The First World War 1914-18
ICSE · Class 11 · History
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Europe on the Eve of the War
- In 1900 Europe had twenty independent states, and seven were great powers.
- The seven great powers were Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, England, France, Italy, and the Turkish empire.
- England was the strongest power and followed splendid isolation since the end of the Crimean War.
Rise of Triple Entente
- Kaiser William II renounced Bismarck's defensive Triple Alliance and converted it into an aggressive alliance.
- Kaiser William II pursued naval expansion and colonial ambitions and made provocative remarks about Germany needing colonies.
- Bismarck had originally built the Triple Alliance as a defensive arrangement and had kept France isolated.
Balkan Tensions and the Immediate Outbreak of War
- Balkan nationalism was a major issue in the Eastern Question.
- Balkan nationalists wanted freedom from Turkish rule.
- Slav nationalists wanted merger with Serbia.
Underlying Causes of the War
- The war had four underlying causes: aggressive nationalism, economic rivalry and neo-imperialism, formation of alliances, and armament race.
- Aggressive nationalism made people proud of their own nation and hostile to others.
- In Germany, thinkers preached the superiority of the Teutonic race.
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