Short Term Causes Of World War 1

The
Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on Europe. The Industrial Revolution was an
important component of many of the other causes of the Great War. Industrialism created a system
of uneven wealth in Europe. The nations that industrialized gained an economic advantage over
those that did not. The industrialized nations competed for scarce resources in an effort to
become more powerful than their rivals.

In a quest for these scarce
resources, industrial powers sought to establish colonies in order to fuel their industries. By
the late 1800's, this theater was on the continent of Africa. Disputes over boundaries and lands
in Africa threatened to plunge Europe into war during this period. This rivalry for resources,
economic prosperity, and nationalist glory ultimately led to .  In an effort to protect
themselves from aggression, industrial nations formed alliances with their primary trade
partners. These alliances insured that a minor dispute between two countries could result in a
continental war.  This system of alliances was an important short term cause of World War I.
 

The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand at the hands of a member of a Serbian separatist group. This action caused
Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, which was backed by Russia. Russia's declaration of
war against Austria-Hungary motivated other nations that were bound by alliances to enter the
war.

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