causes of ww1 essay pdf

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Causes of the First World War

There are many reasons why the World went to war in 1914. These are some of the more important reasons. Britain and Germany were competing to have the most powerful navy in the world. This caused tension in Europe. The Scramble for Africa (when European countries had tried to get as many colonies as they could) had led to many small conflicts around the world. This meant that some of the major European powers were not very friendly towards each other. The French were very distrustful of the Germans as a result of the war in 1870­1871 that the Germans had won. The alliance systems set up to prevent war meant that any major political disputes would inevitably lead to a large rather than a small conflict. Nationalism. People across the world were very eager to let the rest of the world how strong and important their country was. Many people thought that their country was better than others: and thought that they'd be able to win a war very easily if there was one. The Balkans region of Europe was claimed by both Russia and Austria (it was in general under Austrian control). This meant that the Russians and the Austrians would both be eager to enforce their authority over this region. A desire for independence. Many people in Europe lived in countries that were part of empires. They didn't all like being ruled by people with different languages and religions and this led to conflicts that could (and did) involve other nations.

Related Papers

Argishti Zurabyan

What caused the outbreak of World War I In the beginning of the twenty century the great political powers in the world faced three major crises. These crises exposed the differences between the powers and reinforced the hostility among them. The following powers were keen on establishing rivalry in-between their states which would be managed by interdependent alliances states in order to have united efforts for accomplishment of united goals and profits of the alliance. Before the start of the World War 1 European countries were actively involved in military investments and developments of military technology to the point when in the early 20 th century these countries had the full capacity to engage in a large scale conflict.1 European nations were engaged in empire building as majority of Africa and Asia was occupied by many European empires and there was very little land left for Europeans to expand. The Militarist and Imperialist approach to the world politics and every day rising will of territory expending resulted in militarism and follow up nationalist movements led the world to a Great war. However, many historians can give a laconic response and point out the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo as the direct cause of the outbreak, but one should understand that the seriousness of the concept of entering a global war is backed up by various long and short term economic, political, social-cultural factors that are going to be identified in the paper in order to understand the reasons that caused the war.

Nana Nurwaesari

Orcun Ozyurt

Syed Assraf Fatin Najihah

It is some of my research in completing one of my assignment, on what are the reason of causes and effect of World War One, hence by the end of it, we can learn something.. that "War is not everything".

Roberto Bertuzzo

Lucian Lopez

World War I and World War II remain the two greatest military conflicts of modern times. The two wars involved alliances that included the majority of the most powerful nations of the entire globe. After the global devastation of World War I, many nations swore that they would never again engage in a conflict of such scale, but not twenty years later World War II broke out. Historians are left to answer whether or not the similarities among the causes of the two wars were greater than the differences. Though differences among the causes, as well as time, are great enough to distinguish the wars one from the other, I will attempt to argue that the similarities are indeed greater, though often dressed up in different circumstances, while considering economic, ideological, and strategic forces at play in both conflicts.

Michael Letsinger

Reeba Pandith

Theories of imperialism along with imperialist rivalries between great powers in between years 1870 to 1914.

S3 Strategic Study Skills Skills

Imperialism • British Empire covered a fifth of the world • Belief in superiority • Fight for resources mainly in Asia and Africa, but also Latin America and Middle East • Wilhelm wanted 'a place in the sun' Militarism • Germany's Navy Law 1900 • Germany's Schlieffen Plan – was no secret that Germany had plans to attack France through Belgium (Russia mobilized faster than Germany anticipated, drawing German resources away from Western Front and creating a stalemate in France) • Standing, professionally trained armies • Military was not just an arms race, it was a valid means of foreign policy

RELATED PAPERS

BMC Health Services Research

Elisabeth Reis

Royal Society Open Science

Tomoko Tateya

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Joseph Ziller

Journal of Advances in Mathematics and Computer Science

Gurpreet Bawa

Práticas sociais no espaço urbano: percursos e desdobramentos do grupo PRAXIS-EA/UFMG [2009-2022]

Pedro Henrique Cícero Ferreira

Karla Križanić

Gabriela Z. Salomone

Revista Confluências Culturais

Dione Bandeira

Veterinary Research

David Hernandez

The European respiratory journal

Parasitología latinoamericana

Fernando Guillermo Fredes

IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

International Journal of Research and Review

yofina mulyati

The Internet Journal of Genomics and Proteomics

Aftab Ahmed Khan

Fertility and Sterility

Prace Komisji Geografii Komunikacji PTG

Sławomir Goliszek

Repository Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika (RUBSI)

