WW1 Causes Flashcards by Harry Cuff

Franco-Prussian War impact

France: Humiliation, Revanche movement, Economic cost
For Europe: Shift in balance of power, Militarism, Alliances
Continental Europe started creating armies and looking for allies
Bismarcks system

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Bismarcks system to protect Germany

France must have no allies or they will attack germany
Keep peace between other european powers
Bismarck quote: Unite Germany through blood and iron

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First alliances

1882 triple alliance - Germany Austria-Hungary, Italy
1887 Reinsurance Treaty (until 1890) - Germany, Russia
Germany doesn’t want Russia to ally with France
Germany sends letters to Russian tsar to plead, bribe, grovel to not ally with France

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Weltpolitik (Germany)

World policy, To gain a large overseas empire, to build a large navy
Challenges Britain and France

After 1911 - Weltpolitik has clearly failed

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Base Concepts - Economic causes

Capitalism - Growth of profit and dividends, needs raw materials, market, cheap labour, saturation of domestic market

Empire building (imperialism) - raw materials, new markets, cheap labour

War - conflict over economic assets/empire, to gain empire, to defend empire

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Base Concepts - Ideological causes

Concept - Ideological causes

Nationalism - Promotion of nation state, links to militarism

Social Darwinism - Belief that some races are superior to others, survival of the fittest

War - Rivalry with other nations, conflict over empire, War ‘part of God’s plan’

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Eugenics

Eugenics is the idea of improving the human race by selective breeding of people with specific desirable hereditary traits.
To reduce human suffering by breeding out disease, disabilities and undesirable characteristics

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Militarism - arms race

All great powers were attempting to establish when they had a military advantage over enemies ‘Der Tag’ (The Day)
Land arms race on land in europe after franco prussian war
Sea - britain vs germany
Dreadnought causes rest of the british navy obsolete

By 1914 - Britain had 29 dreadnoughts, Germany had 17

Arms race is constant - military spending increases by 300%

1898 - 1909 - Naval race

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German schlieffen plan

Avoid 2 front war
Swift attack on france in west
6 weeks to knock out france as russia is slow to mobilise
Send troops to east to fight russia

No matter the tension Germany WILL attack France and the Schlieffen plan destroys diplomacy

Schlieffen plan is problem is bad for diplomacy because it is separate from reality, it is not adaptable to diplomatic talks

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Moroccan Crises 1905

Germany now worried about the triple entente decided to attack France in Morocco
Germany tried to expose the Entente Cordiale
Britain (surprisingly) helped France in Morocco if France recognised Britain’s power in egypt
Germany demanded a conference however had very little support
Britain (surprisingly) helped France in the conference
The Moroccan crisis was a disaster for Germany because they had no progression in North Africa, failed to undermine the Entente Cordiale but strengthened it
Germany was seen by a key threat to the interests of Britain

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Moroccan crises 1911

May, France sent troops to Fez, Morocco on the request of the sultan to stop a revolt
Germany sent a war boat to agadir Morocco mistaking it as a French takeover
Germany wanted compensation and the whole of congo
Britain perceived this as a threat because of what was called ‘Gunboat diplomacy’
Britain threatened their naval routes to Caltabari.
This was a disaster for Germany as the German public opinion was negative
The entente of France and Britain was strengthened
Increased tension and hostility between Germany and Britain

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Mansion house speech

Declares French interests are Britain’s interests
“You mess with them you mess with us”

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1st balkan war 1912

Most unstable part of Europe
For Serbia were Austro-Hungary are “the prison of nations”

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German War Council December 1912:

War against Serbia and Russia is inevitable
Germany had to go to war before Russian expansion of armed forces and railways complete
Admiral Tirpitz argued for 18 months - Navy then ready for war with Britain (June/July 1914)
Tirpitz in 18 months - complete u-boat base at heligoland, widen kiel canal for German dreadnoughts
A crisis in the Balkans could be used as an excuse for war

German action after conference:
Navy began to prepare for war with Britain
Army Bill passed for expansion of German land forces
Kaiser informed diplomats that war was likely in the next couple of years

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Results of 1st Balkan war

Serbia has become a large state
Ottomans is out of europe
Bulgaria has become larger but unhappy with serbia having too much

