Causes of World War One :: essays research papers

Causes of World War One -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Economic Imperialism at home and abroad - In one generation Africa - direct possession (1902: only Liberia, founded by former American slaves remains independent) Asia and Near East: economic and diplomatic pressure Economic concessions and extra-territorial privileges: Ottoman Empire - most vulnerable; China - most vulnerable; Japan - modernizing rapidly; India - firmly in British hands; Importance to Europe: keeps fat on European economy; colonial rule a reproach to democracy; encouraged feelings of national and racial superiority; "Pan" movements - a form of imperialism Technology and science: materialism B. Social Human welfare: serfdom gone (except in Russia); surgery and anesthetics perfected; life span longer; Victorian middle class morality in decline; spread of literacy. Peace movements: "pipe dream of peace". Aristocratic remainders. Neglect of the proletariat. C. Intellectual 1. European cultural heritage 2. Ideologies of progress: conservatism - delaying action not progress (aristocracy) liberalism - freedom, law, representative government (upper middle class) radicalism - remove class distinctions, anti-clerical (lower middle class) socialism - collectivist doctrine (city workers) new left - syndicalism D. Political 1. the nation-state: language and race 2. parliamentary government 3. parties: tied to class and ideology lack of responsibility too many of them 4. Differing forms separation of powers only in the USA king or president a figurehead in Britain and France search for majorities in parliament Britain: the cabinet held the whip France and Italy: parliament held the whip 5. Extension of the suffrage 6. Exceptions to democratization Germany: only has external form of it, the Reichstag is a "debating chamber" Austria-Hungary: maintaining monarchy in polyglot confusion Russia: a struggle between Duma and Ministry E. Military 1. popular militarism Boer War naval building race: Admiral Tirpitz - risk theory Three-year army law: France 1913 Tripoli campaign in Italy, 1911 2. Comparative figures on army increase, 1870-1914: 1870 1914 Russia 700,000 1,300,000 France 380,000 846,000 Germany 403,000 812,000 Austria-Hungary 247,000 424,000 Britain 302,000 381,000 Italy 334,000 305,000 Japan 70,000 250,000 U.S.A. 37,000 98,000 3. military expenditure