USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

[SOURCES]
Using the four causes of World War identify which one is described in each of the following scenarios. Kaiser Wilhelm II, the ruler of Germany, declares, “I and the army were born for one another.”

(A) ** Militarism

(B) Alliances

(C) Imperialism

(D) Nationalism

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved into war. The immediate cause of World War I that made the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.

Concept note-2: -The war started mainly because of four aspects: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism. This is because big armies become potential threats to other countries, other countries started forcing alliances in order to secure land.

Concept note-3: -Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914, Wilhelm encouraged the Austrians to adopt an uncompromising line against Serbia, effectively writing them a ‘blank cheque’ for German support in the event of war. He appeared not to realise the chain reaction this would trigger.