Causes and Consequences of World War One Explained

Introduction: The Scope and Alliances of World War One

The First World War (WWI) was a global military conflict that erupted in 1914. Virtually the whole of Europe was involved, as well as countries and kingdoms from other regions of the globe (Strachan 9). It should be noted, however, that the countries that engaged in this war entered at different times and joined different alliances. Essentially, the war was fought between two major alliances—the Central Powers and the Allies—alongside a group of nations that initially remained neutral, though some of those later took sides.

The Allies, according to Kelly, consisted of Great Britain, Belgium, Ireland, Serbia, Montenegro, Russia, and France. They were later joined by formerly neutral nations including Romania, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. On the other hand, the Central Powers alliance included the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria—which were initially neutral—along with Austria-Hungary and Germany. The nations that maintained their neutrality throughout the conflict included Spain, Albania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway (Howard 2; Kelly).

Underlying Causes of World War One

As complicated as its genesis was, the First World War emerged from the convergence of multiple factors that created conditions conducive to war. While a chain of events involving many factors led to WWI, the primary and immediate cause was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary—the trigger that brought all the pre-existing aligned factors into play. In June 1914, the Archduke and his wife were murdered in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Serbian assassin, in protest against Austria-Hungary's occupation of the Sarajevo region (Ross 6). Serbia had sought to take over Herzegovina and Bosnia. As a result of the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia; Russia then began to mobilize due to its alliance with Serbia (Ross 7). Consequently, Germany declared war on Russia because of its own alliance obligations (Ross 8). This widening of the conflict marked the onset of what would become a truly world war, drawing in all the nations bound by mutual alliances.

The events leading to the war would later emerge as the immediate cause, triggered by a number of underlying factors including, but not limited to, imperialism, nationalism, militarism, and mutual defence alliances (Kelly). Concerns over security had led many European countries to form mutual defence alliances within which they expected protection from allies in the event of war (Kelly). Prior to WWI, alliances existed between France and Russia, Japan and Britain, Serbia and Russia, Austria-Hungary and Germany, and among Belgium, France, and Britain. This web of alliances may not have been the primary cause of the war, but it played a decisive role in pulling individual nations into the conflict (Kelly).

The Role of Nationalism and Militarism

Apart from the alliances, nationalism also played a significant role as an underlying factor leading to WWI. Much of the sentiment that initially spurred the war originated from the desire of the Slavic people in Herzegovina and Bosnia to be part of the Serbian nation rather than remain under Austria-Hungary. Notably, this was a common phenomenon during this period, as the spirit of nationalism was still evolving in most regions of the world (Howard 19). Nationalism had directly contributed to the assassination of the Archduke, thereby prompting the primary immediate cause of WWI. Driven by nationalist sentiment, most other European nations also joined the war in a bid to assert their dominance. Nationalism can therefore be considered one of the most influential causes of WWI (Howard 19).

Militarism is also one of the underlying causes of WWI. At the onset of the twentieth century, the first significant arms race began as military technology advanced rapidly (Kelly). Prior to 1914, Germany had experienced the greatest build-up in military power. In what appears to have been a response in kind, Great Britain significantly increased its naval power during the same period (Ross 13–14). Additionally, nations such as Russia and Germany saw growing policy influence from military establishments whose ideological inclinations pushed strongly toward war. The German desire for greater influence and power through military enhancement led to an intensifying competition with Britain, which ultimately produced arsenals that gave the European powers the confidence to march into war (Ross 22).

Consequences and Outcomes of World War One

The primary consequences of WWI included the loss of millions of lives, widespread destruction of property, and severe downturns in economic activity. Millions of people died as a direct result of the fighting as well as the diseases and famine that followed. The war also caused enormous property destruction, and most nations experienced serious economic hardship as a result of its costly nature. Other immediate outcomes included the signing of various treaties that would later reshape the map of Europe.

The first of these was the Treaty of Versailles, which required Germany to surrender certain territories to various nations. The Treaty of St.-Germain (1919) effectively destroyed the Austria-Hungary Empire, resulting in the creation of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia and the separation of Hungary and Austria. Another treaty imposed by the Allies—the Treaty of Trianon—led to further loss of Hungarian territory. The Allies also imposed the Treaty of Sèvres (on Turkey) and the Treaty of Neuilly (on Bulgaria). These treaties were intended to define the new balance of power established after WWI.

The decline of empires is one clear outcome of WWI, as both the Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empires collapsed. New political frameworks also emerged after the war, as monarchies in Russia and Germany gave way to republics. The war is also recognized as one possible cause of growing demands for independence among colonial peoples, driven by the rise of nationalist sentiment—a development that would later contribute to the decline of the great European imperial powers. The shifts in power, the reshaping of nations, and the transformation of leadership structures are among the most pronounced immediate consequences of the war.

Other notable outcomes included economic downturns across nations and wide-ranging socio-political developments at a global scale. Inflation rose sharply in most nations, with economies such as Germany's being severely impacted by the reparations imposed upon them. Most European nations, including Britain, fell into substantial debt. On the social front, the role of women changed significantly as they became more active and productive, particularly in business—having taken over many commercial establishments while men were at war. Labour laws also developed as mass production and mechanization increased across various industries. On the political front, leadership preferences shifted as populations began favouring republics over monarchical systems. The war also created the impetus for international cooperation, as articulated by President Woodrow Wilson, whose proposals would set a precedent for the development of the League of Nations and redirect focus toward global peace. Technological growth is also among the few positive outcomes of WWI, as advances in research later spearheaded mechanization and mass production, improving living standards. Transport, communication, and industrial production all benefited greatly from these new developments (Collins 352).

Conclusion: Legacy and Long-Term Impact

Though debatable, WWI is often cited as a possible cause of World War Two. Should this indeed be the case, it could be regarded as one of the worst outcomes of the First World War. The reparations imposed and the territorial losses suffered led to deep resentment among affected nations. The seemingly unfair treaties and the burden of reparations may have intensified the strife that ultimately created the conditions for the challenges that led to WWII.

Works Cited

Collins, F. Ross. World War One. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2008. Print.

Howard, Michael. The First World War. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.

Kelly, Martin. "Top 5 Causes of World War 1." 5 January 2013. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.

Ross, Stewart. Causes and Consequences of the First World War. London, UK: Evans Brothers, 2003. Print.

Strachan, Hew. World War I: A History. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.