Causes WOI and Modern-Imperialism

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

The Great War

Causes of WW1 (The Great War)

1. Modern Western imperialism

2.Nationalism

3.Militarism and arm races

4.Alliances

5. Franco-Prussian War

6. Multi ethnic states

7. Murder Franz-Ferdinand

(+Economic competition)

Europe is going to dominate the world

Modern Western Imperialism

Learning goals

1. You can describe how Europeans' overseas trade contacts grew into global empires.
2. You can name the main causes of modern Western imperialism.

Think back to colonialism for a moment. Why did Europeans go to other continents?

Emergence of European empires

• In the 16th century, European countries began exploring and trading around the world. 
• Europeans saw no more than the coast
• This changed in the 19th century
• → start of modern Western imperialism

Modern Western imperialism

= the founding of empires

by European powers

through the exploitation of

(former) colonies.

Modern Western imperialism: causes

1. Economic

industrialisation → extracting raw materials + creating sales market 

2. Political

status and prestige (nationalism!) 

3.Cultural 

feeling of superiority + duty of civilisation

Most important: establish a world empire 

War before 1900

• Germany consisted out of all kinds of small states. The most important one was Prussia. 
• Otto von Bismarck (prime- minister of Prussia) wanted a great German empire. 

War before 1900

• France would never agree so the only way to achieve this (according to Bismarck) was through war.
• France lost the Franco-German War (1870-1871 )and was humiliated. 

Franco-German war of 1870-1871

Thanks to the Franco-German war of 1870-1871 the most powerful country in Europe became Germany. After crushing France and starting the German Empire

France was not happy with this development and were insulted by Germany's rise in power. The French wanted to dish out their revenge after being defeated in the 1870-1871 war. After being defeated in this war France had to hand over a large piece of land on the border with Germany.

Why was there tension and rivalry between Germany and France?

What do you think happened with the small German states when nationalism came along?