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What Caused The Great War Essay

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What Caused The Great War Essay
The word great usually evokes a positive connotation, at least for me. Great grades, a great trip, great memories- all with a happy smile. In this context, great is being used as The
Great War, also known as WWI. WWI was largely influenced by the assassination of the archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. However, the major causes that led the war are the alliances system, nationalism, and imperialism.
The alliance system had its benefits and disadvantages. Firstly, if one country started a war against another, the first country had back-up to support them. Also, in return for their loyalty, the alliances received protection, profit, or some other win-win situation. Unfortunately, it also means that tensions rise higher. The Triple Alliance
…show more content…
This is because the major powers listed could've possibly forged alliances with other smaller countries, and if one goes down, the rest fall with it. More alliances were formed as a defense mechanism against increasing threats from one side, but Italy was a fickle nation, switching between the sides depending on which one was “winning.”
Nationalism, by definition, is pride in your country and its practices, beliefs, and many other factors. A certain type of ego rose up in the people, which we all know is never a good thing. There was a battle to the death for the top spot in economic competition, especially for
Great Britain and Germany. Great Britain had most of the control over manufacturing, but once
Germany caught up it was a roller coaster: one country would excel, and the other would outdo the first. With the Treaty of Versailles putting the pressure to pay off damage and/or loss from the war on Germany's shoulders, Great Britain was determined to be Top Gun economically.
Another example of nationalism causing WWI is the Balkans. When one country decided they wanted to be independent from the Ottoman rule, the rest decided that as well. With the

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