<aside> <img src="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" alt="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" width="40px" /> In this lesson, you will…
Big Question: What factors led to the outbreak of a global war between European powers?
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By 1900, Europeans were experiencing greater peace and prosperity than ever before, but a massive conflict was around the corner. Urbanization and industrialization meant more people were living in cities. Meanwhile, Imperialism afforded most Europeans cheap goods and a high standard of living.
However, there were several factors were driving Europe towards conflict.
Nationalism is the belief that each ethnic group should have its own nation and that they should promote their own nation’s interests. By the start of the 1900s, Nationalistic rivalries were growing between France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.
This also led to the creation of new independent nations in the Balkans, like Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania – many were unstable from local conflict.
Some of the larger empires, like Austria-Hungary, consisted of many different ethnic groups.
Some of these groups wanted their own nation, and these demands were often accompanied by violence and terrorism.
The European major powers had become used to competing for colonies in Asia and Africa. In 1914, one quarter of the world was under British rule, but German industry threatened British economic supremacy.
By 1914, Europe had come to be divided into two large alliances – groups of countries that have decided to work together for protection.
Although these alliances were formed to try and preserve a balance of power and peace, any war that involved one member of the alliance would threaten to bring the rest of them in as well.
The Triple Entente
While not a formal alliance, the Triple Entente informally promised to their mutual protection. These nations were a part of the Triple Entente:
The Triple Alliance
The Triple Alliance was formed as a mutual defense pact against Franco-Russian alignment. These nations formally joined in a military pact: ****
Both sides engaged in militarism.
Militarism is the ideology that a country should have a strong military and that the country should use it aggressively.
The nations of Europe competed to build the largest militaries and navies.
Further, European leaders and military strategists on both sides believed their military power and technology would lead to a quick victory. This is called the short war illusion.
In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to Austrian-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated by a member of a Serbian nationalist terrorist group called the Black Hand.
Austrian leaders accused the Serbian government of helping the terrorists and invaded Serbia which began a chain reaction of nations joining the war.