Main Causes of World War 1

The First World War began in the summer of 1914, shortly after Austria's Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated, and lasted for more than four years, concluding in 1918. Due to the trench combat and the large number of countries involved in the conflict, more than 20 million troops died and another 21 million were injured during the Great War. Though Archduke Ferdinand's assassination was the immediate precipitating event that led to the declaration of war, numerous other causes also had a part in the build-up to World War I (WWI).

Understanding the causes of World War 1 is just as crucial as understanding the conflict's catastrophic consequences for aspiring historians. The article is focused on the discussion of the causes of World War 1 and the impact of the First World War, understanding these deeper trends of the global conflict will help aspiring historians to comprehend the war and the changes that followed in global politics after the war. 

Before understanding the World War 1 causes and the impact let us briefly look into the overview of participating countries and the alliances and treaties that divided Europe. 

Much of Europe was split by complicated military alliances and treaties between European nations. As a result of these treaties and alliances, if one country or power group went to war, the others were likely to follow suit. In Europe, there were two competing sides:

Central Powers:

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• The Ottoman Empire 

Allies or Allied Powers (also known as the Triple Entente): 

• France

• Russia

• The United Kingdom

Italy, which had been aligned with the Central Powers at the time, refused to be lured into what it saw as their aggressive war. Italy joined the Entente in May 1915, intending to gain territory from Austria-Hungary as well as additional colonial possessions, primarily in Africa.

Smaller European powers chose sides during the war, dominions and colonies sent troops to their colonizer countries (mother countries), and significant non-European powers like Japan and the United States later joined the Allies.

An example of troops sent from the colony in World War includes India. During the First World War, the Indian Army provided a huge number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and African theatres of war. During World War I, the Indian Army fought on the Western Front against the German Empire.

Detailed Study of World War 1 Causes

Since we have revised the power alliances of the First World War, let us look more deeply into the details of the causes of World War 1. The reasons for the outbreak of war are far more nuanced than a simple list of World War 1 causes. While there was a series of events that directly led to the conflict, the true root causes are far deeper and are still being debated and discussed. This is a rundown of the most common factors considered as the root causes of World War 1.

• The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

• European Expansionism

• Serbian Nationalism

• Conflicts over Alliances

•  Militarism 

The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was the immediate cause of World War I, which brought the aforementioned items into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, and nationalism). On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria because Ferdinand was to be the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was picked as a target. The assassination was a protest against Austria-dominance Hungary of the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina was a country that Serbia sought to take over. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia as a response to the assassination. Germany declared war on Russia when it began mobilizing as a result of its alliance with Serbia. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand is considered as one of the immediate causes of World War 1.

European Expansionism

Several European nations built empires around the world in the 1900s, controlling enormous swaths of land. The British and French Empires were the most powerful on the globe prior to World War I, colonizing countries such as India, modern-day Vietnam, and West and North Africa.

The growth of European states as empires (also known as imperialism) can be considered as a major cause of World War I, because as countries such as Britain and France expanded their empires, tensions between European countries escalated. 

Imperialism is the process through which a country expands its power and wealth by gaining control of new regions. Africa and parts of Asia were a source of dispute among European countries prior to World War I. 

This was especially true given the raw materials that these places could offer. Increased competition and the ambition for larger empires led to an upsurge in conflict, which pushed the world into World War I. The conflicts emerged as a result of the fact that many colonies were conquered by force.

The imperial nation then administered the conquered nation: many of these colonial states were exploited by their home countries, leading to considerable discontent and hostility.

As British and French expansionism continued, conflict arose between opposing empires, including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, attributed to the rise of the Allied Powers (Britain and France) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) during World War I.

Serbian Nationalism

The desire of the Slavic peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be a part of Austria-Hungary and instead become a part of Serbia was at the root of the war.

Slavic Serbs sought independence from Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, and in 1878, they attempted to unite Serbia by seizing Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Serbian nationalism grew stronger, culminating in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Bosnian Serb in 1914, which formally kicked off the Great War.

As a result, nationalism precipitated the War. However, nationalism in numerous countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the start but also to the extension of the European war. Each country attempted to demonstrate its superiority and power.

Conflicts Over Alliances

Prior to World War I, governments all throughout Europe formed alliances during the imperial era. If a battle arose between an ally and another Great Power, the alliances stipulated that each country would defend the other. Prior to WWI, close links existed between Russia and Serbia, France and Russia, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium, France, Britain, and Russia, and Japan and the United Kingdom.

The biggest international warfare was caused by the Triple Entente, a 1907 alliance between France, the United Kingdom, and Russia. The coalition that surrounded Germany posed a threat to Germany's power and survival. As tensions over alliances continued to build, pre-existing ties led to other countries declaring war on each other in the face of conflict.

The biggest international warfare was caused by the Triple Entente, a 1907 alliance between France, the United Kingdom, and Russia. The coalition that surrounded Germany posed a threat to Germany's power and survival. As alliance tensions grew, pre-existing relationships led to other countries declaring war on one another in the face of conflict.

Militarism  

An arms race had begun as the world entered the twentieth century. By 1914, Germany had increased its military spending the most. During this time, both the United Kingdom and Germany significantly expanded their warships. Furthermore, the military establishment began to exert a stronger impact on public policy, particularly in Germany and Russia. This rise in militarism aided the countries involved in the conflict.

Spirit of 1914: German Millenarianism

Since we have seen in detail world war 1 causes and discussed in detail, let us look into some other aspects of the first world war. 

Millenarianism is the conviction held by a religious, political, or social group or movement that a tremendous transformation is coming and that everything will change as a result. Historians believe that the Spirit of 1914 was high in Germany leading up to World Conflict I, with widespread support from the German public for participation in the war.

The German government saw the outbreak of the war and its backing for Austria-Hungary as a way to cement its position as a leading power, which was bolstered by popular nationalism and further united the country behind the monarchy. The German government used the success they observed in the first battles of WWI to position itself as being able to accomplish more when unified and nationalistic.

This millenarianism, however, was short-lived, as Germany was unprepared to fight the protracted war, which took a tremendous and demoralizing toll on the country's people and set the way for the establishment of the Third Reich less than two decades later.

Following the events described above, World War I erupted in full force from 1914 to 1918, ending with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which brought peace between the German and Central Forces and the Allied Powers.

So here the main causes of World Aar 1 are discussed which can help students to have a better understanding of how and why world war I began by learning about the causes of the conflict.