Transcript Causes of WWI (approx. 1880-1914)

Causes of WWI
(approx. 1880-1914)
By: Jarred Gillie, Richey Puntarelli
Overview
Of all the events that catalyzed the onset of WWI in 1914, most can be placed
into one or more of four general categories.
• Alliance Systems (including Bismarck’s alliances)
• Ongoing arms race/Forced mobilization
• New Imperialism/Struggle for colonial power
• Rampant nationalism
These broad categories represent the root causes of World War I.
The following timeline of important events leading up to the outbreak of war
in 1914 has been arranged in chronological order.
League of the Three Emperors
(October 22, 1873)
The League of the Three Emperors was a rather
unstable alliance between Tsar Alexander II of
Russia, Emperor Franz Joseph I of AustriaHungary and Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany. It was
initially renewed in 1881, 1884, and expired in
1887.
Congress of Berlin
(13 June – 13 July 1878)
The Congress of Berlin was an attempt by
Bismarck to get the major powers to cooperate
in order to resolve territorial issues in the
Balkans as well as Africa. It ended the scramble
for Africa.
Formation of the Dual Alliance
(October 7, 1879)
The Dual Alliance was between Germany and
Austria, and stating that either country would
back the other if they became involved in war.
Its primary goal was to isolate France.
Triple Alliance
(1882)
The Triple Alliance was an agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy to
back one another if they became involved in war. It was an expansion of the Double
Alliance. This alliance was meant to protect Germany from the two-front war that it so
feared. It was a great threat to the allied powers, and they subsequently countered
with the Triple Entente. It was responsible for a heightening of tensions throughout
Europe.
Reinsurance Treaty
(June 18, 1887)
The Reinsurance Treaty was a secret agreement
between Germany and Russia, and stated that if
one got into war, the other would remain
neutral.
Wilhelm II Takes Power
(June 15, 1888)
On June 15, 1888 Wilhelm II took power as the
emperor of Germany. He would influence
politics in Germany up until his abdication in
1918.
Bismarck Resigns
(1890)
Bismarck resigns at the behest of Wilhelm II in
1890, and a swift change in foreign policy
becomes evident.
Tirpitz becomes Secretary of State
(1897)
Admiral von Tirpitz is appointed to Secretary of
State of the Imperial Navy by Wilhelm II. He
would later go on to develop risk theory.
The First Naval Law
(1897)
The First Naval Law was the first in a set of laws brought about by Wilhelm II and
Admiral Tirpitz designed to increase the power of the German navy by building more
battleships. It was added to in 1900, and this was a direct cause in the escalation of
the arms race in Europe as Great Britain countered by increasing its naval output as
well. The Naval Laws were largely pushed by Kaiser Wilhelm II, but were helped along
by Tirpitz, who had recently founded the idea of risk theory. This stated that if the
German navy were large enough, even if defeat were not possible, they could cause so
much damage to the British Navy that they would acknowledge the risk and simply
not attack.
The Second Boer War
(1899-1902)
The Second Boer War was fought between the
Great Britain and the native Boers of South
Africa. It ended the splendid isolation Britain
had been it.
Franco-Italian Agreement
(1902)
The Franco-Italian Agreement was a secret meeting in
1902 in which Italy pledged not to attack France if war
broke out among the countries involved in the Triple
Alliance. It effectively nullified the Triple Alliance.
Berlin-Baghdad Railway
(1903)
The Berlin-Baghdad Railway was a railway built
primarily by Germany that connected Berlin to
the then Ottoman Baghdad. It caused
international problems, and caused suspicions
that Germany had influence in the middle east.
The Schlieffen Plan
(1905)
The Schlieffen Plan was a plan for a hypothetical military offensive that would be
launched at the outset of war by Germany in order to quickly gain the upper hand. It
was devised by Count Alfred von Schlieffen. The Schlieffen plan called for a quick
mobilization to meet the French in Belgium, and quickly knocking them out. The
Russians would be too slow to mobilize, and with the French out of the fight early,
Britain would not join the war. This war plan created a need for other countries to
create mobilization plans as well, which in turn fueled the arms race. This only put
more strain on the beleaguered relations between the great powers.
