What were the causes...?

Question

of the first world war? Was it really the "war to end all wars'? What were the effects on the individual soldier or civilian and how did the US react economically? WOuld the first WW be and different if Germany won????

Answer 1

Some good things would have happened if Germany won: no communism, no Soviet Union. There would still have been a WWII, with the war hopefully ending in Germany's favor, because then russia wouldn't have ruined half of Europe.

Answer 2

1. Mutual Defense Alliances

Over time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Thus,if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed: [ul][li]Russia and Serbia [li]Germany and Austria-Hungary [li]France and Russia [li]Britain and France and Belgium [li]Japan and Britain[/ul] Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia got involved to defend Serbia. Germany seeing Russia mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Later, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies.

2. Imperialism

Imperialism is when a country increases their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control. Before World War 1, Africa and parts of Asia were points of contention amongst the European countries. This was especially true because of the raw materials these areas could provide. The increasing competition and desire for greater empires led to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into World War I. It also helped stem the war on as the competition between Great Britain and Germany was intense.

3. Militarism

As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period. Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war.

4. Nationalism

The actual event that led directly to World War I was stemmed from certain Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina who wanted to gain no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. Thus nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries thoughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.

5. Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The immediate cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances explained previously.

Answer 3

secret alliances among countries,raising military,nationalism,imperialism meaning the thirst for land and more land,and finally the assassination of Franz Ferdinand by the Bosnian Black Hand Member or terrorist.the effect on a civilian in the fighting countries was obviously traumatizing,some people when crazy,commit suicide because there loved ones had been killed,solders were not able to hear very well because of loud noise of guns and ofcourse it had a mental effect on them.the american economy didnt get affected much negatively on the contrary new jobs were created due to the increse demand on military weapons...and the war was not fough in the unted state but in overseas.if Germany had won then we would not be speaking english right now.get what im trying to say...

Answer 4

The easiest way to remember the main causes is that they were MAIN i.e.

Militarism - the naval arms races etc

Alliances - the triple entente etc

Imperialism - colonionism

Nationalism - esp. Serbian

Obviously it did not end all wars, but this was not so much the war as the peace negotiations.

Indivdual soliders returned with shell shock, lost youth etc

US went into the roaring twenties, as they suddenly had a lot of excess capacity.

Yes, but not so much. WWII still might have occcured as the punished countries adopted fascism for similar reasons to Germany. Monarchies would be more common.

Sorry for the short answers but I hope I covered everything.

Answer 5

1. Militarianism- Testing new weapons

2. Alliances- Bound to clash

3. Imperialism- Conflicting interests in same land

4. Nationalism- Countries wanting to gain land/Bosnia and Serbia want to unite as Slavic brothers

Spark: Bosnia-Serb assassin group "Black Hand", specifically Gavrilo Princip, assassinates Austria-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.