An Analysis of Three Main Causes Leading Up to World War 1

There were three main causes leading up to World War 1, but it wasn’t until June 28, 1914 the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered World War 1 which began on July 28, 1914. The main causes leading to World War 1 were: The Rise of Nationalism, Build-up of Military might, and system of military alliances. Europe avoided major wars in the 100 years before world War 1 began. In the 1800s, nationalism swept across the continent that help bring about the Great War. Nationalism led to the creation of two new powers – Italy and Germany – through the uniting of several small states.

On the other hand, nationalism weakened the eastern European empires of AustriaHungary, Russia, and Ottoman Turkey. Those empires ruled many national groups that wanted independence. Tensions began that threatened to ignite a major war. Rivalry for control of the Balkans added to the tensions that erupted into World War 1. A build-up of military might occurred among European countries before World War 1 broke out.

Nationalism encouraged public support for military build-ups and for a countries use of force to achieve it’s goals.

By the end of the 1800s, technology enabled countries to fight longer and have greater losses than ever before. A system of military alliances gave European powers a sense of security before World War 1 broke out. They formed alliances with each other for protection and guarantee that other members of the alliance would come to the countries aid if attacked. Although alliances provided protection, the system also created some dangers. If war came, the alliance system meant that a number of nations would fight, not only the two involved in the argument.

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Alliances could cause a country to go to war against a country it had no argument with. In addition, the terms of many alliances were kept secret. The secrecy also increased the chances that a country might guess wrong about the consequences of their actions. These three things were major factors that lead to War World 1 breaking out.

Two bullets shot on a Sarajevo street on a June morning set in motion a series of events that shaped the world we live in today. Archduke Ferdinand: heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and his wife Sophie were shot to death as they rode through the city of Sarajevo in a motorcade. They were returning from an official visit City Hall in Sarajevo. They were unaware that there were seven members of the Black Hand (a Serbian terrorist group) joining the crowd that lined the streets. Although he could speed past the first few conspirators, the road had sharp turn at a bridge over the river of Nilgacka, giving the leader of the conspiracy an amazing opportunity to fire the two shots. The first shot that Garilo Princip took struck Archduchess Sofia in the abdomen. She was an expectant mother and died instantly. The second bullet struck the Archduke close to the heart. He uttered “Sophie dear, Sophie dear, don’t die! Stay alive for our children.” Then his head fell back and he collapsed. He died almost instantly.

World War 1 began on July 28, 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Because of Austria-Hungary’s alliance with Germany, Serbia seeked help from Russia. In 1914 Russia vowed to stand behind Serbia, but Russia first gained support from France. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914, in response to Russia mobilization Two days later Germany declared was on France. The German army swept in to Belgium on its way to France. The invasion of Belgium caused Britian to declare war on Germany on August 4. August 26-31 the Germans crushed the Russian second army at Tannenburg. September 1-October the Russians defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Lemburg. The Allies stopped the Germans in the first Battle of Marne September 6-9 which was a key victory for the allies because it ended Germanys hopes to defeat France quickly. Germany failed to reach the English Channel on October 21 through November 17 in the first battle of Ypres. The battle lasted from mid-October through mid-November. By late November 1914, the war reached a deadlocked along the Western Front as neither side gained much ground. The deadlock lasted nearly three and a half years. These are the events in the first year.

There were three main causes up leading to World War 1, but it wasn’t until June 28, 1914 the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered World War 1 which began on July 28, 1914.

References

1. “P Brook-Shepard, Gordon, Archduke of Sarajevo (1984)
2. “P Dedijer, Vladimir, The Road to Sarajevo (1966)
3. “P. Morton Frederick, Thunder at Twilight(1989)