IGCSE History: International Relations – Causes of WWI Revision

IGCSE History: International Relations – Causes of WWI Revision The Origins of the First World War Was the war the fault of the German government? Long Term Causes: The unification and rise of Germany: ● Leaders of Prussia only united Germany in 1871 after a one year war with France. ● Leader was Wilhelm I who was declared as Kaiser and Bismarck who was chancellor. ● 1871 – 1914 the German economy grew stronger and stronger. ● Output level exceeded Britain. ● Chancellor prevented Germany from going to war. Rise of Wilhelm II: ● Thought that since Germany was the equal of Britain in terms of wealth and industrial strength she should have her own global empire (the beginnings of imperialism). ● Came to power in 1888. ● Forced Bismarck to retire in 1890. ● Ended the peaceful relations cultivated by Bismarck with Russia. ● Germany was seen as a threat. The Arms Race: ● After 1897, Germans started enlarging their navy to such an extent that it could rival Britain’s. They wanted something to protect their future empire ● 1900, Germany ordered 41 battleships and 60 cruisers. ● Britain made the Dreadnought in response. ● Germany made something similar. ● Britain made the Super Dreadnought. ● France, seeing the rise in military strength of its neighbors, increased its army to 4 million soldiers by 1914. ● Russia spent huge amounts on constructing railway lines designed to bring troops and supplies to fight Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Two Alliances: ● Germany was allied to Austria-Hungary since 1897. ● Wilhelm’s policies encouraged Russia to ally herself with France (1892). ● Britain looked for allies and formed the Triple Entente (an informal understanding) with France and Russia. The Turkish were weakening and became unable to protect the Balkan States: ● This resulted in the First Balkan War where Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro attacked the Ottoman Empire and effectively drove them from Europe. Short term causes (January to August 1914): 28th June 1914 a Serb, Gavrilo Princip, shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary) and his wife in Sarajevo. ● Serbian nationalists wanted Serbia to be independent and not ruled by Austria-Hungary. ● Taken as an excuse by Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia. ● Austria-Hungary received German aid. ● Serbia had close ties with Russia who also sought the aid of Britain and France. ● The murder brought many countries to war. Change of attitude in Germany: ● In 1913 Germany disapproved of war and stopped Austria-Hungary from going to war with Serbia and Russia over the land taken from Turkey by withdrawing their support. ● Kaiser gave his support for an Austrian attack on Serbia on July the 5th 1914. He even urged them to ignore offers of negotiation offered by Britain and France. Confusion regarding the British Position: ● Sir Edward Grey, then Foreign Secretary of Britain, was urged to make clear that Britain would support Russia and France in the event of a war. ● Grey wanted to negotiate as Britain was not legally bound to aid Russia and France. ● Grey continued negotiations till the 3rd August, 1914, when the Germans started their Schlieffen plan. Britain went to war on the 4th.