Subject: Social Studies
In 1914, the world was affected by a serious war which is known as First World War. This note gives a detailed information about the various causes of First World War.
A situation in which almost all the countries of the world are directly or indirectly involved in armed fighting against their rivals block is called world war. One blocks countries may give arms, money, send military forces to the battle front for fighting against the military of the rival block. In 1914, the world was affected by a serious war which is known as First World War.
Causes of the First World War
1. Groupism:
One of the important and most responsible factor that caused the fierce and most destructive First World War was Groupism. The groupism was started by German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck. He sowed the seeds of the first world war. During that period, Germany, Italy and Austria made triple alliances and England and Japan had hostility between them so, the whole Europe was divided into two blocks: because of that division the doubt and enmity arose among the countries of Europe which finally caused the enormous and destructive World War from European countries.
2. Militarism:
The other important factors that caused the world war was militarism. Both the hostile blocks were in a fear filled with suspicion and hatred against each other. They started to increase the number of armies and developed dangerous weapons as they felt unsecured which also came to be known as the cause of the war.
3. Economic Imperialism:
The countries in Europe were in search of a good market to supply their productions after the industrial revolution in Europe. The European countries also wanted to raise their economic status and size of the army and produce harmful weapons. The competition of imperialism and colonialism began in Europe that made the cold relationship among the countries which led the in path of destructive wars because of these reasons.
4. Character of William-II:
William II-(The Emperor of Germany) wanted to make Germany a powerful country in the world. His principle was World power of downfall. He wanted to be more powerful than U.K. So, the relationship between Germany and U.K was cold which enriched them to involve in the first world war.
5. Issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Bosnia and Herzegovina (the two Balkan countries) were kept in Austria by the Berlin Convention of 1878 A.D. But, most of the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina were of the Serbian race. Due to these reasons, there was frequent rebellions and revolt against Austria.
6. Problem of Balkan:
Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria were under turkey which was called the Ottoman Emperor. These states wanted independence because of the despotic rule of Turkey due to the right of nationalism. Islams made the Christians their victims. So, there was a frequent war to the Balkan region. So, to initiate the first world war, Balkan countries were also responsible.
7. Stern Nationalism and Newspaper:
Extreme nationalism was developed by Germany. They had the arrogance that they were the superior race and born to rule the world. Germany and U.K had hatred and France and Germany had enmity. The countries used to publish the false news to provoke the people's spirit against the enemy countries.
8.The Immediate Cause:
Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the prince of Austria-Hungary) along with his wife Sophie Chotek were visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia. 19 years old student, a member of the black-hand group named Gavrilo Prince killed the couple by shooting the couple from behind during their visit. The incident was named as the immediate cause of the war. After a month of the murder of the couple, the emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph, with the support of Germany, sent a telegram to Serbian king, Peter Blaming on 25th July 1914, that his government was responsible for the murder of a couple of Austria Princess. The telegram contained the following:
Serbia should give permission to Austro-Hungarian authorities to monitor the suppression of the black hand society and investigate the criminal activities. Serbia must suppress the Black Hand Society and Serbia must respond to the terms of ultimatum within 48 hours. On 27th July 1914, King Peter of Serbia replied stating that the members of black hand could be suppressed, but the authorities of Austria-Hungary would not be allowed in Serbia to monitor the investigate. So, formally the Austrian government declared war against Serbia on 28th July 1914 and initiated the destructive and enormous the First World War.
S. No. |
Date |
Events |
1 |
28th July 1914 |
King Francis Joshep of Austria-Hungary ordered military strike against Serbian capital Belgrade. |
2 |
29th July 1914 |
Russia ordered its military to protect Serbia and entered the war. |
3 |
30th July 1914 |
Germany put pressure on Russia to retract its military from Serbia. |
4 |
1st August 1914 |
Germany announced war against Russia; France ordered its army to support Russia. |
5 |
3rd August 1914 |
Germany announced war against France; German army entered Belgium to attack France; Britain warned Germany to retract army from Belgium. |
6 |
4th August 1914 |
Britain announced war against Germany after it didn’t return army from Belgium. |
7 |
12th August 1914 |
Britain and France announce war against Austria-Hungary. |
8 |
20th October 1914 |
First Ypres war began; Armies killed in huge numbers in Ypres City in Belgium. |
9 |
24th May 1915 |
Italy announced war against Austria-Hungary |
10 |
15th October 1915 |
Britain announced war against Bulgaria. |
11 |
27th August 1916 |
Romania announced war against Austria-Hungary. |
12 |
28th August 1916 |
Italy announced war against Germany. |
13 |
6th April 1917 |
USA announced war against Germany. |
14 |
7th August 1918 |
German army nearing defeat; Black day in German history. |
15 |
9th November 1918 |
German Emperor Kaiser Williams II takes refuse in Holland. |
16 |
28th June 1919 |
Paris Peace Convention; Versailles Treaty; End of War. |
The two countries which were involved is Triple Alliance were Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
The immediate cause of the First World War was the assassination of the Austrian Prince Arch Duke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie Chotek.
The murder of crown prince couple of Austria-Hungary took place in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia.
In 1936 AD, Germany signed the 'Anti Comintern Pact' with Japan to stop the rapid spread of communism in Europe.
Before 2nd world war was held Hitler of Germany demanded two places from Poland called 'Polish corridor' and 'the Denzing Port'.
