WW1 DBQ
Causes of WWI MiniQ
Undoubtedly, militarism during the late 19th and 20th century was the leading factor in kindling Europe’s rivalry until the outbreak of World War I. Militarism refers to the “ belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.”1 By the late 1800s, militarism was present in all of Europe and its leaders sought to modernise the country's forces and equip them with the latest, most effective technology. As a result, military expenditure escalated during a period of 24 years prior to World War I. In 1890, the Triple Alliance spent about 42 million British pounds and the amount almost tripled to 150 million (Doc C).
Additionally, the Triple Entente expended about 100 million pounds and estimated about 225 million during the year of the war (Doc C). The two alliances spent a large amount on their militia for several reasons. Foremost, if one country used money to make their military power surpass others, the neighboring provisions felt compelled to do the same, and perhaps even exceed the surrounding nations in order to not become underdeveloped compared to the rest. For example, Bulow of Germany announced that, “We don’t ever want to become… ‘the slaves of humanity.’” (Doc D) Moreover, as the countries with more powerful militaries became increasingly more dominant, smaller countries, such as Germany, were forced to make a decision to become “a hammer or an anvil” (Doc D) and soon focused on strengthening their defense and opposing British power, all of which they could not do without multiplying military costs (Doc
C). This alarmed the largest countries and due to the fact that they possessed a prepared force and a stock of arms, the leaders refused to seek more a more reasonable alternative in favor of
Anonymous. “Militarism.”
Dictionary.com,
2014. Web, 14 Dec 2014.
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Undoubtedly, militarism during the late 19th and 20th century was the leading factor in kindling Europe’s rivalry until the outbreak of World War I. Militarism refers to the “ belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.”1 By the late 1800s, militarism was present in all of Europe and its leaders sought to modernise the country's forces and equip them with the latest, most effective technology. As a result, military expenditure escalated during a period of 24 years prior to World War I. In 1890, the Triple Alliance spent about 42 million British pounds and the amount almost tripled to 150 million (Doc C).
Additionally, the Triple Entente expended about 100 million pounds and estimated about 225 million during the year of the war (Doc C). The two alliances spent a large amount on their militia for several reasons. Foremost, if one country used money to make their military power surpass others, the neighboring provisions felt compelled to do the same, and perhaps even exceed the surrounding nations in order to not become underdeveloped compared to the rest. For example, Bulow of Germany announced that, “We don’t ever want to become… ‘the slaves of humanity.’” (Doc D) Moreover, as the countries with more powerful militaries became increasingly more dominant, smaller countries, such as Germany, were forced to make a decision to become “a hammer or an anvil” (Doc D) and soon focused on strengthening their defense and opposing British power, all of which they could not do without multiplying military costs (Doc
C). This alarmed the largest countries and due to the fact that they possessed a prepared force and a stock of arms, the leaders refused to seek more a more reasonable alternative in favor of
Anonymous. “Militarism.”
Dictionary.com,
2014. Web, 14 Dec 2014.
<