The Rise of Nationalism In the 1800s, a new force rose within the heart of Europe that helped bring about the Great War. The force was nationalism - the belief that loyalty to a person's nation and its political and economic goals comes before any other public loyalty. During the 1800's nationalism took hold among people who shared a common language, history, or culture. Such people began to view themselves as members a national group or nation. Nationalism led to the creation of a new power: Germany through the uniting of many small states. War had a major role in achieving nation unification in Germany. On the other hand, nationalism weakened the eastern European empires of Austria-Hungary, …show more content…
By the end of the 1800's, technology enabled countries to fight longer and bear greater losses that ever before. A system of military alliances gave European powers a sense of security before World War 1. They formed these alliances with each other for protection and guarantee that other members of the alliance would come to the country's aid if attacked. Although alliances provided protection, the system also created certain dangers. If war came, the alliance system meant that a number of nations would fight, not only the two involved in a dispute. Alliances could force a country to go to war against a nation it had no quarrel with. In addition, the terms of many alliances were kept secret. The secrecy also increased the chances that a county might guess wrong about the consequeneces of its actions. The Triple Alliance was made up of 3 countries, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. They all agreed to go to war if attacked by Russia. Bismarck also brought Austria-Hungary and Germany into alliance with Russia. The agreement was known as the Three Emperor's League and was formed in 1881. They all agreed to remain neutral if any of them went to war with another country. In 1890 when Bismarck left office it gave a chance for Russia and France to form an alliance. In 1894, France and Russia agreed to call up troops if any naiton in the Triple Alliance mobilized. Russia
World War I was caused by several issues between European powers, the first being militarism, or the huge emphasis placed on having large and strong armies and navies. Germany is an example of militarism in WWI because Germany began competing with the British for having the largest navy in the world, as well as developing new weapons like poison gas and submarines, the latter being a great tool in surprise attacks. Militarism was also associated with the Romanticism of war; Europeans wished to fight so that they could become heros. The constant military build ups in several European countries left countries looking for alliances with other strong countries, in the event that war was to break out. Germany, Italy, and Austria created the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente was comprised of Great Britain, France, and
To begin with, the pre-war alliance in Europe intensified the long-lasting tensions between countries. In 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance against Russia. In 1881, Austria Hungary allied with Serbia against Russia. The Triple Alliance reveals the alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. On the other hand, Russia, France, and Britain agreed to become the Triple Entente. (Doc 1) The alliance clearly divided the countries in Europe into two groups, each of which hated the others very much. (Doc 4) The
H.G. Wells once said, “Our true nationality is mankind.” The effects on nationalism in America are what makes the United States a stronger nation. In the years that brought us to were we are today have proven that we are strong as a whole. Especially in the 1800s, we played a huge deal in developing new ways and inventions better than Galileo himself. The Second Great Awakening, the Industrial Revolution, and the Educational Reform, are all proof that effected nationalism in America.
Europe’s nationalism in the 1800’s was called century of peace. Britain, France, and Germany had opponents in far away countries with quick victories which kept nationalism rising. Britain’s empire spanned twenty five percent of the globe during the two centuries of imperial, commercial, and naval dominance. The unification of Germany frightened Britain nationalists (Nationalism).German nationalism came from different origins but it was no less intense than Europe 's. Germany’s nationalism was bound by the 26 German speaking territories and states that acted like the glue. The leaders of 1871 Germany relied on nationalism to strengthen the nation and gain public support. Nationalism in Germany was mainly reflected by Germany’s military forces. As Europe’s countries began to spread nationalism they all wanted to have extended power and the number one military.
This is because European countries supported one another and had agreements, this caused for the countries to separate and form as two groups Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. The countries in the Triple Alliance were Germany, Italy, and Austria – Hungary they had formed an alliance and promised to help each other if any of them had to go to war. The Triple Entente was Russia, France, and Britain they all promised to help each other if they were attacked by any other countries. They signed an agreement in 1893. Britain joined in 1907 because they were competing with Germany to see who can have the best of the best such as weapons, armies.
It was tied to militarism and clashed with the interest to the imperial powers in Europe. Nationalism created new areas of interest over which nations could compete. Nationalism ties militarism, imperialism, and alliances altogether. Germany were quite militaristic and this led to an arms race with England over their naval power. It was in the national interest of Germany to have a strong military to protect its interests and promote patriotism. Through Imperialism, the nation’s state of Europe going around the planet claiming territory for themselves in order to gain economic, political, and social status for the people. There were competition for land within Europe. The alliance comes in because it was the national interests by having delegations back them up if and when they were threatened. By 1914, many of the empires were starting to crumble as their power regions of local nations within the nations states are to see themselves as distinct and see an opportunity to govern themselves. They want a degree of sovereignty. Other nations seen as being their best interest to rule over them.
