Ann-Marie Hayes
WW1 Essay
March 12, 2013
Do you know the 3 main causes of World War 1? At first European wanted balanced power, but then alliances started to form, an assassination happened and soon Europe was at war with one and another. In World War 1 there were 3 main underlying causes imperialism, militarism, and alliances, however, imperialism was the most important.
One of the underlying causes is alliance. Europe at first wanted to be a balanced power, where all the major countries were equal in strength. Slowly, however, countries started to divided and 2 main alliances formed. One of the alliances is the triple alliance, which consist of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The other alliance was the triple entente, which consist of Russia, Untied Kingdom, and France. These alliances started to form after the Black Hand assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was the archduke of Serbia. After the assassination, countries started to either agree with Serbia or Austria. This sparked World War 1. During the war, Italy switched sides. At first Italy was on the triple alliance, but then Italy changed to the triple entente causing even more conflict.
Another one of the underlying causes is militarism. This may have caused WW1 because Europe countries started to spend more on their army and navy. In 1890 the triple alliance spent around 42 million pounds; in 1914 they spent around 150 million pounds just on army and navy. The triple entente spent on navy and army around 100 million pounds in 1890, and then around 225 millions pounds in 1914. This proves that 1890 to 1914, the start of the war, that in Europe countries there was a build up of arms. Some people thought that its more important to build up arms then to have alliances because you cannot always depend on alliances. People thought this especially after Italy switched sides.
The last and most important cause is imperialism. Imperialism is the taking over of territories. This caused WW1 because Britain had the most territories and other countries thought that the territories should be equal among all countries in Europe. Britain also had the most territories because of the amount of arms they had and they had alliances. Imperialism is the most important because without imperialism there would be no need for militarism and alliances.
Although, World War probably was started by a combination of all three underlying causes imperialism was clearly the most important because without imperialism you would not need militarism or alliances.
WW1 Essay
March 12, 2013
Do you know the 3 main causes of World War 1? At first European wanted balanced power, but then alliances started to form, an assassination happened and soon Europe was at war with one and another. In World War 1 there were 3 main underlying causes imperialism, militarism, and alliances, however, imperialism was the most important.
One of the underlying causes is alliance. Europe at first wanted to be a balanced power, where all the major countries were equal in strength. Slowly, however, countries started to divided and 2 main alliances formed. One of the alliances is the triple alliance, which consist of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The other alliance was the triple entente, which consist of Russia, Untied Kingdom, and France. These alliances started to form after the Black Hand assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was the archduke of Serbia. After the assassination, countries started to either agree with Serbia or Austria. This sparked World War 1. During the war, Italy switched sides. At first Italy was on the triple alliance, but then Italy changed to the triple entente causing even more conflict.
Another one of the underlying causes is militarism. This may have caused WW1 because Europe countries started to spend more on their army and navy. In 1890 the triple alliance spent around 42 million pounds; in 1914 they spent around 150 million pounds just on army and navy. The triple entente spent on navy and army around 100 million pounds in 1890, and then around 225 millions pounds in 1914. This proves that 1890 to 1914, the start of the war, that in Europe countries there was a build up of arms. Some people thought that its more important to build up arms then to have alliances because you cannot always depend on alliances. People thought this especially after Italy switched sides.
The last and most important cause is imperialism. Imperialism is the taking over of territories. This caused WW1 because Britain had the most territories and other countries thought that the territories should be equal among all countries in Europe. Britain also had the most territories because of the amount of arms they had and they had alliances. Imperialism is the most important because without imperialism there would be no need for militarism and alliances.
Although, World War probably was started by a combination of all three underlying causes imperialism was clearly the most important because without imperialism you would not need militarism or alliances.