First Moroccan Crisis
(1905-1906)
The First Moroccan Crisis arose after Germany
tried to use the issue of Morocco’s
independence to create trouble between France
and Britain. Instead, it strengthened the AngloFrench entente cordiale.
Anglo-Russian Entente
(1907)
The Anglo-Russian Entente was created in order
to oppose the growing power of Imperial
Germany. It would later grow into the Triple
Entente when France joined as well.
Bosnian Crisis
(1908-1909)
The Bosnian Crisis occurred when AustriaHungary attempted to annex BosniaHerzogovina.
The Second Moroccan Crisis
(July 1, 1911)
In 1911, Germany again sought to test the
resolve of British intervention by sending the
gunboat Panther to a Moroccan port. It diffused,
but added tensions overall.
First Balkan War
(1912)
The First Balkan War broke out in 1912 and lasted until 1913. It saw the Balkan League
comprised of Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria pitted against the crumbling
remains of the Ottoman Empire. This decisive move broke the remains of the long
declining rule of the Ottoman Empire, and quickly established new territory to be
distributed. This was very important as it added tensions as the news Balkan powers
would fight again over how to distribute the territory taken from the Ottoman Empire,
and it marked the death of the Ottoman Empire. The First Balkan War would directly
cause the Second Balkan War, as a result of territory disputes.
Second Balkan War
(1913)
The Second Balkan War broke out when Bulgaria
attacked Serbia and Greece. It was a direct result
of the resolution of the First Balkan War, where
Bulgaria was upset with the land distribution of
the newly gained Ottoman territories.
The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
(June 28, 1914)
On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by BosnianSerb assassins. The assassination had been planned for a long time, and had multiple
members involved in the conspiracy. The assassination is important first and foremost
because it led quite directly to the start of World War I. It was the culmination of a
series of different problems, most notably under the guise of nationalism. It dragged
several countries into war, and then alliances forced even more into war. This domino
effect started WWI.
Why did the First World War break out in 1914?
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Treaties
Many organized
by Bismarck
League of Three
Emperors
Reinsurance
Treaty
Dual Alliance/
Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
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Nationalism
Serbia very
strong
Pan-Germans
Pan-Slavists
French want
Alsace-Loraine
Germany wants
to isolate France
Wilhelm II takes
full control of
Germany
Imperialism
Congress of
Berlin
Moroccan Crisis
Fashoda
Boer War
Bosnian Crisis
Balkan Wars
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Arms Race
Britain belief
that they have
the “God given
right” to rule
the seas
British launch of
Dreadnaught
Wilhelm II
expanding
Germany Navy
Military
Timetables
Schlieffen Plan
Russo-Japanese
War
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Breaking Point
Assassination of
Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
Why did the First World War break out in 1914?
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Thesis:
Through long-term use of militarily implicating treaties, the rampant growth of nationalism, and an
ongoing arms race, it can clearly be seen that with the culmination of tensions in the assassination
of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in 1914, there was little other choice but war.
Many treaties were organized and arranged by Bismarck. They united the countries that would
eventually fight each other in World War I: Triple Alliance, Germany, Austria and Italy, and the Triple
Entente, Britain, France, and Russia.
All countries wanted to be considered powerful and have colonies. This sparked many nationalist
movements in many different countries, especially the Balkans. The Balkans were a spheres of
influence to begin with, but now the countries are fighting to become the dominant power. Bulgaria
and Serbia often fight, but Serbia comes out on top. The Congress of Berlin settles the rules for
colonization. Britain has many colonies, but also encounters many conflicts which make them
realize they cannot be isolationists.
Wilhelm II was Germany to overtake the status of Britain as a power. He wants a larger navy, even
though Britain rules the seas. Britain launches the Dreadnaught which makes all other ships out of
date. The Russian military weaknesses are shown in the loss Russo-Japanese War. Russia mobilizes
fearing a German attack, causing the Schlieffen Plan to be formed.
The assassination of the Archduke was the last straw which enacted the alliance system, drawing
many countries into war with their Nationalistic tendencies.
Sources
http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/worldwari/tp/causes-of-world-war-1.htm
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/causes_WWI2.htm
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/wwi/wwicauses.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/causes_war1act.shtml
http://cnx.org/content/m22368/latest/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_I