ORIGINS |
Nationalism
When a country acts on its own interest. |
Read The Bosnian Crisis of 1908-1909
Read 1908-09 - The Bosnian Crisis
Read The Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary |
Imperialism
A policy in which a stronger nation attempts to dominate a weaker nation politically, economically, militarily, etc. |
Serbia vs. Hungary Conflict
Serbia claimed Bosnia because their cultural ties were similar. Austria-Hungary claimed Bosnia because Bosnia was a country within a country. In 1878, article 25 of the Treaty of Berlin gave Austria-Hungary control over Bosnia. On October 6, 1908, Austria-Hungary took over Bosnia. Tensions rose between Serbia and Austria-Hungary because Serbia believed Bosnia belonged to them.
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Militarism
When military is influential in government.
During World War 1, many countries were stocking up on weapons and building up their militaries. It is said that when military is in control, the likelihood of war is greater. During the Great War, many countries were increasing their armies and navies. The British created a new battleship called the “Dreadnought” in 1906. The German created their own weapons of destruction called the U-boats, which we know as submarines. Von Schlieffen of Germany even designed a plan to attack France during World War 1.
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Read Triple Alliance, 20 May 1882
Read THE WEAKENING OF THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE, 1902-03
Read Franco-Russian Military Convention, 18 August 1892
Read The Anglo-Russian Entente
Read Feature Articles: The Causes of World War One
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Alliance
The formation of allies through an agreement between two or more countries to provide assistance when one of the countries is involved in a conflict.
Following the assassination, Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum on the issue of punishing the assassins, which undermined Serbia’s authority. Any act going against the terms of Austria-Hungary’s demands was looked upon as an act of war. Serbia turned to Russia for assistance, while Austria-Hungary sought the support of its German ally.
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Central Powers versus Allied Nation
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. Being dragged into the war, Russia began mobilizing its army to come to the aid of Serbia. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914 to back Austria-Hungary. France was sucked into the Great War on August 4, 1913 due to its ties with Russia and Britain followed to support the French government with whom they had a “moral obligation.” Britain was aided militarily by its many colonies including Japan, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa. Italy who had an obligation to Germany and Austria-Hungary through the Triple Alliance in 1881 remained neutral until May 1915, when it sided with the Allied Nation. This violated the Triple alliance, a treaty in which Austria-Hungary and Germany would provide military assistance to Italy if it was attacked by France or vice versa. However, Italy had a secret alliance with France called the Franco-Italian Alliance. The Franco-Italian alliance stated that Italy would come to the aid of France if it were to be attacked by German forces. After Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare threatened America’s interest, the United Sates was forced to enter the war on April 6, 1917 and align itself with the Allied Nation. The war started off with 3 countries and ended with approximately 32 countries due to alliances.
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- Central powers were on a quest for world domination.
- Germany
- Austria Hungary
- Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
- Allied Nation
- Serbia
- Britain
- France
- US
- Russia
- Later Italy
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