Militarism, Colonialism, and Alliances were the underlying causes of World War 1. Alliances were of great value in this war. Mainly whoever had the most people or most advanced weapons would defeat their enemy. With tensions high and the want for more land, World War I broke out. Militarism is the act of a nation building a large military. European countries started building up their armies and navies starting in 1890 to 1914(document C).
Britain focused on mainly building up its Navy, though it was already stronger than any other two navies combined. Once Great Britain and Germany found out about Britain’s strong Navy, they both greatly increased their navies. In Germany and Russia mainly, this sudden military advance began to have a greater impact on public policy, it helped push the countries involved to the war. All of this build up in the military led to to an arms race between all the main countries.
In 1906, the British had introduced the ‘Dreadnought’, a powerful battleship. The Germans soon followed by introducing their own battleships. Then, Von Schlieffen drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany. Colonialism was one of the underlying factor factors in World War 1, many colonial rivalries hurt relationships and alliances within European power. Many of the European colonies were in Africa. There was many problems among France, Britain, Germany, and Italy.
The Term Paper on World War Britain Germany Belgium
... onwards Germany began to expand its military forces, spending more than any other European country on armaments, concentrating particularly on their navy. ... Europe, it was not the sole reason that Britain went to war. Britain were far more concerned with defending France, as ... vulnerability and to rivet it upon Germany.' Gilbert also agrees that Britain's reasons for war were not to defend Belgium. He ...
Imperialism, which is competition for trade and colonies, resulted in tense relationships between European nations. Britain and France formed alliances against Germany as a result of competition for colonies. Germany wanted to expand and take over Europe. (Document E) Alliance systems were also a leading cause of World War 1, this is where certain nations form alliances and fight with each other against whoever they are going to war against. Document A shows that Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy joined forces to create a triple-alliance.
On the other side of the war, United Kingdom, France, and Russia were an alliance; this helped because having Russia on the other side of the country made it easier to battle from two different sides of the continent against the Germany alliance. Document B shows all the different countries pointing at one another showing who they are at war with, this makes it clear that each alliance is fighting one another. World War 1 has many other causes but, Militarism, Colonialism, and Alliances are the most important underlying causes. Countries are made up many people, guns and colonies. With all of this combined it resulted in World War 1.
