World War I, " the Great War," involved all of the great powers of Europe and killed more than eight million soldiers. Discuss the reasons which led to the rising international tensions that sparked World War I.
World War I, which began in 1914, was the largest and greatest war that the world had ever seen up until this time period. There were millions of soldiers killed along with millions of civilians. This war took place between all of the major powers in Europe including, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France, Britain, Italy, and Siberia. These countries made up separate alliances of their own, in order to bring more power and make themselves stronger. World War I was sparked by several different factors including the fact that the European countries were not unified, and there was no higher power that kept them unified, as well as the fact that there was extreme racism among the people, but the cause for tension that directly began World War I was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Hungary, in Serbia by the Black Hand, an organization for the union of all Serbian people.
By the time of World War I, Germany and Austria-Hungary were already in an alliance. Serbia allied with France and Russia, which were majors powers during the time period. Britain allied with France, Russia, and Serbia, and Italy allied with German and Austria-Hungary because of their connection with Austria-Hungary through the Church. These were the major powers that fought during World War I. "Should, contrary to their hope, and against the loyal desire of the two High Contracting Parties, one of the two Empires be attacked by Russia the High Contracting Parties are bound to come to the assistance one of the other with the whole war strength of their Empires, and accordingly only to conclude peace together and upon mutual agreement" (doc 1). This excerpt was taken from the agreement between Austria-Hungary and Germany to be in an alliance, and to defend one another if one was attacked by Russia.
The time period before World War I was filled with strife and fighting amongst the European countries. This was because of the fact that the countries were not in anyway unified with each other. "The states of Europe were like individuals living in a primeval state of nature marked by incessant strife between one and another. They acknowledged no higher authority that might have forced them to keep the peace" (doc 5). Each individual country wanted to be Europe's leading power, which caused much fighting and disagreement amongst the countries themselves. The countries also fought amongst each other because of the fact that there was such racism in Europe. Houston Stewart Chamberlain, an author during this time period, stated, "The races of mankind are markedly different in the nature and also in the extent of their gift" (doc 3). This author clearly did not think that all men were created equally, and he could have had an influence on the thoughts of the people at this time.
Franz Ferdinand was murdered in Siberia, causing the tension to spill over and beginning World War I. In a letter from William II to Tsar Nicholas II states, "The unscrupulous agitation which has been going on for years in Servia, has lead to the revolting crime of which Archduke Franz Ferdinand has become a victim" (doc 8). Franz Ferdinand was killed due to the anger and disagreement that has been ensuing between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. Franz Ferdinand was killed by and organization called the Black Hand which worked for the unification of all Serbian people. The laws of the Black Hand state, "This organization prefers terrorist action to intellectual propaganda, and for this reason it must remain absolutely secret" (doc 6). The Black Hand believed that they were working for the common good of all Serbian people by assassinating Franz Ferdinand. They did not realize that it would be the beginning of one of the largest wars to date.
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was the event that sparked World War I. There were tensions already built up among these leading European powers, due to several reasons. The racism in Europe and the disconnect among the countries were the things that lead up to the beginning of World War I, but Franz Ferdinand's death was the event that started it all. It pushed Austria-Hungary over the edge, and they declared war on Serbia for the death of Franz Ferdinand primarily causing World War I.
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