Introduction
The First World War started in 1914 and lasted for four years to end in 1918 when Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman empires were defeated (Havers 7). There have been a number of causes identified to have led to the war but most of them are not as straightforward as many would think. In essence, the root causes of the war are deeper than most abstract reasons many authors have identified in the past. However, this does not mean that there was no trail of events which directly led to the conflict because there were a series of open hostilities which eventually led to the break-out of the war (Kelly 1).
The war majorly broke out as a result of existing alliances among various world powers such as Russia, Serbia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, Britain, Japan, Italy and the United States (which existed then) (Kelly 2). In comprehending the causes of the conflict, it is important to understand that before the war, there was an existing trend of alliance-formation among existing European powers through alliances such as the triple alliances, dual alliance, league of the three emperors and the likes (Kelly 2). Later, there was increased mistrust among the European powers, but more importantly, the distrust was between Germany and Britain which competed to empower their naval forces (a trend which fast grew throughout Europe) (Strachan 54). Considering there was increased military power among most European nations, Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on the Serbs dragged most European powers into the war and this event later precipitated the First World War. The background history of the conflict withstanding, this study establishes that the first world war was majorly precipitated by militarism, al...
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...the war practically spread throughout Europe and essentially throughout the entire world. In the absence of mutual alliances, the war could have remained between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and this would mean that the war would not have been a world war. Therefore, from this point of view, we can conclude that mutual defense alliances among European countries are the major cause of the First World War.
Works Cited
Havers, Robin. The Second World War: Europe, 1939-1943. New York:
Osprey Publishing, 2002. Print.
Kelly, Martin. Top 5 Causes Of World War 1. 2011. 21 March. 2011.
. Web.
Magocsi, Paul. A History of Ukraine. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996. Print.
Strachan, Hew. The First World War: To Arms. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Print.
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details the causes of the first World war and describes the first month of the war. The book clearly illustrates how a local war became an entire European struggle by a call to war against Russia. Soon after the war became a world issue.
National interest was a key factor in the explosive beginning of World War One. By looking at the Naval Arms Race, the People’s Revolt in Austria-Hungary and European alliances, it can be shown that national interest was a significant factor in contributing to World War One. The ultra nationalistic views of many countries overruled their ability to act in a just and logical manner. It was in the years following the formation of the Triple Alliance in which the desire and craving for power grew, and created insincere relationships and unrealistic portrayals of other countries intentions.
In conclusion, World War I was a global disaster that disrupted the peace in many different areas. Along with nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the alliance system, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was a cause that sparked the horrific event of World War I. With the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were two opposing groups, and two specific clashing forces were Germany and Russia. Although an attempt to spread harmony throughout Europe was made, all it did was cause a much greater threat to the peace around the world.
Europe has seen many wars over its vast and broad history, some of which being quite immense and destructive. One such war would undoubtedly be World War One. A war powered by the brainwashing ways of militarism and the stubborn pride of nationalism. Once engaged in a war a country’s militarism will produce fine soldier ready to drop like dominos on the battlefield, while the nationalism works as fuel providing the naive determination to fight the war. This naïve determination and soldier production is why World War One, like every other war, continued with such persistency. But what started World War One? Was it militarism that trained young men since they were kids to become soldiers, nationalism propelling a nations pride forward or was it neither? While both of those aspects could be potential reasons their still not the main pillars of cause. The true reason’s that made World War One inevitable were the intimidating alliances, avaricious imperialism, and tedious tensions.