Lead up to war

World War 1 was the result of short term causes but were fuelled by long term tensions. Militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalist rivalry between the five great powers of Europe, France, Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Britain, built up over a number of years and finally exploded in a series of crisis eventuating in war. Since 1871, militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism were long term causes of unrest in Europe and directly led to the outbreak of war. It was the belief that the size a countries military was a demonstration of their superiority, shown by widespread conscription and Britain’s Two Power Standard policy. This policy driven by militarism led to the navel arms race from 1906, turned possible allies, Britain and Germany into enemies. Alliances were made before the war for safety and to prevent attacks, however some alliances were perceived as threats and betrayal caused for revenge. When Germany did not renew their Treaty with Russia in 1890, Russia was suspicious of their actions and made an alliance with France who she would eventually fight with against Germany.  Imperialism is what turned conflict in Europe into a world war as French and British colonies were called to fight. Imperialism led to jealously, especially from Germany who had left colonisation too late, and competition in Morocco between France and Germany and competition in the Balkans between Austria-Hungary and Russia. Nationalism was very important as all five powers wanted to validate their position in Europe. France was determined to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine from Germany and Austria-Hungary wanted to dominate Serbia and Slavic states while Russia wanted to form a united Slavic state.  Militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism attitudes were responsible for the long term tensions in Europe that ultimately led to war. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the following July crisis were the short term triggers that led to the outbreak of war but were the consequence of long term strain. Franz Ferdinand was visiting Bosnia to enforce Austrian-Hungarian rule to people who wished to be united with Serbia. The attitude of nationalism caused Gavrillo Princip, a Bosnian nationalist, to assassinate the Archduke which only gave Austria-Hungary a reason to provoke war. Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia which was deliberately constructed to be impossible to accept but Serbia did accept all but one point, this was enough for war to be declared. The long term alliances in Europe caused a domino effect first with Russia mobilising to protect her ally Serbia and France mobilising to support Russia. Germany declaring war on France, Britain declaring war on Germany and Austria-Hungary declaring war on Russia. The long term idea of militarism caused these wars to be declared so quickly as all countries were prepared for war and all the notion of imperialism turned a European war into a world war. Although the assassination and the subsequent July crisis directly led to the outbreak of war, the long term causes fuelled the decisions made in the weeks before war. The short term causes of the war, the assassination of the Archduke and the July crisis were responsible for the outbreak of war but there was only and outbreak because of long term tensions. Militarism, alliances, imperialism attitudes and alliances between the five powers of Europe were the cause of the crisis in July and the First World War.

Breifly explain the role of the 5 powers in the assas and the july crisis Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie visited the annexed province of Bosnia in Austria-Hungary on the 28th of June 1914. This day was Serbia’s national day and in an area which wished to be united in a Slavic nation, tensions were running high and provoked by Austria-Hungary. That day a Bosnian student Gavrillo Princip, shot and killed the Archduke and his wife. There was no evidence to prove that the Serbian government was involved but Austria-Hungary used this as an excuse to go to war. Austria-Hungary sent an ultimatum to Serbia on the 23rd of July after receiving assurance from Germany that they would support her. With Austria-Hungary’s newly found confidence, the ultimatum was so harsh; it was designed to be rejected. Serbia did not agree to all of Austria-Hungary’s demands and there was an attempt by Britain to mediate the situation but Germany did not want to partake. On the 28th of July Austria declared war on Serbia and Russia and France began to mobilise for their allies. Germany sent an ultimatum to Russia and France to seize mobilisation and when they failed to respond, Germany declared war on both of them, the 1st and 3rd of August. Britian who had remained neutral had not been pursueded to join the war by France but when Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the war on the 4th of August against Germany on moral grounds to uphold their treaty for Belguim independence. As almost an afterthought, Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia and Russia and Fracne declared war on France. The whole of Europe was at war by the 12th of July 1914.

Breifly explain the role of the 5 powers in the assas and the july crisis Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie visited the annexed province of Bosnia in Austria-Hungary on the 28th of June 1914. This day was Serbia’s national day and in an area which wished to be united in a Slavic nation, tensions were running high and provoked by Austria-Hungary. That day a Bosnian student Gavrillo Princip, shot and killed the Archduke and his wife. There was no evidence to prove that the Serbian government was involved but Austria-Hungary used this as an excuse to go to war. Austria-Hungary sent an ultimatum to Serbia on the 23rd of July after receiving assurance from Germany that they would support her. With Austria-Hungary’s newly found confidence, the ultimatum was so harsh; it was designed to be rejected. Serbia did not agree to all of Austria-Hungary’s demands and there was an attempt by Britain to mediate the situation but Germany did not want to partake. On the 28th of July Austria declared war on Serbia and Russia and France began to mobilise for their allies. Germany sent an ultimatum to Russia and France to seize mobilisation and when they failed to respond, Germany declared war on both of them, the 1st and 3rd of August. Britian who had remained neutral had not been pursueded to join the war by France but when Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the war on the 4th of August against Germany on moral grounds to uphold their treaty for Belguim independence. As almost an afterthought, Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia and Russia and Fracne declared war on France. The whole of Europe was at war by the 12th of July 1914.

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