The global European War, also known as WWI, lasted from 1914-1918; long-term outweighed the short-term causes in term of contributing to the First World War. Long-term causes made World War One inevitable and were extended upon each other: Imperialism, the policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, motivates a nation to continue to expand their empire, which contributes to the constant battle over territories; Nationalism, the belief/ideology that involves an individual being attached to one’s nation, created patriotism and conditioned personal behaviors that supported a nation’s action, which encouraged individuals to fight for their country; Militarism, which increased military and naval rivalry led to the belief that war was coming; Alliances, the union formed for mutual benefit between nations showcased how nations fought and protected each other due to agreements.
The late nineteenth century ended with European countries moving towards imperialism, nations wanting to expand their colonies. The majority of Asia and Africa were undergoing colonization by the leading European powers, such as Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, to provide their industries with resources. The aspiration for expanding territories stimulated competition between the powers, which created the foundation of WWI. This can be seen through the competition between powers for colonies overseas, in particular, between France and Germany. The Franco-Prussian War in 1870 resulted in the defeat of France, which was followed by Germany’s gain of the most industrial region in France: Alsace-Lorraine. Tension was created between the two powers, as France wanted their most commercial territory back. Tension is inevitably whenever two opposing characters are competing their relation becomes soured for the future. If France had accepted Germany’s rule over Alsace-Lorraine, then Germany and France relation would ...