The revenge is the cause of the war. We can feel it even in our daily life. The first and second wars proved it. The Serbian took the revenge murdering the prince and prince of Austria Hungary. In its return, Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia. All the powers of the world sided the either one. The allied countries blamed and loaded only to Germany for the First World War was as the revenge which couldn't be forgotten by German. As it got its favorable situation, it declared war on the allies. So, we can say the seed of the First World War brought the starting of the Second World War due to the revenge.
Date | Chief Events |
28 July 1914 | Murder of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph launches a war on Serbia |
29 July 1914 | Russia mobilized her army to defend Serbia |
30 July 1914 | Germany's ultimatum to Russia to withdraw her army |
1 Aug 1914 | Germany declared war on Russia |
4 Aug 1914 | England declared war on Germany |
10 Aug 1914 | Austria- Hungary invaded Russia |
12 Aug 1914 | Japan joined Triple Entente |
20 Aug 1914 | First Battle of "Ypres" |
23 Aug 1914 | Italy joined Triple Entente and declared war on Austria |
15 Oct 1915 | England attacked Bulgaria |
22 Feb 1916 | Germany opened the battle of Verdun. |
Britain, France, Russia, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Germany, Austria, Ottoman, Empire, Spain Switzerland, Albania, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iran were the countries involved in the First World War.
The terms of ultimatum sent by Austro-Hungarian Empire to Serbian king Peter were that Serbia must:
The list of allied power, axis or central power and national countries involved in the First World War are as follows:
Countries
Allied power- Britain, France, Russia, Portugal, Italy Romania and Serbia,
Axis or central power- Germany, Austria, and Ottoman Empire.
National countries- Spain, Switzerland, Albania, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iran
(The First World War was held between 1914-1918 with the main involvement of the powerful European countries and indirect involvement of other smaller countries. It was fought in various parts in the world. It is presented below in the form of dialogue.)
Student- Excuse me sir, the first world war completed after five years of fierce power test. Whoever suffered in whatever way but what were the social, political and economic results in the world? Would you explain them?
Teacher- Of course it brought such results in the world. It brought social results adversely. Many people were left out as orphans, women as widows. Children were parentless and homeless. Those who were alive, they had no support to live normal life. Living dependently was a great torture and a pain. Chemicals and other uses bought diseases which were incurable. When people moved to other places for safety, there was migration too.
Students- What kinds of economic results were observed thereafter?
Teacher- Well, there were seen many economic hazards. The expenses of the countries were worthless, untouchable. Physical infrastructures like hospitals, college, buildings, and personal houses were massively destroyed. Huge use of expensive Weapons brought no more than losses and wastages. Germany and Austria were compelled to pay huge compensation over the victorious countries. The industries were closed, destroyed. People were forced to either work on cheap wages and exploitation. Countries had to bear huge economic problems for their reconstruction and the development.
Student- Sir, what kind of political results did it bring?
Teacher- Listen, the war ended with the badly affected loss of Germany, Austria and the countries supporting them. The Pans Peace Settlement led to the Versailles Treaty which was a huge domination and suppression over Germany. It brought no more pacifying results but sense of revenge and aggression against the victorious countries. The place captured by Germany earlier was again seized like: Alsace and Lorraine, Eupan and Mamady, Scheloweig, Silesia and so many colonies. The defeated countries had later rose up in a new political scenario with the rise of dictations there. Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy, General Franco in Spain. They played such a role later which became the base for the rise of the Second World War.
A dialogue between Sagar and Shreya about the First World War:
Groupism:
One of the important and most responsible factor that caused the fierce and most destructive First World War was Groupism. The groupism was started by German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck. He sowed the seeds of the first world war. During that period, Germany, Italy and Austria made triple alliances and England and Japan had hostility between them so, the whole Europe was divided into two blocks: because of that division the doubt and enmity arose among the countries of Europe which finally caused the enormous and destructive World War from European countries.
Militarism:
The another important factors that caused the world war was militarism. Both the hostile blocks were in fear filled with suspicion and hatred against each other. They started to increase the number of armies and developed dangerous weapons as they felt unsecured which also came to be known as the cause of the war.
Economic imperialism:
The countries in Europe were in search of good market to supply their productions after the industrial revolutionary in Europe. The European countries also wanted to raise their economic status and size of army and produce harmful weapons. The competition of imperialism and colonism began in Europe that made the cold relationship among the countries which led the in path of destructive wars because of these reasons.
The immediate cause:
Archduke Franz Ferdinand ( the prince of Austria-Hungary) along with his wife Sophie Chotek were visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia. A 19 years old student, a member of black-hand group named Gavrilo Prince killed the couple by shooting the couple from behind during their visit. The incident was named as the immediate cause of the war. After a month of the murder of the couple, the emperor of Austria Hungary, Franz Joseph, with the support of Germany, sent a telegram to Serbian king, Peter Blaming on 25th July.1914, that his government was responsible for the murder of the couple of Austria Princess.
At the end of the first world war, a treaty was signed between the Allies group and Germany where Germany was badly humiliated. Germany had to accept the treaty with a knife in her throat. There was huge restriction in terms of military, weapons manufacturing and also had to pay 660 million pounds to Allies as war compensation. Such humiliation was not tolerable by the German people. This feeling of revenge led to the support of Adolf Hitler, who threatened world peace by violating the treaty that opened the door for second world war.
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