What was the immediate cause of WWI, and why did it escalate into such huge war?

Question

Connect industrialization, mercantilism, colonialism, nationalism, and capitalism with the causes of World War I?

What was wrong with the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 1

Austria's Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serb (I forget his name) in old-day-Yugoslavia. Austria invaded Yugoslavia, and Germany, its ally (I think) invaded Belgium, and other countries like France, took sides against them, and it escalated, drew in all of europe, including Russia. The Germans sunk too many American boats giving arms to the British, so the US joined as well. Before World War II, it was called The War to End All Wars, or The Great War.

Answer 2

The above answers are correct plus many of the participants had secrete treaties which activated when a country was attacked. I think that is how Russia came in. This expanded the number of countries quickly. (I'm not going to write your paper for you but here are some ideas to get you started)

Industrialization - WW I first war of industrial age, cars & trucks, mass produced equipment ex, machine gun, airplane, posion gas.

colonialism - Germany & Austria had African colonies as well as Britain had African, Austrialian, India and Arab allies.

Nationalism - Brits, and Germans easily brought in recruits based on national identity. Brought in colonies to fight for king and country etc.

Capitalism, United States made lots of $ First selling to both sides and later to the allies while managing to stay out of the fighting until the end. Also, the side that won would be able to strip and run Colonies for their economic benifit

Many make a good argument that the Versailles treaty and end of the WW I was the main cause of WW II

Good luck.

Answer 3

The treaty of Vesailles blamed the war on Germany and they had to pay back an exorbanent amount of money over a long period of time (132 billion gold marks ~ about 31 billion dollars. The Germans had to give up prized land in Alsace, Lorrain, Poznan, West Prussia and Africa. The military was removed from Rhineland, and it dismantled Germany's navy and limited it army to 100,000 men. Finally the straw that broke the camel's back was the "war guilt clause" which said that Germany MUST accest complete and total responsibility for the war ~ which was the most humiliating