World War I

[magilligan]

What caused WWI?

[blondebird]

the assasination of Crown Prince Ferdinand in Sarejevo in Autumn 1914 if i remember my history, close anyway

[tiggergirlkr]

That was the spark that lighted the fuse to set off WW1, there were several items that contributed, such as the arms race between Britain and Germany, The Balkan question of independance from the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the rebel Serbians being aided/supported by Russia, Germanys recent defeat of France late the previous century, Empire ambitions of Germany and Britain. The feeling of Nationalism amongst each participants civilian population. New weapons such as the Dreadnought Battleship, aircraft, machine guns, each side stockpiling these weapons, what is the justification of spending money on these weapons if your not going to use them? Also money as always.

[samuel23]

The same things that cause most of the strife in this world - Greed, Envy, Politics and Religion.

[Lonnie]

Hi magilligan, this site shoud give you all the info you need. http://threeworldwars.com/world-war-1/ww1.htm

[sophie_1003]

According to Baldrick (Blackadder) "The Archbishop was hungry so he shot an ostrich"

[jno]

very broadly, I think British industrial decline and Germany's ambition to replace it at the top of the tree.

[violetblue]

Definitely jno's analysis is what I'd subscribe to; that was the undercurrent running through.

[morbidstorm]

But jno's explaination only explains two nations, this was a world war not just a European war or an Anglo-Prussian war. If it was just about these two nations, why did France and Russia sign the Entente Cordiale with Britain? (France having just lost to Germany in a war) and Russia facing turmoil from within anyway. Austro-Hungary would not care about Germany's and Britains macho-man contest.
Britain in an industrial decline? before the first world war, Britain was, if not the, then certainly one of the richest nations due to its Empire (esp India). America was still a relatively mediocre nation in regards to wealth at this point in time, still coming to terms from a civil war not 50 years previously (They became a rich nation on the back of selling arms to all combatant nations)
I think another major factor has to be the death of Queen Victoria. This affected Kaiser Wilhelm who was her grandson! and he saw himself as the person to continue the family empire, as he had fallen out with King George V immensly before 1914 and even congratulated the Boers on their defeats of the British.
No the start of the First World War, was mass greed, jealousy and curiosity - new bigger better weapons and the decline of the English Gentleman.