European War Dbq

The rapid engagement of the European global expansion during the late nineteenth century had inevitably led to an unpremeditated desire for a large scaled European war. In result of the Industrial Revolution, the surplus wealth for the middle class was defined by materialism that came from the globe. Therefore, the need to support the welfare of the European nations started a race to expand their empires in efforts to secure resources and profits. This colonial tension was in proportion to militarism as European nations saw the needs to take precautions by increasing the strength of their military. By striking threats into European nations, major powers saw the need to create protective alliances to eliminate the fear for war. However, the false interpretation of the alliances seen by the Europeans meant war with two countries means war with all nations.

Many European powers took part in the “Scramble for Africa” for raw resources such as tin and oil to fuel their Industrial process however, this came at the cost of colonial tension. From the British perspective, they believe “Great

In the words of source I, “each one [country] had reasons for distrusting other countries in Europe” (source I) and for that reason, European nations thought by mutually protecting one another, war would be avoided. However, because “each country was heavily armed” (source I), the mix of tension and a growing arsenal of weapons defined an inevitable war in the future. Germany, in response of being in between the Triple Entente, was forced to create The Schlieffen Plan for “the fear of a two-front war” (source N). This plan did not desire a war but was rather a draft for defence since this plan was heavily flawed and obviously naïve. Thereby, it is proved that politicians used the alliances for a mutuality as opposed to a great