The Causes of World War I

Study Notes

The immediate trigger of World War I was the assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on 28 June 1914.
Most people believed that war was short, exciting, noble, and glorious, as it was often presented in popular books, newspapers, and magazines.
An arms race was ongoing in Europe, with the great powers increasing their military spending by 300% between 1870 and 1914.
Nationalism had caused international tensions and conflicts long before 1914, as fear and suspicion of rivals drove nations to seek security through alliances with others.
Germany sought an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Russia in the early 1870s, fearing that France would want revenge for the provinces taken in the 1870 war.
In 1879, Germany created the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary, which became the Triple Alliance when Italy joined in 1882.
France found an ally in Russia in 1890, and in 1894, they entered into the Franco-Russian Alliance, agreeing to help each other if attacked by Germany.
Britain signed the Entente Cordiale with France in 1904, alarmed by Germany's move to build up its navy, and linked up with France and Russia in the Triple Entente.
Conflicting interests in North Africa and the Balkans led to increased tensions between France and Germany and Austria and Russia.
Nationalism was a strong force in Europe's Balkan peninsula, where several national groups had won their independence from the Ottoman Empire since the 1820s.
The main problem was tension between Austria and Serbia, with Serbia wanting other Slavic peoples within the Austro-Hungarian Empire to unite with it in a South Slav kingdom.
By 1914, Serbia saw Austria as the main obstacle to its expansion, and Austria viewed Serbia as a danger to its empire's continued existence.

Description

Do you know what triggered the start of World War I? What caused the arms race in Europe during the early 1900s? How did nationalism lead to tensions between countries? Test your knowledge with our quiz on the Causes of World War I. Explore the alliances, conflicts, and events that led to the outbreak of one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Challenge yourself and discover your understanding of the factors that contributed to the beginning of World War I.