Causes of World War I: Imperialism and Alliances
The Path to World War I: Imperialism and Alliances
Imperialism and the First World War
1870-1871: War between Prussia and France, leading to the creation of the German Empire and the decline of the French Empire. Europe entered a new era marked by economic and political rivalries, particularly colonialism.
Colonial Losses and Gains
In the 19th century, a few European powers maintained significant colonial holdings:
- The Portuguese: Africa and Asia
- Dutch: South America and Indonesia
- Great Britain: Canada and Australia
- Spain: Caribbean, Philippines
Losses:
- 1811-1825: Spain lost its South American colonies due to independence movements.
- 1898: After the Spanish-American War, Spain lost its final colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
New powers emerged: the USA and Japan. The Balkans became a region of intense conflict.
Colonial Gains
Three powers rose to prominence due to the Industrial Revolution: Europe, the United States, and Japan.
The Scramble for Africa: Britain held a privileged position in the second half of the 19th century. In 1877, the official annexation of India made Britain the most powerful nation in the world. By 1870, Germany, the USA, and Japan began to compete industrially with Britain.
Africa offered resources such as:
- Rubber
- Diamonds
- Cloves and Spices
- Gold
- Ivory
- Slave labor
- Copper
This need for colonies created tensions between countries. German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck organized a conference in Berlin in 1885.
Why was this important? Before 1885, a powerful country could unilaterally occupy new territory. After 1884, they had to agree. Africa was divided up mainly between Great Britain and France, reducing the possibilities of conflict over colonial territories. Holding the conference in Germany enhanced Bismarck’s status.
Political Rivalry: Alliances in Europe
After 1885, Africa was divided up. Tension arose from:
- Patriotism: Intense national pride and the desire for one’s country to be the best.
- The Arms Race: Germany and Russia built up massive armies, while Germany and Britain constructed numerous new warships.
- War Plans: War was accepted as a means for countries to achieve their goals. Some desired war, while others considered it inevitable, creating a dangerous ‘climate of war’.
- Rival Empires: Each European power possessed an overseas empire, with Britain having the largest. Germany sought to expand its own.
- Alliances: Countries formed alliances, promising to protect each other in the event of an attack.
- The Kaiser: From 1870, Germany grew stronger, leading to suspicion from its rivals regarding its ruler, The Kaiser, who they believed sought to make Germany even stronger at any cost.
What were the alliances?
- 1882, Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, with the intention of isolating France.
- 1870: France, 3rd Republic was created.
- 1904, Triple Entente: Russia, Britain, and France.
These alliances aimed to preserve peace.
Other smaller pacts:
- Britain-Belgium
- Russia-Serbia
- Britain-Japan
- Italy-France
- Germany-Ottoman Empire
Non-European Powers
USA
- Expanded to the west through various means.
- Underwent economic and political development, leading to conflicts between the industrialized northern states and the southern states.
- Civil War: North and South, 1861-65. Won by the more industrial North.
- Industrialization led to its rise as a world power.
Japan
- Remained isolated, with limited trade with the Netherlands until 1853.
- Forced to open its ports by the USA army, leading to significant consequences.
- Meiji Revolution: Transition from Ancien Régime to modern times.
- Constitutional monarchy established.
- Became the most important state in East Asia.
The Balkans: Weakness of the Turkish Empire
- 1908: Austria-Hungary invaded Bosnia-Herzegovina, annexing their empire.
- This was a significant mistake because the Bosnians were Slavic people, like Serbia and Russia, who were anti-Austrian.
- This region was called The Balkans.
- The conflict began in 1830 when Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire.
- Nationalist movements emerged, and borders were difficult to define.
- The Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires sought to exploit the weakness of the Ottoman Empire.
- Great Britain also participated to prevent any other powerful empire from gaining control of the area.
- This was one of the causal factors in the outbreak of the First World War.