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Long-term causes to WW1
Militarism: Nations were desperate not to be outdone in any area of their military. In result, nations like Germany, France and Russia started to conscript large portions of their male population and suddenly everyone was ready and willing to fight. This conscription and arms build up meant that soon every European state had a huge army at its disposal, these armies were ruining their economies, they had to lose them soon but couldnt just let them go, they were propelled to war in order to destroy their enemies and give them the security they needed to allow disarmament. Germany began building a large and modernised navy that directly threatened the British. The British, who Germany were still attempting to secure as an ally at the time, werw eventually forced them into the arms of the French. All this commotion leads to alliances.
Alliances: Alliances played a large in WW1, as with out them it would have just been a short war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. The system of alliances dragged all of Europe into insignificant conflict, starting off with Germany and Russia and then onto the British and French a few days later. It was what made a small war a major world conflict.
Imperialism: When a country takes over new lands or countries and makes them subject to their rule. By 1900, the British Empire extended over five continents and France had control of large areas of Africa. With the rise of industrialism, countries needed new markets. The amount of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased the rivalry with Germany who had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and only had small areas of Africa.
Nationalism: When people are proud of their countris so much that they believe them to be better than everyone else's This contribued to the war in 1914 because each country thought they were better than eachother and they had the better amry. This eventually led to a fight. This is very much linked to another long term cause of Militarism.
Alliances: Alliances played a large in WW1, as with out them it would have just been a short war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. The system of alliances dragged all of Europe into insignificant conflict, starting off with Germany and Russia and then onto the British and French a few days later. It was what made a small war a major world conflict.
Imperialism: When a country takes over new lands or countries and makes them subject to their rule. By 1900, the British Empire extended over five continents and France had control of large areas of Africa. With the rise of industrialism, countries needed new markets. The amount of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased the rivalry with Germany who had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and only had small areas of Africa.
Nationalism: When people are proud of their countris so much that they believe them to be better than everyone else's This contribued to the war in 1914 because each country thought they were better than eachother and they had the better amry. This eventually led to a fight. This is very much linked to another long term cause of Militarism.
Short-term Cause (The Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand)
Franz Ferdinand was the Heir to the Austrio-Hungarian throne. After his death by Gavrile Principi, a Serbian terrorist, Austria-Hungary blamed the Serbian government for the assassination and made three ultimatums that if not met, would result in war:
1. Put down all nationalist hatred against Austria-Hungary
2. Punish all those involved in the assassination
3. Allow Austria-Hungary officials into Serbia to help crush the Black hand (Which also means giving government power to Austria-Hungary)
Serbia had a problem with the third one, so they didn't agree to it. Since Serbia has already created a secret Alliance with Russia and Austria-Hungary with Germany, they weren't afraid of the war because they thought it'd be quick and easy since they have back-up.
The thing is, Russia also had an Alliance with Britain (And their colonies) and France while Germany had a bunch of Colonies that would get involved as well, and later, Italy got involved too.
So after Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary. Then Germany declared war on Russian and France declared war on Germany and Germans as well to France. Then Germans invaded neutral Belgium to get to France, so Britain declared war on Germany. Then ALL of Britain's colonies (Canada, Egypt, Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria etc etc) were involved.
1. Put down all nationalist hatred against Austria-Hungary
2. Punish all those involved in the assassination
3. Allow Austria-Hungary officials into Serbia to help crush the Black hand (Which also means giving government power to Austria-Hungary)
Serbia had a problem with the third one, so they didn't agree to it. Since Serbia has already created a secret Alliance with Russia and Austria-Hungary with Germany, they weren't afraid of the war because they thought it'd be quick and easy since they have back-up.
The thing is, Russia also had an Alliance with Britain (And their colonies) and France while Germany had a bunch of Colonies that would get involved as well, and later, Italy got involved too.
So after Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary. Then Germany declared war on Russian and France declared war on Germany and Germans as well to France. Then Germans invaded neutral Belgium to get to France, so Britain declared war on Germany. Then ALL of Britain's colonies (Canada, Egypt, Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria etc etc) were involved.