Mike Amelia MKE

Physical Review D

Andrew DeBenedictis

Journal of Health Inequalities

elisabeth zeuko'o menkem

Circulation

Stefan Engelter

Geomicrobiology Journal

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Anca Cirstea

Majalah Kedokteran Gigi Indonesia

Yulita Kristanti

Chemical Science

Karen Moulton

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Home — Essay Samples — History — Imperialism — Main Causes of World War 1: Discussion

Main Causes of World War 1: Discussion

• Categories: Imperialism Nationalism

About this sample

Words: 645 |

Updated: 16 November, 2023

Words: 645 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

The essay explores the causes of World War 1, which took place from 1914 to 1918. It begins with a brief overview of the war's timeline and the major countries involved, including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, the United States of America, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. The essay then delves into the four main causes of the war: Militarism, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Alliances.

Militarism is discussed as the policy of maintaining a strong military force and a readiness to use it aggressively for defense. The significant arms buildup and military spending by various countries, including Germany, are highlighted as contributing factors to the outbreak of the war.

Nationalism is described as the strong attachment to one's own nation and culture. It is explained how nationalism led to conflicts, including the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered Austria's desire for revenge.

Imperialism, the expansion of a nation's power by dominating other countries, is presented as a factor due to the competition among European powers over control of African resources and territories.

Lastly, the essay discusses the role of Alliances, where countries formed partnerships to defend each other, often resulting in a domino effect of declarations of war.

Table of contents

• Causes of World War 1

Video Version

Causes o f world war 1, nationalism and imperialism.

A Good Hook Examples for WWI Essay

• A Glimpse into the Trenches: Step back in time and experience the chilling reality of life in the trenches of World War I. In this essay, we’ll immerse ourselves in the harrowing tales of soldiers who faced the horrors of the Great War.
• The War to End All Wars: Explore the monumental impact of World War I on global history. In this essay, we’ll dissect the events that led to the war, the key players, and the lasting consequences that continue to shape our world today.
• The Poetry of Conflict: World War I inspired a generation of poets to capture the raw emotions of battle. Join us as we analyze the powerful verses and poignant imagery that emerged from the trenches.
• Lessons from the Great War: As we commemorate the centennial of World War I, it’s crucial to reflect on the lessons learned from this catastrophic conflict. This essay delves into the war’s impact on diplomacy, technology, and the human spirit.
• Unsung Heroes of WWI: Beyond the famous generals and political leaders, there were countless unsung heroes in the Great War. In this essay, we’ll shine a light on the remarkable stories of bravery and sacrifice from the trenches to the home front.
• Strachan, H. (2014). The First World War: To Arms. Oxford University Press.
• MacMillan, M. (2013). The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914. Random House.
• Fay, S. B. (1928). The Origins of the World War (Vol. 1). The Macmillan Company.
• Gildea, R. (2003). Children of the Revolution: The French, 1799-1914. Harvard University Press.
• Kennedy, P. M. (1980). The Rise of the Anglo-German Antagonism, 1860-1914. Allen & Unwin.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: History Government & Politics

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 605 words

9 pages / 4121 words

4 pages / 1595 words

2 pages / 1063 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Imperialism

Imperialism, the policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political dominance over other nations, has long been a topic of interest and debate among historians [...]

In the annals of history, Japan's imperialist policies stand as a complex and transformative chapter that had far-reaching implications for the nation and the world. This essay will meticulously dissect Japan's imperialist [...]

American imperialism has had a profound impact on global affairs, shaping the course of international politics, economics, and culture. As the United States expanded its influence beyond its borders, it became a central player [...]

American imperialism, a historical phenomenon, has evolved and adapted to the changing dynamics of the modern world. In contemporary times, the United States continues to exert its influence globally, albeit through different [...]

Imperialism in Africa has had a long-lasting and devastating impact on the continent and its people. The negative effects of imperialism in Africa are far-reaching and continue to be felt to this day. From the economic [...]

Heart of Darkness was a novella written by Joseph Conrad in 1899. This novella mainly talks about Marlow an introspective sailor, and his journey up to the Congo River to meet Kurts known as idealistic man of great abilities [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free