Causes of World War I

World War I

• Fought on a worldwide scale, affecting almost all countries
• Unprecedented extent of spread, impact, and damage
• Also known as the First World War

Causes of World War I

• Nationalism and Imperialism:

  • Nationalism: Sense of unity based on shared history, language, and culture, leading to aggressive patriotism and hatred of other countries.
  • Imperialism: Policy of extending a country's power and influence through acquiring colonies for resources, labor, and markets.
  • Countries like England and France had large empires in Asia and Africa; Germany, Italy, Russia, and Japan wanted to expand their empires as well.

• Arms Race:

  • Major powers stockpiled weapons for self-defense, but this led to a cycle of increasing armaments, fear, and mutual hatred.
  • Germany's growing military strength concerned Britain and France, intensifying the competition.

• Division of Europe into Hostile Groups:

  • Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and Triple Entente (England, France, Russia) formed opposing camps.
  • Japan joined the Triple Entente later.

Sarajevo Crisis (Immediate Cause)

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, assassinated in Sarajevo (Bosnia) on June 28, 1914.
• Assassination organized by a Serbian nationalist group.
• Austria issued an ultimatum to Serbia, leading to a declaration of war on July 28, 1914.
• Russia supported Serbia; Germany declared war on Russia and France; Britain declared war on Germany.

Sides of the War

• Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia, and their allies.
• Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and their allies.

Results of the War

• Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919):

  • Signed by the Allied powers, led by the US, Britain, and France.
  • Germany held responsible for the war and required to pay reparations (33 billion dollars).
  • Germany lost territory, its military weakened, and its colonies taken over.
  • Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, along with other territories.

• Territorial Rearrangements:

  • European powers' dominance diminished.
  • Major empires (like Romanov in Russia, Hohenzollern in Germany, Hapsburgs in Austria-Hungary) were destroyed.
  • The Ottoman Empire collapsed.
  • New independent states arose (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia).
  • United States emerged as a dominant world power.

• League of Nations:

  • Created to prevent future wars and promote international cooperation.
  • Member states were expected to refrain from secret treaties and maintain limited armies.
  • Disputes should be settled peacefully.
  • All member states had to respect each other's independence.