What were the Causes of the First World War?

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What were the Causes of the First World War? Thursday, 03 May 2007

There were many reasons why war broke out on the 28th July 1914. This was not the only date that it became a ‘World War’. Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia and from then it was a knock on effect.

The War did not start just because of one assignation. The tension in mainland Europe had been building up for many decades. Everyone involved was waiting for was the ultimate trigger. 

One of the major long-term causes was the alliance system. Eventually the small war between two small countries resulted in world war because of the alliance system. The Franco Prussian War (1870 –1) was a major contributor to the 1st World War. The Treaty of Frankfurt (1871) ended the war but induced some extreme penalties upon France. Germany (was Prussia) took the two French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, tempting because of their strategic position as well as rich iron and coalfields. This caused immense tension between the French living there and the German occupying soldiers. France wanted severe revenge for the loss of life and land.

Slowly but surely smaller alliances grew in size and amount of countries involved in them. This was leading up to war. In 1875-8 Russia was getting worried about widespread Slav revolts in the Balkans and forced the Turks to sign the treaty of San Stefano. This treaty allowed Russia to reorganise the Balkan region with a new ‘big’ Bulgaria

In 1879 the ‘Duel Alliance was set up between Germany and Austro-Hungary in secret. It was a defensive alliance so either country would come to each other’s aid if attacked by Russia. It was signed mostly because Russia and Austro-Hungary were deadlocked in major bitterness and rivalry. The ‘Dreikaiserbund’ was renewed in 1881.

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The ‘Reinsurance Treaty’ was set up in 1887 to double cross Austro-Hungary. It involved Russia and Germany and Germany agreed not to support and Austrian Attack on Russia and Russia agreed not to support a French attack on Germany. Bismarck persuaded Italy to join the ‘Duel Alliance’ and then in 1882 the ‘Duel Alliance’ became the ‘Triple Alliance’. All of the past events encouraged French and British rivalry over colonies.

In 1892 Germany’s General of Military staff, Count Schlieffen, had already devised a plan that would knock out France in one swift move and cause a delay in order ...

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