What were the major causes of the First World War?

2 Answers
Jun 5, 2017

The murder of Franz Ferdinand

Explanation:

When Frerdinand was murdered in Sarajevo, it led to Austria declaring war on Serbia since the murderer was a Slavic nationalist. It led to the Triple Alliance(Germany, Austrian Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire) waging war on the Triple Entente(France, United Kingdom and the Russian Empire).

According to many geo-politician such as William Engdhal the war fought for the control of oil in the Middle East( in Iraq and Kuwait), the so-called Bagdadbahn would have enabled Germany the oil of that region and Britain would have dependent on Germany. It would have lost its status of world first power.

The major causes were rivalries and alliances between the major nations and desire for independence of minor nations.

Explanation:

France and Germany were rivals for the Rhine River area of the Alsace-Lorraine. This rivalry had already created a war between the two nations in 1870.

The United Kingdom and Germany were in competition for dominance of the oceans, territories for colonies in Africa and control of the newly valued oil resources of the Middle East.

Russia and Austria Hungry were both striving for power and influence in the Balkans. The Slavic people wanted independence from the Austrian Hungarian Emperor and were supported by Russia.

Russia and the Ottoman Empire had been fighting over the Caucasus, and Armenia since the 1700s. In 1854 a major war between the Ottoman Empire and Russia had also involved England and France.

The treaties and alliances between the different countries was suppose to prevent warfare between the major nations. However once war was begun these alliances drew all the major nations into the conflict.

The spark that started World War I was the assassination of the crown prince of the Austrian Hungarian Empire. He was killed by a Serbian National who wanted independence for the Slavic people under the control of the Austrians. Austria declared war on Serbia who had a treaty with Russia who then declared war on Germany and Austria who had treaties with the Ottomans who declared war on England, France and Russia. The rivalries like a powder keg exploded into World War I