The Events That Led To World War I

The Events That Led To World War I

World War I was caused by a combination of many events that led to a tension that resulted in a power balance crisis and division of Europe into two camps. The first camp was referred to as the Triple Entente, and it joined forces with Russia, France, and Great Britain. The Triple Entente camp’s intent was to maintain European’SEuropean’s great powers. The second camp joined forces with Italy, Austria-Hungary, and the German Empire. The two camps challenged each other leading to devastating military conflict.

The Franco-Prussian War between France and Prussia that lasted from 1870 to 1871 led to a France defeat and Prussia Imperialisation taking over the Lorraine and Alsace regions. Prussia Imperialisation created a powerful German Empire industrially and in the Military. In 1888, Wilhelm II made accession to the German throne making Germans foreign policy bellicose. He dismissed Otto von Bismarck as a Chancellor and refused Reinsurance Treaty renewal with Russia

Another major event that led to the war is the Russo-Japanese War over Korea and Manchuria in 1904-1905. Russia lost its Pacific and Baltic fleet provoking the Russian Revolution of 1905. The war minimized Russia’s ambitions in the Far East and shifted Russian interests to Europe. Militarization by Germany caused other countries to form alliances. German had built a strong naval power, and Great Britain felt it would be the next dominant power. Britain, to protect its nationalism, made an alliance with France forming the Entente Cordiale. Britain entered another alliance with France to form the Triple Entente. After the concluded alliance between Britain, France, and Russia, Germany provoked the Tangler Crisis (1905-1906) and the Agadir Crisis (1911), commonly referred to as the Moroccan Crises. The two wars were meant to cause tension between Britain and France. The Moroccan Crises reinforced the Entente Cordiale, and hostility between Germany and Britain increased.

Austria –Hungary annexed Herzegovina and Bosnia, which were part of the Ottoman Empire in 1908, a move that was opposed by Serbia, causing a crisis between the two. Between 1911 and 1912, there was the Italo-Turkish, where Italy defeated Turkey, weakening the Ottoman Empire. A military alliance between Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece, and Serbia was formed against the Ottoman Empire. The alliance was referred to as the Balkan League, which stripped the Ottoman Empire its possession. Bulgaria later turned against Greece and Serbia over Macedonia. In 1914, a movement known as Mlada Bosna assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was the supposed Austro-Hungarian heir. Serbia was accused of being behind the assassination and triggered the outbreak of World War I. An ultimatum was presented to Serbia by Austria-Hungary, and a few days later, Serbia was invaded by Austro-Hungarian troops and the war began.

Descriptions of Six People who Participated in WWI

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the US and led the US during World War I. He developed the fourteen points of the Versailles treaty that let to the creation of the League of Nations and, ultimately, global peace. He declared America as neutral, keeping America out of the war.

Nicholas II

Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia but is considered as an incompetent and weak leader whose decisions led to the death of millions of his military men and defeat of the empire. He was responsible for the Russo-Japanese War defeat between 1904-1905, the Balticwar defeat, and the loss of Russia’s influence in Korea and Manhuria.

Wilhelm II

Wilhelm II was the German Emperor and the King of Prussia between 1888 and 1918. He did not actively seek war with other parties by is known for his controversial speech that led to conflicts. Being a commander of his Army during world war 1, Wilhelm looked out of the war; hence there was unrest, and he lost his army support and confidence and went to exile.

Bernard Baruch

Bernard Baruch was a Wall Street trader during the start of World War I. Baruch became an advisor to President Wilson serving in the Council on National Defense advisory commission. During World War I, he was the War Industries Board chair and accompanied President Wilson in the Paris Peace Conference.

John J. Pershing

John J. Pershing headed the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I. he was also tasked with leading punitive raids and wars during the Spanish- and Philippine-American Wars.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Henry Cabot Lodge is known for advising on foreign policy. He assisted President Woodrow Wilson in creating the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. It is through the treaty failure that ensured America be out of the League of Nations.

United States’ Neutrality in World War I

When World War I started in Europe, American President Wilson declared that America would adhere to the policy of Neutrality. Neutrality had been a core factor in America’s foreign policy and did not involve itself in Alliances. However, during the war, Americans sympathized with France, Britain, and its allies and lent some large sums of money to the Allie governments hence had a stake in the war, meaning it had contravened the neutrality policy. In June 1917, Americans troops joined the war to support France, Britain, and its allies. The Zimmerman pay note was Germans note to pay Mexico all associated costs in return for staring war with the United States. The note changed Americans’ opinion to Germany.

United States war on Germany

America declared war on Germany, for it violated the pledge to suspend submarine warfare in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. The Schlieffen Plan was developed by a German general to attack France once Russia mobilizes her troops in Germany. The plan failed since it was unrealistic since there were many unfolding events during the wartime. The Sussex pledge was made by Germany promising the United States that it would not take part in submarine warfare without warning. However, during the war, Germany violated the pledge leading to war between Germany and the US.

Participation of African