Write causes of the First World War :(a) Imperialistic policy(b) Competition for armament(c) Immediate cause

Answer:

(a) Imperialistic policy:

• The European powers competed for colonies in Asia and Africa for raw material and markets.
• Britain and France already held large empires; Germany, which became industrially strong late, demanded its share, which led to rivalry and crises such as those over Morocco.

(b) Competition for armament:

• Every nation increased its army and weapons out of fear and suspicion of others; compulsory military service was introduced.
• Germany built a large navy to challenge British naval supremacy, and Britain built more warships (Dreadnoughts). Rival alliances, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, divided Europe into two armed camps.

(c) Immediate cause:

• On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife were assassinated at Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist youth.
• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914; Russia supported Serbia, Germany supported Austria, and France and Britain joined in, turning it into a world war.