that of other nations. These strong beliefs sometimes became obsessive as nationalists became so proud of their nation that they strived for it to become richer and more powerful than any other. This wave of national pride became a major problem for the Austro-Hungarian Empire as they attempted to maintain a form of order and control within the annexed area of Bosnia. This power was placed under threat due to the Slavonic peoples dislike of their Austro-Hungarian superiors and their desire to attach themselves to Serbia and create an independent state to be known as Yugoslavia, or 'The Land of the South Slavs.' This was seen as the reason for the assassination of Ferdinand and his wife. The assassination gave Austria-Hungary the ideal excuse to declare war against Serbia. The nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.

 Another example of nationalism was The Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano which was a treaty between  and the  signed at the end of the . It was signed on  at San Stefano , a village west of , by Count  and  on behalf of the Russian Empire and Foreign Minister  and Ambassador to Germany  on behalf of the Ottoman Empire.

The treaty also established  as an autonomous principality after almost 500 years of Ottoman domination. March 3, the day the Treaty of San Stefano was signed, is celebrated as  in Bulgaria. The Great Powers, especially British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, were unhappy with this extension of Russian power, and Serbia feared the establishment of Greater Bulgaria would harm their interests in the Ottoman heritage. Romania, which had contributed significantly to the victory in the war, was extremely disappointed by the treaty, and the Romanian public perceived some its conditions as Russia breaking the Russo-Romanian prewar treaties that guaranteed the integrity of Romanian territory.

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so the treaty of san Stefano caused some tension between the Russia and several of the great powers in Europe. Even though the treaty was revised the congress of Berlin through the Treaty of Berlin there is no doubt that in decreased the trust between the nations of Europe and increased the ever growing instability. Nationalism increased strain on international affairs, and heightened the fear of a world war.

Because of a great pride in ones country the people decided to spread their ideas by colonizing and countries which is known as imperialism

Several historians and scholars have attributed ...

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