long-term causes

• Militarism


  • Development of military strength
  • Protect and extend international trade
  • Stronger defence/protection
  • Deterrent from conflict
• 'Arms race'


  • A competitive attainment of offensive weaponry/spending on military
  • Outdo new designs and size
  • HMS Dreadnought
• Alliances


  • Even out balance of power between two groups
  • Deter future conflict
  • 1907
  • Triple entente (Britain, France, and Russia)
  • Triple alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)
  • Allies committed to conflict together
  • Assertive sense of membership
• Imperialism


  • Maintaining or extending power over foreign nations
  • Economic or political gain
  • Colonisation or use of military force
  • Jealousy of other empires
  • Competition to control territory and establish colonies
  • Fear of imperialistic ambitions
  • Russia support Serbia
  • Germany threaten war on Russia
  • Russian troops not back down = Germany declares war (1st August 1914), and on ally France (3rd August 1914)
• Nationalism


  Putting the interests of one nation above all others
• Central Powers - (primarily) Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
• Allied Powers - France, the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States, Italy, and Japan