by Alex Li

Created on: June 29, 2008

World War I, also known as the "Great War", was the result of leaders' belligerence towards other countries. It was due to the increasing nationalism of European nations. The fear of the war, together with economic and imperial competition provoked military alliances and an arms race, which further heightened the overall outbreak of World War I. The foremost immediate cause of the war was the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, many other reasons led to the cause of the war, some dating as far back as the late 1800s. Nationalism, militarism, imperialism, and the system of alliances all contributed in one way or another to the remote causes of World War I.

Nationalism in Europe was becoming an uplifting problem. It was becoming a growing force in Europe that people who had the same culture and language, wanted their own country. This was a principle problem for the Austro-Hungarian government because they did not want to lose their power and control. Their main concern was a possible alliance between the Slavs and Serbia. The zealous Pan-Slavism of Serbia and Russia's eagerness to support its Slavic brother clashed with Austria-Hungary's Pan-Germanism.

Militarism was the second cause, after nationalism that helped brew this war. Militarism, also regarded as the "arms race" began in the beginning of the century. England was in competition with Germany to enlarge their navy and built many warships so they could out power their enemy. The aim of this competition was to produce the most war equipment and be the strongest created incentive for countries to go to war and test their power for success.

Imperialism and the system of alliances were the last two major causes of the war. The dispute between France and Germany regarding the control of the colony of Morocco led to a greater conflict: the Great War. After the Industrial Revolution, Great Britain and France competed for economic relations and expansion in Africa. Although they eventually resolved their disputes, the clash of Germany against Great Britain and France and the fall of the Ottoman Empire contributed to the remote causes of World War I. At the time, Europe was divided into two opposing alliances which often showed animosity towards the opposing sides: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The Triple Entente included Great Britain, France and Russia, and the Triple Alliance consisted of Austria-Hungary, Germany and later, the Ottoman Empire.

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