IB History Topic Causes of the First World War…

Long-Term Causes (Pre-1914)

Nationalism

Countries like Germany and France were highly nationalistic, believing in their own superiority.
Nationalism was especially strong in the Balkans, where Slavic groups wanted independence from empires like Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans.

Imperialism

European powers competed fiercely for colonies, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Germany was late to empire-building and resented being “left out.” This caused tension with France and Britain.

Militarism

Military spending increased massively between 1870–1914.
Countries developed detailed war plans (e.g. Germany’s Schlieffen Plan, France’s Plan XVII).
Generals gained more influence in decision-making.

Alliance System

Europe was divided into two armed camps: Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).
The alliance system increased suspicion and made a local conflict more likely to spread.

German Foreign Policy (Weltpolitik)

Germany’s aggressive push for global influence included a naval arms race with Britain and attempts to disrupt colonial arrangements.
This isolated Germany diplomatically and increased tensions.

Hint

Imperialism wasn’t just about land; it was about status and fear of falling behind.
Alliances meant that countries couldn’t stay out of a war between others.

Exam technique

Avoid simply listing causes. Explain how they are linked.
Use phrases like “interconnected causes” and explore how one factor worsened another (e.g. alliances + nationalism in the Balkans).
Structure your essay around “long-term,” “short-term,” and “immediate trigger” for clear organization.

Compare the Causes of the War

CAUSE	RELATIVE IMPORTANCE
Nationalism	Led to Balkan instability, public pressure for war, and belief in superiority
Militarism	War plans were rigid, and military leaders dominated decision-making
Imperialism	Created tension, especially in Africa, but not the direct cause
Alliance System	Escalated a local crisis into world war
German foreign policy	Aggressive diplomacy isolated Germany and increased risk
July Crisis	The final trigger; decisions made under pressure and fear

Case study

July Crisis

What happened:

After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary issued a harsh ultimatum to Serbia.
Germany gave Austria a “blank cheque” (full support even if it led to war.)
Serbia agreed to most demands, but Austria declared war anyway.
Russia mobilized to support Serbia → Germany declared war on Russia → France and Britain followed.

Why it’s important:

The July Crisis is a perfect example of how long-term causes made compromise impossible.
Militarism (plans), alliances (obligations), and nationalism (public mood) all collided.
Each power acted out of fear and miscalculated how others would respond.

Exam technique

Use the July Crisis to connect short- and long-term causes. For example: "The July Crisis demonstrated how the alliance system, militarism, and nationalism combined to prevent a peaceful solution.”
Structure your essay around themes, not timelines. A strong approach is to group causes as underlying (long-term), accelerating (short-term), and immediate (trigger).
Use specific examples to show scale e.g. Show how nationalism in the Balkans was more volatile than imperialism in Africa.

Common Mistake

Saying “all causes were equally important.”
Forgetting to explain how one cause influenced others (e.g. militarism made alliances more dangerous)
Treating the assassination like a stand-alone cause.

Key Developments in the Alliance System

Triple Alliance (1882)

Members: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Formed to protect against France and maintain Central European influence
Italy’s later joined the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915

Dual Alliance (1879)

Germany and Austria-Hungary had a defensive alliance against Russia
Set the foundation for German support of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans

Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)

Signed in reaction to the Triple Alliance and Germany’s failure to renew the Reinsurance Treaty
Balanced German-Austrian power with a France-Russia block

Entente Cordiale (1904)

Agreement between Britain and France to settle colonial disputes
It improved diplomatic and military cooperation

Triple Entente (1907)

Britain, France, and Russia formed a powerful counterweight to the Triple Alliance.

Tip

Alliances were originally meant to prevent war by creating a balance of power but instead, they made countries overconfident and locked into obligations.
When one country was attacked, others felt forced to join, turning a local crisis (like Austria vs Serbia) into a world war.
Alliances also deepened mistrust. Leaders assumed other powers would act aggressively, even when they didn’t.

Case study

The Schlieffen Plan (1905–1914)

Germany’s war plan was based on the assumption of a two-front war against France and Russia.
It relied on quickly defeating France by going through Belgium (violating neutrality), then turning to fight Russia.
Germany expected France and Russia to mobilize together, so it had to act fast.
The plan triggered British entry into the war when Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914.

Exam technique

Use examples to show escalation
"When Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia, Russia mobilized. Germany then declared war on Russia. France joined, then Britain. This chain reaction was made possible by alliances."
Don’t mix up the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance
Use phrases like “The alliance system did not make war inevitable, but it made it more likely once crisis began.”

Common Mistake

Saying “alliances caused the war” without explaining how
Assuming all alliances were military pacts
Forgetting Italy switched sides in 1915

The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was known as the “Sick Man of Europe” in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Its decline created a power vacuum in the Balkans, attracting the interest of Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Serbia.
This led to a struggle for influence in the region, triggering crises and worsening European tensions.

Long-Term Causes (Pre-1914)

Nationalism

Countries like Germany and France were highly nationalistic, believing in their own superiority.
Nationalism was especially strong in the Balkans, where Slavic groups wanted independence from empires like Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans.

Imperialism

European powers competed fiercely for colonies, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Germany was late to empire-building and resented being “left out.” This caused tension with France and Britain.

Militarism

Military spending increased massively between 1870–1914.
Countries developed detailed war plans (e.g. Germany’s Schlieffen Plan, France’s Plan XVII).
Generals gained more influence in decision-making.

Alliance System

Europe was divided into two armed camps: Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).
The alliance system increased suspicion and made a local conflict more likely to spread.

German Foreign Policy (Weltpolitik)

Germany’s aggressive push for global influence included a naval arms race with Britain and attempts to disrupt colonial arrangements.
This isolated Germany diplomatically and increased tensions.

