HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

A project on
World War-I: Causes and Consequences

SUBMITTED TO
Dr. Avinash Samal
SUBMITTED BY
Anant Ekka
Sec- A
Roll no. 26

Date- 10/05/19
Semester-V
Subject- International Relations
 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

Acknowledgements

At the outset, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and thank my teacher, Dr. Avinash
Samal for putting his trust in me and giving me a project topic such as this and for having the
faith in me to deliver. I thank you for an opportunity to help me grow. My gratitude also goes out
to the staff and administration of HNLU for the infrastructure in the form of our library, IT Lab
and my friends that was a source of great help for the completion of this project.

Anant Ekka

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 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments................................................................................................................2

Objective..............................................................................................................................4

Research methodology.........................................................................................................4

Introduction.........................................................................................................................5

Beginning of the world war................................................................................................5

Causes of World War-I...................................................................................................... 6

Consequences of World War-I...........................................................................................8

Conclusion.........................................................................................................................9

References.......................................................................................................................10

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 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

Objectives
A. To study about the beginning of world war.
B. To study the major causes of world war-I.

Research methodology

The method of research adopted for the project is analytical methodology. For the present project
relevant data and information has been received and collected from secondary sources and there
has been use of authentic books and websites which provided reliable information and data.

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 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

Introduction
The World War I was one of the biggest and famous wars. For about five years, the world was
engaged in a ferocious war, and then known as the “Great War’. It arose out of the economic and
military rivalry of the European countries. It was fought by two sides: the allies and the Central
powers. The main participating countries were Great Britain, Russia, France, and Italy (the
allies), Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Turkey (the central [powers) The Germans had planned
to capture Europe using the war, but its plans were thwarted by Britain and France. The war
finally ended in November 1918. A treaty was signed at Versailles, which stated that Germany
had to compensate the allies’ loss and limit its army’s size. It also lost some of its territory.

Beginning of the world war

There were 4 main causes of the World War I namely militarism, imperialism, alliances and
nationalism. The World War I was a direct consequence of these 4 causes, however, it was
triggered by when the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated. The
two were assassinated on June 28, 1914 and the World War I began immediately after this event
on August 1914. The main causes are elaborated below.

So many countries had taken part in this war. Mainly six countries were fought against each
other at the front lines; they split into two groups Britain, France and Russia, and Germany,
Austria-Hungary and Italy. At that point of time some of them were known as super powers. By
the end of the 19th century Britain, Russia, Austria, Germany, Italy and France came to
recognized as major powers. At that point of time every powerful nation wants to extend their
business and strengthen their economy, for the fulfillment of the same they started to make
colonies, this caused a competition among the powerful nations.

In early 1900s nationalism was strong Britain, France, Germany and Italy wanted to be world
powers. They claim colonies and made large armies. Countries form alliances Britain, Russia,
France made one alliances and they were called allies. Germany, Austria, and Hungry made
another alliances they were called central powers.

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 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

Causes of World War-I

1. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand- The immediate cause of World

War I that made the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism,
and nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In
June 1914, a Serbian-nationalist terrorist group called the Black Hand sent groups to
assassinate the Archduke. Their first attempt failed when a driver avoided a grenade thrown
at their car. However, later that day a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip shot the
Archduke and his wife while they were driving through Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of
Austria-Hungary. They died of their wounds.

The assassination was in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region: Serbia
wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The assassination of Ferdinand led to Austria-
Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize to defend its alliance with
Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all
those involved in the mutual defense alliances.

2. Alliance- Countries throughout the world have always made mutual defense agreements
with their neighbors, treaties that could pull them into battle. These treaties meant that if one
country was attacked, the allied countries were bound to defend them.

In the years leading up to the war, the nations of Europe were constantly jockeying for power
and making alliances. Germany made an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy in 1881.
These countries all agreed to protect each other in the event they were attacked by France.
However, Italy then went and made a secret alliance with France saying they would not aide
Germany.

In response to Germany's alliances, France and Russia established an alliance in 1892. In

1904, Britain and France signed an agreement. The Triple Entente was formed between

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 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

France, Britain, and Russia in 1907. Germany felt that this powerful alliance surrounding
them posed a real threat to their existence and power in the region.

3. Imperialism- Imperialism is when a country increases their power and wealth by

bringing additional territories under their control. Before World War I, several European
countries had made competing imperialistic claims in Africa and parts of Asia, making them
points of contention. Because of the raw materials these areas could provide, tensions around
which country had the right to exploit these areas ran high. The increasing competition and
desire for greater empires led to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into
World War I.

4. Militarism- As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun, primarily

over the number of each country's warships, and the increasing size of their armies—
countries began training more and more of their young men to be prepared for battle. The
warships themselves increased in size, number of guns, speed, method of propulsion, and
quality armor, beginning in 1906 with Britain's HMS Dreadnought. Dreadnought was soon
out-classed as the Royal Navy and Kaiserliche Marine quickly expanded their ranks with
increasingly modern and powerful warships.

By 1914, Germany had nearly 100 warships and two million trained soldiers. Great Britain
and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period. Further, in Germany and
Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public
policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved into war.

5. Nationalism- Nationalism refers to having pride in one's own. The nationalists believe

that their nation is better than other countries. The spirit of nationalism was used as a fuel the
war by the involved powers. Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the
Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria-Hungary but
instead be part of Serbia. This specific essentially nationalistic and ethnic revolt led directly
to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

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 World War-I: Causes and Consequences

But more generally, nationalism in many of the countries throughout Europe contributed not only
to the beginning but to the extension of the war across Europe and into Asia. As each country
tried to prove their dominance and power, the war became more complicated and prolonged.

Consequences of World War-I

1. End of King Rule in Germany: In November 1918 Germany became a republic the German
Emperor named Kaiser William II had to flee to Holland.
2. Majority of the people faced unemployment
3. The famine was one of the major consequence of the war
4. USA emerged as a super power.
5. Japan emerged as a powerful country of the Asia.
6. Formation of USSR in 1922 was the outcome of the WWI. Emergence of USA as a super
power.
7. The European supremacy started to end.
8. Yugoslavia, Poland and Czechoslovakia attained independence.
9. In Turkey the rule of Ottomans ended.
10. The boundary lines for Austria, Germany & Turkey were redrawn.
11. The independence movements were strengthened in the various occupied countries of Asia
and Africa.
12. The Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithvania) also became independent countries.
13. “League of Nations” came into existence.
14. The colonies under Germany were shared.
15. Germany returned Alsace-Loraine to France.
16. Germany had to give up the Saar coal field.
17. Germany gave independence to city of Danzig by giving up the Polish Corridor.
18. Abolishment of the Monarchy in Germany, Turkey , Russia Austria and Hungary,.
19. Treaty of Versailles gave very harsh and unbiased clauses which finally paved way for the
World War II

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Conclusion
The war began at the year 1914 and ended in 1919. There are so many things which causes the
war but main reason was struggle for powers among the super powers which leads them to enter
into the war. In this war many nations have participated, and it caused casualties more than we
can imagine. This war is one of the biggest moments which lead the international community to
another level means leads to the development of international relations.

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References
Bibliography-

1. Peu Ghosh (2013). International Relations. Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. (Third Edition)
2. V. N. Khanna (2015). International Relations. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.
(Fifth Edition)

Websites-

 http://www.theweek.co.uk/world-news/first-world-war/59782/how-did-the-first-world-
war-start
 https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007427
 http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history
 http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
 https://www.historyonthenet.com/world-war-1-comprehensive-overview-great-war
 https://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/ww1/summary/


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