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Nationalism
A surge of great national pride in the form of Nationalism was a cause of World War 1. Countries, especially Britain, Germany, France, and America, started to believe that their nations were superior to all others. This inflated pride and competition contributed to the climate that caused the war. -
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Imperialism
The mad scramble to take over other parts of the world and to have the most colonies, or Imperialism, was a cause of World War 1. Countries were defensive about their territories and were always hungry for more land, leading to bloodthirst between powerful nations. -
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Alliances
The complicated and interwoven system of international alliances was a huge factor in causing World War 1. The way everything was set up, a domino effect was inevitable. Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Germany were allied together to form the Triple Alliance, and Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente. -
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Militarism
Militarism, or inflated importance and honor given to military pursuits, was a cause of World War 1. With all of the major nations competing in an arms race to be the most powerful, it was no wonder a war broke out when it did. The shift from war being a necessity to war being a chance to prove one's honor was a definite cause of the war. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
While in their car, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, are fatally shot. This event is widely agreed to have sparked the First World War. -
Germany's Blank Check
Germany extended what is infamously called the "blank check" to Austria-Hungary. This essentially meant that Germany promised to back Austria-Hungary no matter what. It was one of the first major mistakes Germany made in World War 1. -
World War 1 Begins
Britain officially declared war on Germany, securing the last player of the Triple Entente. This was because Britain had sworn to protect Belgium's neutrality, but Germany attacked through Belgium anyway. The war was officially a go. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
When Germany sank a British passenger boat called the Lusitania, the resulting American deaths caused American outrage. This pressure, along with other things, would weigh on President Wilson to join the war. -
Zimmerman Telegram
A telegram from German Minister Arthur Zimmerman is brought to the public light. It featured Zimmerman offering American land to Mexico in exchange for Mexico being on Germany's side. This caused outrage in America and fueled American war anger. -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
One of the United States' major problems with Germany was its unrestricted submarine warfare, which had hurt neutral Americans. Germany had repealed it due to pressure from America and other neutral nations, but then they resumed it. This caused a large reaction from the United States, a neutral country, who then cut off diplomatic ties with Germany. -
America Joins the War
After staying neutral for a long stretch of time, the United States finally joined the war. They were fueled by idealistic morals as well as anger about the Zimmerman Telegram and other incidents. The war was swung into the Allies' favor with the use of a huge American army and their dedicated country. -
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Rise of Hitler
The combination of wounded national pride, righteous anger at the Allies, and a nationwide economic crisis all came together to foster the perfect environment for Hitler to take charge in. Germans needed a scapegoat and a way to channel their anger, and Hitler's antisemitism was their solution. -
Effects of the War
The effects of World War 1 were devastating. There were 17 million deaths, 38 million casualties, and many new countries were formed: Finland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. There was also a psychological impact; Americans who had once idealized war now understood how terrible it was, and the new technology available made the carnage that much more pronounced. They grew disillusioned and this contributed to the Roaring Twenties. -
Treaty of Versailles
This was the most important peace treaty, and it blamed Germany for the war. It demanded that Germany, with an already shaky economy and a war-torn budget, pay reparations to the other nations monthly. This made the Germans angry and resentful, and helped them feel like victims in the whole situation. It eventually led to the Second World War. -
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The Great Depression
The biggest economic depression in America's history. It was caused by a myriad of factors, but an inefficient banking system and a giant stock market crash in 1929 were two of the largest ones. -
The Dawes Plan and the Young Plan
The Dawes Plan was the plan to loan American money to Germany to stabilize their hyperinflation. It also let Germany stagger their payments more. The Young Plan extended the generosity of the Dawes Plan even further. This helped Weimar Germany's economy, but it made them overly dependent on foreign help.
