World War One Causes of the War

What Caused the War?

Europe at Its Peak The Industrial Revolution allowed Europe to dominate the world economy. All aspects of daily life were affected by modernization. Standards of living rose along with life expectancy. Modernization created a feeling of superiority in Europe. Europeans felt they lived a way of life that was the peak of world civilization.

Imperial Tensions To maintain strong industrial economies, European nations competed for colonies. A race for overseas colonies and economic dominance developed. Britain and France argued over land around the Nile River. Germany declared the right to trade with a French colony, Morocco. European nations carved out overseas empires.

Militarism European nations adopted a militaristic stance in the late 1800’s in order to acquire and protect colonies. Militarism is the glorification of armed strength and the ideals of war. Britain became threatened when Germany began to increase their armies. So, in response, Britain increased their naval superiority by creating the dreadnought, a battleship fitted with enormous cannons and protected by thick armor.

Nationalism

The System of Alliances Imperialism, militarism, and nationalism all contributed to a sense that war was an inevitable end to European competition. No European power wanted to be left to fight by itself with no diplomatic strategic alliances, so a web of interlocking treaties was formed.

The System of Alliances