Yash Kanabar Notes for Word War 1 Padeia Seminar Alliances

The alliances made between countries proved to play a big part in pushing the world into war. European countries formed many different alliances within each other so if one country attacks another the allied country can protect that country. However if one country was to go to war then the allied would protect them and this chain of actions would continue until every country was at war with each other. Some alliances made were:

Russia and Serbia Germany and Austria-Hungary France and Russia Britain and France and Belgium Japan and Britain

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia got involved to defend Serbia. Germany seeing Russia mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Later, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies.
Imperialism Imperialism means when a country extends its power, wealth and influence through the increase of land ownership. Imperialism, as said in the Origins of the First and Second World War, was a sudden and unexpected upsurge from 1880 to 1914 in Africa and Asia. This was an advantage for many countries but a disadvantage for many others, especially Germany. Germany was not in the war for a long period of time but it was a newbie and it was rising. Before World War 1, Africa and Asia were hot spots amongst European countries solely due to the amount of resources available in those areas. The increasing competition and the desire for newer markets due to the rise of industrialism, the need for land and power helped push the world into a war. The amount of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased the rivalry, as said, with Germany who had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and only had small areas of Africa. With the requirement of a possession of an empire caused a lot of hillbilly between locals. Furthermore, traders, bankers, agents, investors and others invigorated the government to defend their interests by encouraging them for expansion. This caused a number of diverse responses regarding to defending territories in Africa and Asia. Following this case, we can see that each European power had a likewise motive to the approach to imperialism. The British, especially, wished to maintain its power and supremacy in the colonial war as other powers were busy expanding their territories. The final consequence that as caused by the mentioned above reasons was that there was a major hunger for territory than ever before causing a

Militarism

Yash Kanabar Militarism means when a country wants their government to maintain and gradually improve their strong army/military so that it is capable of defending its country or promote national interests. By the 20th century, an arms race had begun due to the growing European divide. By 1914 Germany had almost doubled its army strength and buildup. Britain and Germany also, increased their navies in this period. There was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed by introducing their own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany. Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war. Nationalism

Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power. The settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war left France angry at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany and keen to regain their lost territory