The Underlying Causes of World War I
World War I, a tragic four year war, started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. But, along with this, the fundamental causes of this war included alliance systems, militarism, and imperialism. Alliance systems are what made this a world war, while militarism and imperialism are what sparked the war.
Alliance systems are agreements for one country to give military assistance to another country if were to be attacked by a third country. Even before the war started, certain countries had been in alliance with others. Two of these alliance systems included the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance included Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy. Italy would later in the war chance sides to the Triple Entente. The Triple Entente included Russia, France, and Great Britain. One example of the alliance systems affecting the war is when Russia declared war against Austria- Hungary. The reason Russia did this was because of their Slavic ties to Serbia. This alliance system just causes more and more countries through a “spider web” formation to get involved in the war and have to choose sides. That is how alliance systems were a cause of World War I.
Militarism, or the glorification of one’s military, also was a cause of World War I. Germany was one of the countries to start with this. Germany built up their weaponry, and, when given their chance, they fight. Germany goes ramped and wished to immediately declare war against France and Russia. As a result, Germany had to fight a two-front war against the two. Russia, however, did not have a great army and had little to no militarism. That is how militarism was a fundamental cause of World War I.
Imperialism is the ruling of one country by another. This is one of the most important fundamental causes of World War I. One reason for this is because of Austria-Hungary’s imperialist rule over Serbia. This ruling paid little attention to ethnic boundaries and causer a spark of nationalism in those of the Serbian people. This imperialism over Serbia angered many, such as the terrorist group of the Black Hand. This small group was that of the assassinator of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. That is how imperialism I is the most important underlying cause of World War I.
From the alliances of countries to the militarism of others to the ruling of one country by another, World War I was already getting prepared for before the war even began. These were the causes that sparked that war.
Alliance systems are agreements for one country to give military assistance to another country if were to be attacked by a third country. Even before the war started, certain countries had been in alliance with others. Two of these alliance systems included the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance included Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy. Italy would later in the war chance sides to the Triple Entente. The Triple Entente included Russia, France, and Great Britain. One example of the alliance systems affecting the war is when Russia declared war against Austria- Hungary. The reason Russia did this was because of their Slavic ties to Serbia. This alliance system just causes more and more countries through a “spider web” formation to get involved in the war and have to choose sides. That is how alliance systems were a cause of World War I.
Militarism, or the glorification of one’s military, also was a cause of World War I. Germany was one of the countries to start with this. Germany built up their weaponry, and, when given their chance, they fight. Germany goes ramped and wished to immediately declare war against France and Russia. As a result, Germany had to fight a two-front war against the two. Russia, however, did not have a great army and had little to no militarism. That is how militarism was a fundamental cause of World War I.
Imperialism is the ruling of one country by another. This is one of the most important fundamental causes of World War I. One reason for this is because of Austria-Hungary’s imperialist rule over Serbia. This ruling paid little attention to ethnic boundaries and causer a spark of nationalism in those of the Serbian people. This imperialism over Serbia angered many, such as the terrorist group of the Black Hand. This small group was that of the assassinator of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. That is how imperialism I is the most important underlying cause of World War I.
From the alliances of countries to the militarism of others to the ruling of one country by another, World War I was already getting prepared for before the war even began. These were the causes that sparked that war.