This was most prevalent in Europe, where all the nations scrambled for colonies in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Interestingly, colonies were most sought after at the height of industrialization. As the European countries were discovering more about the benefits of mass production, the demand and competition for more land, raw materials, markets and produce escalated quickly thus creating the tension that triggered the World War 1. The way most historians portray this cause shows that the imperialistic rivalries magnified in 1871, when France had to give up her resourceful provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany as per the peace Treaty of Frankfurt. Thereafter there were many such imperialistic rivalries.
When a country increases their power and wealth by bringing additional territories is called Imperialism. Before World War 1 even started, Africa and parts of Asia were the conjecture of European countries. With the multitude of natural resources that Africa and parts of Asia had offer these countries were the basis towards imperialism. Since with the increasing amounts of enigmatic competition and the simple desire to increase power, territory, and wealth lead to a great impasse that would later help push the world into World War 1. Around 1914 Germany started to have a huge increase in military buildup.
Imperialism began in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s affecting many countries, for example, China, India, Africa, and South America were all affected by imperialism. Although the New Imperialism resulted from industrialized nations seeking control of foreign territories, the conditions that motivated and fueled the great expansion for industrialized nations were mostly based on economic motives. As Europe gained significant power strongly centered nation states emerged. Several factors contributed to the Europeans conquest of Africa. One staggering advantage was Europeans technological superiority.
Britain's national debt doubled during the course of the war and the cost of extended empire cause a dramatic increase in the cost of living. Conflicts arose between the Americans about expanding further past the Ohio Valley and Britain but England did not step in. Some English leaders thought the colonists were inferior and gave them the lowly jobs during the war; they also resented the Americans for their increasing wealth with a rapidly increasing population. Once Britain decided to "intervene more actively in American affairs" disagreement and trouble aroused; the Americans were used to their freedom and were not ready to be dictated by a ruler (97). Due to constant attacks by the Indians and the cost of keeping America under British rule, King George III
Underlying Causes Of WWI World War I, also known as “The Great War” was an extremely bloody war that immersed Europe with huge losses of life and little ground lost or won. There may have seemed like there was a chain of events that led to the fighting, but the underlying causes of WW1 were Nationalism, Alliances, Militarism, imperialism and the assignation of Arch Duke Ferdinand. America tried there hardest to remain neutral and stay out of the war, but they were dragged in by force. Several incidents built up tension between nations before the outbreak of the First World War. Nationalism was one of the underlying causes of WW1.
World War 1 World War 1 began between the years of 1914 and 1918. World War 1 disappointed the European Continent putting France, Russia, and the United Kingdom against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During this disagreement and war it spread through and into the Colonies of European empires. The war caused major destruction and many people in the world was stated to revise their opinion that they may have against Europe and how they was going to make Europe the center of progress and enlightenment. World War 1 there was a lot of fighting and a lot of people going against each other for their own beliefs and what they may have wanted that they couldn’t get so they had to fight in order to get what they want.
John Hobson, an English economist, saw imperialism as inevitable, for powers of production outpace consumption resulting in more profit for the mother country (doc 2). The United States was involved in imperialism due to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which made the western hemisphere an American protectorate and their victory in the Spanish-American War making them a Pacific power. Both Europe and America believed imperialism could bring them economic power and capacity. Imperialism was not strictly confined to economics; it also included the political aims of unique states. John Hobson deemed demand for foreign markets for manufacturers and investments was responsible for the adoption of Imperialism as a political policy (doc 2).
By doing this Wilhelm aggravated Britain because they had the largest navy in the world and because Wilhelm was colonizing along the borders of British colonies. Wilhelm’s increase in German navy fleets started an arms race with Britain in 1910; losing hope of an alliance with the country and also losing hope of keeping France isolated, a hope in which Bismarck also had. Because Bismarck (along with Wilhelm) dreaded a two front war with France he strung a web of alliances with countries such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Italy and was hoping to add Britain to his long list of allies. The differences that Bismarck
There are various factors that amplified the tensions in Europe from 1900 to 1914. A few of the major factors were International rivalry, the arms race, colonialism and the Crisis’s of Morocco and Bosnia. These factors, alongside numerous others contributed to fuelling the First World War. International rivalry was, debatably, the biggest factor that caused the First World War. As the European powers such as Britain, France and Russia had been competing with each other in might, prominence and colonial expansion.
If Russia’s economy was relatively healthy in early 1914, how did it manage to be in such a sad state of affairs by 1917? There are many factors that contributed to this: the decision to go to war, the direction of the Russian war effort between 1914 and 1917, economic and social factors as well as political developments. So how did the Russian Empire manage to collapse so quickly? The answer lies in the changing nature of warfare after 1914, as well as the social and economic strains that a war of that magnitude imposes. This is implying of course that the decision by Nicholas II to go to war against Germany and it’s allies in 1914 was wrong, but this is not the case.