The Tragic Unleashing of World War I
The Great War, now infamously known as World War I, was a tumultuous and devastating conflict that engulfed the world and resulted in the loss of millions of lives. From July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918, the war led to unprecedented destruction, shaped the course of world politics, and left an everlasting scar on humanity. One crucial question that historians ask themselves is: what sparked the devastating chain of events that led to the unprecedented chaos of World War I?
Imperialistic Ambitions
Colonization and Nationalism
Germany’s rise as a powerhouse, France’s fear of German domination, and Great Britain’s determination to protect its colonial empire and national security created the first main cause of the war. The Spanish-American War had reinvigorated European nationalism, with governments feeling threatened by the shifting global balance of power and competition for resources.
Table: Countries involved in the colonial wars:
Country/Imperial Power | colonies/countries |
---|---|
British Empire | Many territories worldwide |
France | Indochina (present-day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), the Levant (present-day Syria and Lebanon), Central Africa |
Germany | Several territories in Africa |
United States | Mexico (partially occupied |
The scramble for colonized lands and resources ultimately fueled tensions between nations:
- Anchorage of Britain at Malta and Gibraltar highlighted Germany’s naval threat as well as Britain’s interests in maintaining its Mediterranean trading routes.
- Triple Entente (1879): France, Belgium, and Britain agreed not to take any actions regarding each other’s interests ( Article VII implied they would not challenge a state in its territorial domination, ensuring the German Reich‘s neutrality, if not more!
- Agadir Crisis (1911): German gunboat Hohenzollern put itself between French and Belgian claims on Morocco, giving them leverage to establish footholds there.
An Embarrassing Crisis or Escalation
All the same, this could easily lead to preventative wars if someone like, say, Turkey didn’t get Kewra‘and an immediate annihilitate.
Here it would be important also mention:
- Russia, trying to regain confidence Tsarist, imperial power by protecting minority Slavic ethn, and by pushing Germany towards the east at war to rebound to Austria-Hungar
**World Politics of the 1810s: A Scary New World:
Germany took part in the Afghan Wars,
Bulgaria took out Ottoman,
Russia’s Empire is very big in Russian territories,
Assassing on Sarajevo – a Small, Fatal Spark
From an unknown assassin to diplomatic mistakes and military ententes lies. We have been taught: It was just <il; that much important thing for the entire empire.
- **The Intercession in the Balkins (1897)`<il;… (not, say, Austria.