Hint

Imperialism wasn’t just about land; it was about status and fear of falling behind.
Alliances meant that countries couldn’t stay out of a war between others.

Exam technique

Avoid simply listing causes. Explain how they are linked.
Use phrases like “interconnected causes” and explore how one factor worsened another (e.g. alliances + nationalism in the Balkans).
Structure your essay around “long-term,” “short-term,” and “immediate trigger” for clear organization.

Compare the Causes of the War

CAUSE	RELATIVE IMPORTANCE
Nationalism	Led to Balkan instability, public pressure for war, and belief in superiority
Militarism	War plans were rigid, and military leaders dominated decision-making
Imperialism	Created tension, especially in Africa, but not the direct cause
Alliance System	Escalated a local crisis into world war
German foreign policy	Aggressive diplomacy isolated Germany and increased risk
July Crisis	The final trigger; decisions made under pressure and fear

Case study

July Crisis

What happened:

After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary issued a harsh ultimatum to Serbia.
Germany gave Austria a “blank cheque” (full support even if it led to war.)
Serbia agreed to most demands, but Austria declared war anyway.
Russia mobilized to support Serbia → Germany declared war on Russia → France and Britain followed.

Why it’s important:

The July Crisis is a perfect example of how long-term causes made compromise impossible.
Militarism (plans), alliances (obligations), and nationalism (public mood) all collided.
Each power acted out of fear and miscalculated how others would respond.

Exam technique

Use the July Crisis to connect short- and long-term causes. For example: "The July Crisis demonstrated how the alliance system, militarism, and nationalism combined to prevent a peaceful solution.”
Structure your essay around themes, not timelines. A strong approach is to group causes as underlying (long-term), accelerating (short-term), and immediate (trigger).
Use specific examples to show scale e.g. Show how nationalism in the Balkans was more volatile than imperialism in Africa.

Common Mistake

Saying “all causes were equally important.”
Forgetting to explain how one cause influenced others (e.g. militarism made alliances more dangerous)
Treating the assassination like a stand-alone cause.

Key Developments in the Alliance System

Triple Alliance (1882)

Members: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Formed to protect against France and maintain Central European influence
Italy’s later joined the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915

Dual Alliance (1879)

Germany and Austria-Hungary had a defensive alliance against Russia
Set the foundation for German support of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans

Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)

Signed in reaction to the Triple Alliance and Germany’s failure to renew the Reinsurance Treaty
Balanced German-Austrian power with a France-Russia block

Entente Cordiale (1904)

Agreement between Britain and France to settle colonial disputes
It improved diplomatic and military cooperation

Triple Entente (1907)

Britain, France, and Russia formed a powerful counterweight to the Triple Alliance.

Tip

Alliances were originally meant to prevent war by creating a balance of power but instead, they made countries overconfident and locked into obligations.
When one country was attacked, others felt forced to join, turning a local crisis (like Austria vs Serbia) into a world war.
Alliances also deepened mistrust. Leaders assumed other powers would act aggressively, even when they didn’t.

Case study

The Schlieffen Plan (1905–1914)

Germany’s war plan was based on the assumption of a two-front war against France and Russia.
It relied on quickly defeating France by going through Belgium (violating neutrality), then turning to fight Russia.
Germany expected France and Russia to mobilize together, so it had to act fast.
The plan triggered British entry into the war when Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914.

Exam technique

Use examples to show escalation
"When Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia, Russia mobilized. Germany then declared war on Russia. France joined, then Britain. This chain reaction was made possible by alliances."
Don’t mix up the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance
Use phrases like “The alliance system did not make war inevitable, but it made it more likely once crisis began.”

Common Mistake

Saying “alliances caused the war” without explaining how
Assuming all alliances were military pacts
Forgetting Italy switched sides in 1915

The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was known as the “Sick Man of Europe” in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Its decline created a power vacuum in the Balkans, attracting the interest of Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Serbia.
This led to a struggle for influence in the region, triggering crises and worsening European tensions.

IB History Causes of the First World War Notes

IB History Causes of the First World War Notes

Long-Term Causes (Pre-1914)

Nationalism

Imperialism

Militarism

Alliance System

German Foreign Policy (Weltpolitik)

Compare the Causes of the War

July Crisis

Key Developments in the Alliance System

Triple Alliance (1882)

Dual Alliance (1879)

Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)

Entente Cordiale (1904)

Triple Entente (1907)

The Schlieffen Plan (1905–1914)

The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Long-Term Causes (Pre-1914)

Nationalism

Imperialism

Militarism

Alliance System

German Foreign Policy (Weltpolitik)

Compare the Causes of the War

July Crisis

Key Developments in the Alliance System

Triple Alliance (1882)

Dual Alliance (1879)

Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)

Entente Cordiale (1904)

Triple Entente (1907)

The Schlieffen Plan (1905–1914)

The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History Causes of the First World War Notes

IB History Causes of the First World War Notes

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

Long-Term Causes (Pre-1914)

Nationalism

Imperialism

Militarism

Alliance System

German Foreign Policy (Weltpolitik)

Compare the Causes of the War

July Crisis

Key Developments in the Alliance System

Triple Alliance (1882)

Dual Alliance (1879)

Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)

Entente Cordiale (1904)

Triple Entente (1907)

The Schlieffen Plan (1905–1914)

The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Long-Term Causes (Pre-1914)

Nationalism

Imperialism

Militarism

Alliance System

German Foreign Policy (Weltpolitik)

Compare the Causes of the War

July Crisis

Key Developments in the Alliance System

Triple Alliance (1882)

Dual Alliance (1879)

Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)

Entente Cordiale (1904)

Triple Entente (1907)

The Schlieffen Plan (1905–1914)

The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account