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Results of 2nd balkan war

Ottomans join serbia to get back territory from bulgaria
No European got involved in the Balkan wars
Serbia has doubled size in both conflicts
Russia is confident that Serbia has potential
Wars have primed Russia to support slavs but have given Austro-Hungary a chance to destroy Serbia

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Russian political causes

The Tsarist regime was challenged by political opposition.
Revolution in 1905 after defeat to Japan.
Tsar forced to create parliament - the Duma in 1906
Duma had no real power. From 1907 voting system limited.
Revolutionary groups called for the overthrow of the Tsarist regime.
Middle classes formed the Liberal opposition.
By 1913 - widespread strikes, revolutionary violence and peasant uprisings
Promoted Pan-Slavism
After humiliation 1905 & 1908 – pride in Serb victories 1912 & 1913
Tsar determined to promote nationalist and assertive foreign policy to unify population behind Tsarism in 1914

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Long-term causes all

1871: Franco-Prussian war
1871 - 1914: 300% increase in German military spending
1882: Triple Alliance (Germany, A-H, Italy)
1887: Reinsurance Treaty (Germany, Russia)
1888: Willhelm II
1890: Bismarck resigns, Reinsurance ends
1894: Franco-Russian alliance
1897: Weltpolitik begins
1902: Anglo-Japanese alliance
1903: Pro-Russian Serbian King
1904: Entente Cordiale (Britain and France)
1904-1905: Russo-Japanese war
1905: Schlieffen plan and 1st Moroccan crisis
1906: Dreadnoughts
1906: Tariff war between A-H and Serbia, (pig war), economic blockade of Serbian Pork
1907: Triple entente (Britain, France, Russia)
1908: Bosnian Crisis (A-H annexes Bosnia)

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Short -term causes

1911: 2nd Moroccan Crisis + Mansion House Speech
1912: First Balkan War
1913: 2nd Balkan war

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JULY CRISIS - 1914

28th June - Franz Ferdinand assassinated
5th July - German Blank cheque to A-H
23rd July - A-H ultimatum to Serbia
30th July - Russia orders mobilisation
1st August - Germany declares war on Russia
3rd August - Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France
4th August - Britain declares war on Germany

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Ideological A-H long term

Huge issues with nationalism, especially with Slavic people

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Ideological Long-term pan slavism

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Tsar and Russia want to create a state for the Slavs in the Balkans
Balkans felt separate from Ottomans, and wanted independence
A-H was scared of this, as they were-multinational, so nationalism could cause division
Serbian terrorists operate in Bosnia to commit acts of terrorism against A-H in 1905
A-H annexes and positions troops in Bosnia in 1908 (Bosnian Crisis)
Russia calls for a conference, its allies don’t attend, germany does and supports A-H, Russia is humiliated

Ideological long-term Ottomans

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Divisions between turks, Balkans, and Serbs
Russia promoting Balkan nationalism, A-H opposes

Ideological long-term Britain

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Followed an isolationist policy until 1900
Worried about overstretched navy, and the threat of now powerful Germany

Ideological long-term Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

Germany is unified as they defeat France French Revanche movement begins that aims to get revenge on Germany for their actions Began the arms race, as Germany now had the potential to become a dominant force

Ideolgical long-term Kaiser Willhelm II coming into power (Weltpolitik)

Build empire and navy, make Germany great

Ideological long-term militrarism

‘Der Tag’ - When a country has a military advantage over another War must begin when one country has superiority to ensure victory 1871 - 1914: 300% increase in military spending

Ideological long-term moroccan crises 1905

German nationalism Germany supports Moroccan freedom from French control Germany wanted to break up the entente Algiers conference strengthened entente, Germany failed, and Britain and France were now enemies of Germans

Ideological long-term dreadnought 1906

British Militarism and naval race Arms race began with the dreadnought, as it was far superior to any other ship Britain made its massive fleet obsolete, practically equalising the playing field Germany begins to build dreadnoughts, to dissuade Britain from interfering with their imperialist aims

