The First War World and the Events that Caused it

The three cousins, Franz Ferdinand, nationalism, and the war itself.

I am writing an essay about Wilhelm II, George V, and Nicholas II. Any notable sources or interesting facts would be appreciated.

The Moroccan crisis, the Balkan wars, the Anglo-German naval race and the alliance system are other causes pf WWI

It's weird that Wilhelm lost. He was the most handsome cousin. No I'm not gay.

@GeorgeIVofBrittania I agree. He was really cute and mischevious and it's a shame he lived most of his life in exile.

I like to use the acronym M.A.I.N; Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

You should clarify your question.

Are you focusing on the personal relationships between the rulers? I cannot imagine you will find much evidence there. The internal mechanisms of German and Russian politics were famously opaque and byzantine. The veneer of autocratic rule, when wiped away, revealed court and military men fighting over influence and limited resources-with little coordinated policy strategy. For example, the Kaiser's staff consistently tried to prevent him from learning about the Austrian court's machinations to entice Wilhelm's support. The Tsar also was too politically insulated to have meaningfully impacted the slide to war. He mostly reacted to the events as the opinion of his court forced his hand. Both monarchs had little say in whether the war would begin; they could only shape how the public would respond to the news of war.

Are you focusing on the development of nationalism as a way to explain why politicians used the war to mask social, political, and economic fissures in society?

Are you focusing the international system and the way in which the rigidity of the World System that so greatly benefited Britain, France, and Russia was being challenged by the rising military and economic might of Germany?

Are you focusing on the exchange of events that convinced the Franz Joseph to follow Conrad's advice and issue the ultimatum that prompted the Serbian crisis?

I think clarification would allow for better investigations and answers in this situation.

Militarism was a major cause of WW1. Most of the warring nations had generals and admirals as government officials or advisors who strongly influenced national priorities. The press romanticized the military and war itself while demonizing foreign powers. This attitude really fanned the flames of Nationalism. Nationalism helped to create Germany and Italy as states only half a century beforehand. It made people almost drunk on the thought of their nations military and cultural superiority. Germany placed the utmost faith in their army after it's victory in the Franco- Prussian war, their expanding navy, and their immense industrial base. Britain had little doubt in their nation's ability after spending the better part of the 19th century expanding their imperial and commercial interests while avoiding conflicts in Europe. Rising Nationalism in the Balkans was ultimately the most obvious catalyst of WW1 with the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at the hand of a Serbian radical group. The Ottomans also continued to lose ground to new Balkan nations through the later half of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s. Because of that they were desperate for a military victory, thus willing to join the Central Powers. Imperialism fueled most of the actions of the largest nations before WW1. The British and French had an established empire by the time the Germany was formed and Germany was looking for it's "place in the sun". The British wanted to contain German colonial ambition to the dregs of the colonial land. Germany also had a hand in stirring up rebellion and instability in Morocco. In 1905, before the French created a protectorate out of the area, Kaiser Wilhelm II delivered a pro-Morocco independence speech in the city of Tangiers. And in 1911, while the French were trying to suppress a rebellion in their now protectorate of Morocco, The Germans landed an armored cruiser in the port of Agadir. They did this without permission or clear purpose, bringing the two nations to the brink of war. Many alliances were formed during the 19th century, most of them changed or abolished by the time of WW1. There are two alliances that played the largest role in the outbreak of WW1. The alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia known as The Triple Entente (signed in 1907), was a consolidation of earlier treaties between the nations. This alliance marked the end of British isolationism and neutrality in Europe. The Triple Alliance (signed in 1882) allied Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy. This alliance was fueled by anti-Russian and anti-French sentiment. Interestingly, since Italy was only a defensive member of the alliance, they had the right to claim neutrality and did so at the start of WW1. Italy was lured into the war by The Entente with promises of land in Austria-Hungary along the Adriatic Sea. These are just the most notable causes of WW1.

Just a handy map of Alliances in WW1

Credit:http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/alliances/

The irony is Franz Ferdinand was the biggest ally Serbia had insofar as working toward keeping autonomy. The "events" that "caused" the war are not necessarily the alliance system nor the arms race, but rather the responses of various nations to an immediate crisis.

Really, Austria-Hungary could have treated the situation differently, the same could be said for the German Empire, but all things being equal: Austria demanded ludicrous concessions from Serbia and Germany pledged support for any actions on the part of their brethren. The rest, as they say, is history.

See article http://booksc.org/book/39049320/d41f0d

Fun fact: Nicholas and Wilhelm wrote letters to each other a couple of days before World War 1.

Depends on how far you'll go. Britain wouldn't have intervened if it wasn't for the 1830 treaty of London guaranteeing Balgian independence and the Entente Cordiale signed to avoid going to war against France because of the Russo Japanes war, so you could cont those as causes.

King Zog wrote:Fun fact: Nicholas and Wilhelm wrote letters to each other a couple of days before World War 1.

Didn't Nicholas beg/plead with Wilhelm to stop the war, playing up the fact that they were cousins? I've read that around.

Icaria909 wrote:You should clarify your question.

Are you focusing on the personal relationships between the rulers? I cannot imagine you will find much evidence there. The internal mechanisms of German and Russian politics were famously opaque and byzantine. The veneer of autocratic rule, when wiped away, revealed court and military men fighting over influence and limited resources-with little coordinated policy strategy. For example, the Kaiser's staff consistently tried to prevent him from learning about the Austrian court's machinations to entice Wilhelm's support. The Tsar also was too politically insulated to have meaningfully impacted the slide to war. He mostly reacted to the events as the opinion of his court forced his hand. Both monarchs had little say in whether the war would begin; they could only shape how the public would respond to the news of war.

Are you focusing on the development of nationalism as a way to explain why politicians  used the war to mask social, political, and economic fissures in society?

Are you focusing the international system and the way in which the rigidity of the World System that so greatly benefited Britain, France, and Russia was being challenged by the rising military and economic might of Germany?

Are you focusing on the exchange of events that convinced the Franz Joseph to follow Conrad's advice and issue the ultimatum that prompted the Serbian crisis?

I think clarification would allow for better investigations and answers in this situation.

I am focusing on the childhoods of the cousins and how it impacted the course of the world.

King Zog wrote:Fun fact: Nicholas and Wilhelm wrote letters to each other a couple of days before World War 1.

Yeah, I read a lot of the telegrams.

Before WW1 even started, it was a massive Cold War. This was the perfect excuse for everyone to brawl it out, just like a bunch of bikers walking into a bar and getting drunk. At least, that is what it seemed for me, I am no expert.