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War broke out in Europe, not only because of the assassination of Ferdinand, but also because several nations of Europe had differences that could not be settled by peaceful means. Sources of tension in Europe included the continued growth of nationalism, economic and imperialistic rivalry, and the creation several alliance systems (Heyman,1997).
In the nineteenth century, nationalism moved from a vision of many nation-states living harmoniously to a Social Darwinist approach in which only the strongest of nations would survive. This new approach reflected the attitudes of the more lethal nationalist groups within the Great Powers, as well as the nationalities still subject to the rule of the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary. Social Darwinism in an international sense stressed the superiority of one's own nationality and the constant competition between rival powers pursuing economic and political control.
The Pans-German league sought to unite the Austrians and other Germans in Eastern Europe with those of the German empire. The Pan-Slavism movement, on the other hand, looked to free the Slavic peoples from Turkish and Austro-Hungarian rule. Nationalism was alive in France as they wanted revenge against Germany for the forced separation of Alsace-Lorraine from their country, and Russia sought to force the Russian language and customs throughout their empire (Lyons, 2000).
Economic rivalry also contributed to European tension. Germany's sudden economic boom created concern with its neighbors, including France and Britain. France lagged in industrial development, and they became increasingly alarmed that German could outproduce them in the production of war materials. Britain's annual growth rate declined as Germany and the United State's increased, leading them to worry about remaining the leader of foreign commerce. Russia's industrial production soared more than any other European country leading up tot he war, alarming Germany (Lyons, 2000).
In the nineteenth century, nationalism moved from a vision of many nation-states living harmoniously to a Social Darwinist approach in which only the strongest of nations would survive. This new approach reflected the attitudes of the more lethal nationalist groups within the Great Powers, as well as the nationalities still subject to the rule of the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary. Social Darwinism in an international sense stressed the superiority of one's own nationality and the constant competition between rival powers pursuing economic and political control.
The Pans-German league sought to unite the Austrians and other Germans in Eastern Europe with those of the German empire. The Pan-Slavism movement, on the other hand, looked to free the Slavic peoples from Turkish and Austro-Hungarian rule. Nationalism was alive in France as they wanted revenge against Germany for the forced separation of Alsace-Lorraine from their country, and Russia sought to force the Russian language and customs throughout their empire (Lyons, 2000).
Economic rivalry also contributed to European tension. Germany's sudden economic boom created concern with its neighbors, including France and Britain. France lagged in industrial development, and they became increasingly alarmed that German could outproduce them in the production of war materials. Britain's annual growth rate declined as Germany and the United State's increased, leading them to worry about remaining the leader of foreign commerce. Russia's industrial production soared more than any other European country leading up tot he war, alarming Germany (Lyons, 2000).
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This economic rivalry coincided with a surge in overseas imperialistic activity and took the form of a virtual race for colonies. This upswing in imperialism resulted from accelerating industrialization and the desire to control more markets nationwide. States also sought to take over certain parts of the world for strategic importance. However, these European countries found many of these new local lands unstable and felt the need to dominate them politically to protect investments. The race for colonies led to friction among the imperialist powers, along with the nationalities they tried to govern. Some disputes could be settled, such as between Britain and France, or Britain and Russia, but others could not. The rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia in regards to the Balkans became the single greatest source of instability in European power politics in the decade before 1914 (Lyons, 2000).
Lastly, the development of rival alliances created even further tension in Europe. The danger of war between Austria-Hungary and Russian over the Balkans increased the development of rival alliances among the Great Powers. Otto von Bismarck, the architect of German unification, set about to cultivate an alliance to protect the new German empire. He began by negotiating the Three Emperor's league in 1873, tying Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. Russia withdrew in 1878, changing the alliance to the Dual Alliance. Two years later, Italy was brought in to create the Triple Alliance, however, Italy also had negotiated a treaty with France under which they would remain neutral. In 1887, Russia and Germany signed a new Reinsurance Treaty, where they agreed to remain neutral in war, but that treaty lapsed in 1890. After the lapse of the Reinsurance treaty, Russia signed a treaty with France. in 1904, Britain joined the French-Russian alliance to create the Triple Entente. Though most of these alliances were not binding in any way, they placed a "moral obligation" upon the signatories to aid each other in the event of war (Duffy, 2000).
Lastly, the development of rival alliances created even further tension in Europe. The danger of war between Austria-Hungary and Russian over the Balkans increased the development of rival alliances among the Great Powers. Otto von Bismarck, the architect of German unification, set about to cultivate an alliance to protect the new German empire. He began by negotiating the Three Emperor's league in 1873, tying Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. Russia withdrew in 1878, changing the alliance to the Dual Alliance. Two years later, Italy was brought in to create the Triple Alliance, however, Italy also had negotiated a treaty with France under which they would remain neutral. In 1887, Russia and Germany signed a new Reinsurance Treaty, where they agreed to remain neutral in war, but that treaty lapsed in 1890. After the lapse of the Reinsurance treaty, Russia signed a treaty with France. in 1904, Britain joined the French-Russian alliance to create the Triple Entente. Though most of these alliances were not binding in any way, they placed a "moral obligation" upon the signatories to aid each other in the event of war (Duffy, 2000).