Submitted by:Malik Yousaf Khan

Department:IR
Semester: 2
Subject:History of IR
Assignment:causes of world war 1
Roll No: 26
Submitted to:sir dalir

World War I: Causes

The following article briefly describes World War I. The article also discusses the causes of World
War I and the World War I central powers in brief.

TABLE OF CONTENT

World War I

Causes of World War I

World War I Central Powers

World War 1 was a conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and claimed over 9 million casualties. It began with the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Gavrilo Princip in
Bosnia.

The main causes of World War 1 were alliances between countries, militarism, nationalism, imperialism, secret
diplomacy, and internationalism. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-
Hungary, by Gavrilo Princip in Bosnia is widely accepted as the starting point for World War I.

World War I
The alliances between countries caused the war.
These alliances set the stage for World War 1.

Countries like Germany and Austria-Hungary wanted colonies in Africa and Asia, while Britain wanted to protect its
Empire and control India.

Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy allied called the Triple Entente because they wanted to counter British power in
Europe.

Causes of World War I

1. Militarism: The most significant cause of the war was militarism. Militarism was a concept that glorified war and
the military and was widely spread through Europe during the 19th century. It pushed nations to be ready for
war and led to an arms race. This caused tension between countries and rivalry, as they struggled to outdo
each other as the most powerful.
2. Imperialism: Imperialism was a motive of making countries stronger and more powerful, which led to tension

between countries. Germany and Britain used imperialism to build their empires, which led to tension between
them. Many European countries practiced imperialism to build their empires and expand their possessions.
This caused tension between the European countries and rivalry, as they struggled to outdo each other as the
most powerful nation in Europe.
3. Nationalism: Nationalism was also a major cause of World War 1. It made people decide their loyalty based on

ethnic or cultural background, instead of shared interests or ideals.

4. Secret Diplomacy: It was also called “Secret Sympathies” because countries would secretly negotiate their
alliances and tactics to gain an advantage over each other.
5. Alliances: Alliances were mutual military agreements between nations, which led to tension and rivalry
between countries.
6. Arming for War: Countries had spent a lot of money and energy creating huge militaries, which led to a need
for bigger and more powerful weapons.

7. The assassination of Austrian Archduke: Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by the Black
Hand organization. This was the spark that set off World War 1, which killed 9 million people. The outburst after
World War I was huge because of the death count.

World War I Central Powers:

1. Germany-With its military advances, it could defeat Austria and eventually Britain. Britain tried to stop Germany

from advancing into Belgium by building a fortress in the country’s north. To counter that, Germany sent troops
into Belgium to capture this fortress.
2. The Russian Empire -With its military advances, Russia joined many other countries in taking land from their

enemies during World War 1 (Russia won the most land by far).
3. The Ottoman Empire – The Turks managed to hold on to some of their territories in Europe during World War

1.
 4. Bulgaria-Bulgaria was a significant force that contributed to the Central Powers’ victory. There was not a lot of
fighting in Bulgaria during World War 1, so there were not many casualties. However, Bulgaria remained neutral

throughout the war and gained some land from Serbia when it surrendered at the end of World War 1.

Germany had joined the Triple Alliance in 1882 with Austria-Hungary and Italy. The alliance became troubled
following the rise of Italian nationalism after unification and an expansionist drive by both Italy and Germany. The
Triple Entente was formed as a counter to the Triple Alliance. It consisted of France, Russia, and Britain, who all
were determined to stop aggression by Germany or Italy against smaller European countries.

Both alliances were under pressure to join their allies in war. Germany found itself in a dilemma: if it declared
neutrality, it would lose prestige and status in Europe, but if it joined the war, morale would decline at home. Many
Germans did not want to go to war. When the Kaiser didn’t respond to a declaration of war from Russia, Germany
was viewed as an aggressor nation.

Conclusion

The causes of World War I and how the war played out are interesting to see because it shows how complex things
can become when countries argue. In the end, two empires fell, while four new countries were established
throughout Europe and Asia. There was so much chaos in Europe after the war and the tragedies that people
became even more aware of their feelings for one another. In this war, the Allies defeated the Central Powers during
four years of armed conflict resulting in Germany’s defeat and the end of World War I and the German Empire. The
Great War, in a sense, opened the doors for World War II.
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