Causes of World War One :: essays research papers

Causes of World War One--------------------------------------------------------------------------------A. sparingImperialism 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 europium 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. SocialHuman welfare serfdom gone (except in Russia) surgery and anesthetics perfected life span long-term Victorian middle class morality in decline spread of literacy. Peace movements "pipe dream of peace". Aristocratic remainders. Neglect of the proletariat. C. I ntellectual1. European cultural heritage2. Ideologies of progressconservatism - delaying action not progress (aristocracy) liberalism - freedom, law, representative government (upper middle class) radicalism - remove class distinctions, anti-clerical (lower middle class) socialism - state-controlled doctrine (city workers) new left - syndicalism D. Political1. the nation-state language and race2. parliamentary government3. partiestied to class and ideology lack of responsibility too many of them 4. Differing formsseparation 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 whisk off France and Italy parliament held the whip 5. Extension of the suffrage6. Exceptions to democratizationGermany only has external form of it, the Reichstag is a "debating chamber" Austria-Hungary maintaining monarchy in polyglot confusion Russia a beat between Duma and Ministry E. Military1. popular mil itarismBoer 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, 1870-19141870 1914Russia 700,000 1,300,000France 380,000 846,000Germany 403,000 812,000Austria-Hungary 247,000 424,000Britain 302,000 381,000Italy 334,000 305,000Japan 70,000 250,000U.S.A. 37,000 98,0003. military expenditure