The Causes of World War I

Why America Was Surprised by War

·        The outbreak of WWI shocked and surprised many Americans since great strides had been made during the late 1800's and early 1900's to build international cooperation and support peace.

·        Peace organizations, humanitarian organizations (Red Cross) interdependence in trade and business, improvements in transportation which brought people closer together, professional groups which formed international organizations and societies (scientists, doctors, professors) and government cooperation all grew prior to WWI. Consequently, many believed a major war was unlikely.

·        The Pan-American Union was formed in 1910 (which became the Organization of American States in 1948). The U.S. dominated the organization, but the organization still was a major step forward towards international cooperation.

·        The First Hague Conference in the Netherlands 1899; 26 nations sent delegates. This conference provided mediation and arbitration involving disinterested third parties to help resolve disputes between nations. The Permanent Court of Arbitration with headquarters at the Hague was also founded. The conference drew up rules for warfare and outlawed certain weapons to reduce the horrors of war.

·        The Second Hague Conference of 1907. Forty-four nations sent delegates and drafted additional rules for the conduct of war. The Drago Doctrine stated that there would be no use of force to collect debts unless debtor nation refused arbitration or having accepted arbitration failed to submit to the award.

·        1905 peace conference at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Russia, Japan, and Roosevelt.

·        Taft and Wilson worked for peace. Wilson's Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan negotiated anti-war treaties with 21 nations.

Nonetheless, in spite of these great strides towards peace, war broke out in the conflict ridden Balkans in 1914.

Underlying Causes of WWI

·        European nations were sitting on a powder keg during early 1900's. One spark was all that was needed to set off the explosion of war.

·        The underlying Causes of WWI follow below

1.     Nationalism: Strong feelings people have for their own country. Also, the desire of people ruled by foreign powers to rule themselves. People everywhere in Europe longed for independence. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Slavs wanted their independence and were encouraged by the Slavs from Serbia. Austria Hungary wanted to crush the rising spirit of nationalism among the Slavic people because this nationalism threatened the Empire’s ability to control its people.

2.     Imperialism: The struggle for colonies and the race for empire during late 1800's and early 1900's. By 1914 there were two types of European nations: those with huge colonial empires (Great Britain, France, Russia with vast amount of land in the Russian Empire) and those without colonies (Germany with just a few colonies in Africa and Pacific, Italy). The possibility for additional colonies brought nations into war, especially Italy.

3.     International Rivalries. Austria-Hungary wanted power in the Balkan Peninsula, Russia wanted to prevent Austria Hungary from increasing its influence. France supported Russia as an ally to counter power of Germany and hopefully to take back Alsace-Lorraine which the Germans had conquered in 1871. Italy wanted territory in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Balkan countries competed for territory. Russia wanted ice free harbors in the Balkans and wanted an outlet to the Mediterranean through the Bosporus and Dardenelles. Germany was the major Baltic Sea power and Turkey controlled the Dardanelles. Both feared and distrusted Russia. 

4.     Systems of Alliance: Tensions, plots, intrigues led to arms races and a race for military power. Nations attempted to gain security through a balance of power system (each country attempted to gain strength by gaining more allies to balance against opposing nations). By 1907 there were two major systems of alliances. The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy. The Triple Entente: Great Britain, France, Russia. If one country declared war on another in an alliance system, this would set the entire system of alliances into motion.

5.     Governments of Europe constantly prepared for war, plotted and schemed against one another, and attempted to support their national interests in case war broke out.

Immediate Cause of WWI

·        War started in the politically unstable Balkan Peninsula in the summer of 1914.

·        Serbian nationalists wanted to free all Slavs living under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

·        Serbian nationalists assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria Hungary, and his wife Sophia. The two were riding through the streets of Sarajevo, Bosnia which had recently become part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

·        The conspirators were caught and brought to trial.

·        Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary used the opportunity to destroy Serbia. He made harsh demands on Serbia which Serbia refused to meet.

·        Austria-Hungary declared War on Serbia on July 28, 1914.

·        This set off the entire system of alliances. Within a week Austria-Hungary and Germany (Central Powers) were at war with Russia, France, and Great Britain (Allied Powers or Allies)

·        Before the end of the conflict 30 nations on six continents were at war.