The First Great World War is still remembered as one of the darkest events in human history. From 1914-1918 a conflict that began as a local European war was transformed into a global war, which involved thirty-two nations. Twenty-eight of these nations were part of a coalition known as the Allies or Allied Powers. The Allied Powers included such nations as France, Russia, Britain, Italy, and the United States. The other coalition was known as the Central Powers and it consisted of Germany, Austria Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. The immediate cause of the war was the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, which led to the declaration of War by Austria Hungary on Serbia. Nevertheless, the fundamental causes of the war were rooted deeply in the European history of the previous century, particularly in the political and economic policies that prevailed on the Continent after 1871, the year that marked the emergence of Germany as a great world power (Encarta, 2000).
The causes of World War I are definitely rooted deeply in the political and economic policies of European Nations in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Imperialism, which was very popular within newly industrialized nations, played a major role in laying the foundation for the future conflict. On the other hand, Nationalism alone, which was accountable for much of the tension in Europe between 1871 and 1914, was the most evident cause for World War I. And lastly, Military Expansion, being a direct effect of Nationalistic policies by European Nations, helped facilitate a conflict of such a large scale (Time, 78).
Due to the great popularity of Imperialistic tactics by European nations between the years 1871 and 1914, tensions rose between European countries. This in effect led to the eruption of war in 1914. As a result of an immense increase in manufactures in England, France, and Germany (due of course to the Industrial Revolution), need for new foreign markets arose in Europe. The principle source for these foreign markets became the continent of Africa where colonial interests of different European nations constantly clashed. Many times between 1898 and 1914 the economic conflicts in African between Britain, France, and Germany almost precipitated a European War (Encarta 2000).
Nationalism alone can be held accountable as the single most imposing cause for tension in Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which eventually led to war between European nations. The settlement of many European affairs in the Congress of Vienna in 1815 left several peoples who desired autonomy under the control of local dynasts or other nations. A notable example is the people of Germany who the Congress of Vienna left divided into numerous principalities and kingdoms. Revolutions and strong nationalistic movements during the late nineteenth century dissolved much of the anti-nationalistic work of the Congress of Vienna. Belgium�s independence, and the unifications of both Italy and Germany came about in the latter part of the nineteenth century. However the problem of nationalism remained unresolved in many other parts of Europe, resulting in tensions between regions and Some European Nations. Without a shadow of a doubt Nationalism figured heavily in the events preceding and therefore causing the war (Encarta, 2000).
As a result of Nationalism within European nations, Military expansionist policies helped facilitate the commencement of the war and also helped make the war a global event. Convinced that their interests were threatened many European nations maintained large armies, and increased the size of their naval forces (Encarta, 2000). The European nations did not only arm themselves in case of war, but also formed �alliances� so as to not �find themselves alone� if war broke out. The result was a phenomenon that in it�s self increased the chances for war by grouping the great European powers into two hostile alliances which added to the building sense of crisis (Time, 83). Even though Military expansion came as a result of Nationalism, it was a deciding factor in the breaking out of war in Europe in 1914. For were it not for such an armament, the sense of crisis and distrust between European Powers would not have been as great, and as a result they might have been able to avoid war.
Imperialism, Nationalism, and Military Expansion together were the fundamental causes of World War I. World War I taught the world just how gruesome and horrid military conflict can be. The memories of �trench warfare� that many soldiers brought home after the war lead many people to believe that war was an unnecessary and gruesome event, which should be steered clear of to avoid any more senseless human death and suffering. However, the peace treaties that emerged after World War I were inadequately enforced leading to the reemergence of militarism within Europe. In Germany, the events after World War I led to the comeback of Nationalism and a sense of betrayal from the other European nations and the world. To put it another way, In Germany World War I created Hitler.