The course of global imperialism during the late 19th and early 20th century was a byproduct of the development of nationalism, the expansion of industrialization, and shift toward Liberal values. In the 18th and 19th century, nationalism was a sensation that national leaders and governments utilized to unite its citizens under a single identity. The Industrial Revolution was a period of tremendous technological and commercial growth that required the expansion of its market to maintain its economic prosperity. In the 19th century, Liberalism questioned old societal beliefs of nobility, favoring instead a competitive free market economy that allows individuals to work themselves up in society. Together, these factors helped set the socio-economic
Apart from this major event, there were underlying causes as well. Ballard C. Campbell states that competition for territory, trading routes, and advanced weapon production, especially the buildup of Germany’s navy, can be attributed to the start of World War I. Nationalism is also said to have contributed to the start of World War I. Nationalism is strong patriotism for one’s country’s traditions and culture; this increase in nationalism led to a dramatic increase in various countries’ armed forces. Along with these other reasons, domestic politics helped to start World War I. These domestics politics became mixed in with the final decisions to commit to a war (Campbell). Competing alliances played a part in the buildup to World War I and everything that came with it. Germany, Italy, and The Austro-Hungarian Empire all joined forces to form The Triple Alliance. Along with these three powerhouses, France, Russia, and Britain came together to form the menacing Triple Entente. The formation of these alliances only caused militarism to appear throughout Europe. This feeling of militarism only raised suspicion towards other countries, and it ultimately contributed to the
Another significant cause of the war is a set of alliance systems that had been put in place to prevent war. After the Franco-Prussian war, a system of tangled alliances between European nations emerged. Some of the most famous alliances include Bismarck�s Greater Germany, Britain�s Splendid Isolation, The Three Emperors League and Dual Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia, The Triple Alliance consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. There was a secret Franco-Italian Alliance, whereby in event of war, and Germany attacked France, Italy would remain neutral. Other alliances included the Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and
Alliances were one of the reasons world war one started. They were made to promote peace, but the danger of them is that one argument between two countries could draw other nations allied with them. There were two main alliances called the triple alliance and the triple entente. The countries that were part of the triple alliance were Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The countries that were part of the Triple
With the formation of two key alliances; Triple Alliance and Triple Entente, war would have occurred one way or another without a doubt. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Triple Entente consisted of Britain, France and Russia. From early 1870s Germany had sought an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Russia. However, with Austria-Hungary having competing interests with Russia, in 1879 Germany created a Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary.
During World War 1 many nations and countries were trying to build an empire and have the strongest military. This is known as Imperialism which is a policy of extending a country’s power and impact through military and colonization of other nations. Nationalism is often driven from imperialism. Nationalism is having pride in one’s country, and because many big nations had nationalism it encouraged the nation to have an empire. Because of Germany and Britain were growing larger they thought they had the best military and were the superior to other nations. They both believed they were indomitable. All of the nations
Nationalism is having pride in one country or nationality. Countries were far more concerned with their own interest than those of Europe as a whole. It also gave groups of subject people the idea of forming independent nations. These lead European nations to complete to build the largest army and navy. Many people wanted freedom from “foreign” rule.
Nationalism is one of the major causes of WWI. Nationalism had spread itself all over Europe and largely influenced in many countries. Every single capable country is greedy for power and competitions are getting more intense in warfare. According to Howarth, he stated that there are two forms of nationalism: “the nationalism of the great power, who wanted to extend their boundaries and their influence to make them even more powerful; and the nationalism of groups of subject people who wanted to set up their own independent national homelands and states.” (Howarth 16). Most of the major powers of Europe
Many, on the other hand, blame the flaws in the world's alliance systems for the war. Development of political and military alliances caused tension and hostility among nations leading up to World War I. Two major alliance systems developed due to conflicting national interests, which had been evident during the past two decades throughout Europe. These were the 'Triple Alliance' of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy and the 'Triple Entente' of Britain, France and Russia. Also several smaller countries became indirectly involved in the alliances, which effectively divided Europe into two 'Armed Camps'. Russia pledged to support Serbia in order to prevent further Austrian-Hungarian expansion into the Balkans. Germany stated its support for Austria-Hungary and Britain had given its support for Belgium's independence in 1839. However, historians such as A. J. P. Taylor argue that 'Pre 1914 alliances were so precarious and fragile that they cannot be seen as the major cause of war'. This points to the fact that it should also be stressed that even a formal alliance in 1914 did not guarantee support for war, therefore not being a significant factor.