Ideological long-term british alliances

Japanese in 1902, so that British navy can recede from the Pacific Triple Entente (1907) Russia, Britain, France Defend national interests/encirclement of france/allow for continuation of arms race

Ideological long-term social darwinsim

Belief that war is necessary to remove inferior people Germany believed and pursued such a type of thought, cause of many militarism actions

Economic long-term weltpolitik 1897

Build empire as number 1 economic power, requires cheap labour, materials, and market

Economic long-term Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)

Germany takes resourceful alsace lorraine in france Paris under economic blockade from Germany

Economic long-term Arms and Naval race

Cost of weapons and ‘Der Tag’

Economic long-term Alliances (1982 and 1907)

German encirclement threatens economic gain

Economic long-term Moroccan Crises (1905 and 1911)

Germany attempts to gain empire

Economic long-term Russia

Wanted access to the Dardanelles and warm sea ports for exports

Economic long-termA-H Serbian Tariff war

AH stops buying pork from Serbia Serbia goes to France, sells pork in exchange for weapons

Territorial long-term Germany

Felt outnumbered in terms of colonial territories by Britain and France Wanted to expand its influence in Africa Britain wanted to protect their territories by preventing German Hegemony (power over them

Territorial long-term France

Wants to reclaim Alsace Lorraine (irridentalism)

Political long term Bismarck’s alliances

Triple Alliance (1882) Germany, A-H, Italy To isolate France Reinsurance Treaty (1887) Germany convinced Russia into a treaty to avoid two front war Further isolates France

Ideological shot-term 2nd moroccan crises 1911

Germany sends a panther warship to Agadir to pressure the French to release Morocco Mansion House Speech solidifies France and Britain as allies, and warns Germany to back off Germany concedes in november

Political long term weltpolitik

Willhelm II (1888) Reinsurance Treaty ends in 1890 Results in Franco-Russian alliance of 1894 Destroyed Bismarck’s system France was no longer isolated, a two-front war was possible Weltpolitik turned Germans away from social issues to focus on imperialism

Political long term Political Opposition to the Tsar

1905 failed Revolution 1906 Duma 2nd parliament that answered to the state council and the Tsar Intended to be more democratic and appease revolutionaries They still wanted to overthrow the Tsar 1913: Widespread revolutionary violence from the middle and lower classes Pan-slavism and support of the Balkans was intended to distract and unite the population

Political long term Germany

Bismarck had control from 1871 Most power was held by Bismarck and then the Kaiser Allegiance to the Kaiser promoted militarism There was pressure from the upper classes to form an empire

Ideological shot-term German War Council (December 1912)

War against Russia and Serbia is inevitable Schlieffen plan must be enacted Tirpitz declares the German U-boats at heligoland and kiel canal will be ready by Summer of 1914 June 1914, will be ‘Der Tag’ Germans say they can rely on some crisis in the Balkans to act

Ideological shot-term Balkan wars

Total wars from October-May (1912, 1913), then June-July 1913 British intervene in 1st, Russia in 2nd Aimed at uniting the Balkans

Ideological shot-term Balkan Nationalism

Riots from 1912 Ethnic unrest in A-H Serbia wants to unite slavs under Yugoslavia Black Hand terrorist organisation conducts acts in Bosnia and A-H Franz Ferdinand does not want to suppress Balkan nationalism

Ideological shot-term July Crisis

Militarism was in the driving seat of decisions

economic shot-term Balkan Wars (1912 and 1913)

Russia supports Balkan nationalism to gain warm sea ports in the Dardanelles which they can use to trade

economic shot-term July Crisis (1914)

All powers act to gain empire/economic assets Britain coming to war was to prevent Germany growing, which was in order to protect their economic interests

Territorial short-term july crises 1914

The July crisis ended with Germany enacting the Schlieffen plan, which had the purpose of defeating france in order to pursue further imperial ambitions

Territorial short-term 2nd moroccan crises 1911

The second moroccan crisis was aimed at pressuring Britain and France into breaking the entente, allowing Germany to more easily pursue their own territorial ambitions without the threat of Britain.

Political short-term july crises

July crisis: It was the web of alliances that meant when Germany gave A-H a blank cheque of support, every country went to war.

WW1 Causes Flashcards

(54 cards)