Kaiser Wilhelm II example essay topic

The causes of the First World War cannot be as easily defined as the causes of the second. The war's origins cannot be traced to any one source, rather it was a climax to a series of incidents stretching well back into the 19th century. Incidents which interacted and overlapped to finally produce the destruction and slaughter of 1914-1918. Article 231 placed responsibility for the war on the German people and in particular Kaiser Wilhelm II. Kaiser Wilhelm II had the aim of securing for Germany 'its rightful place in the sun'. His abrasive personality provoked enmity on many sides.

In dealings with other countries, Wilhelm showed a total lack of diplomatic tact. In 1896 Wilhelm sent the Boer Telegram congratulating Paul Krueger on resisting the Jameson Raid. This infuriated the British. In 1905 and 1911 he triggered the Moroccan Crises'.

He questioned French control over Morocco and demanded that conferences be held to discuss these issues. Wilhelm lost support and these conferences brought Britain and France together in the Anglo-French Entente. This sabre-rattling did not cause the war but it did cause tension. The growth of Anglo-German naval rivalry may be seen as a major contributory factory. The naval race stemmed from Kaiser Wilhelm's abrasive nature. A seven year naval building programme began and in turn Britain began its own panic building programme.

And so this rivalry continued unabated until 1914. After 1870 Bismarck engaged in alliance making to ensure peace. He negotiated the Dreikaiserbund, Dual alliance, Triple Alliance and the Reassurance Treaty. The Triple Alliance, 1882, was at first successful but after Bismarck's retirement, 1890, it began to disintegrate.

France and Russia then came together in 1892. Britain settled its differences with Russia and in 1907 both countries along with France formed the Triple Entente. The Triple Entente faced the Triple Alliance, thus dividing Europe into two hostile camps. All that was needed was a nudge to send the powers towards war. This came from Eastern Europe. The Eastern Question was the problem of minority groups within the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish empire.

The minorities, particularly Serbs, wanted independence. This led to hostility and tension. The pot boiled over three times. In 1907 Austria took over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 1912 and 1913 the Balkan Wars led to an enlarged Serbia which made Austria nervous. In June 1914 Franz Ferdinand, son of an Austrian leader, went to visit Sarajevo with his wife.

Both were shot dead. Austria issued an ultimatum. Russia came to the aid of the Serbs. Gradually both sides were joined by their allies.

By August 4th, every European power was at war. The Sarajevo murders may be seen as the immediate cause of the war. The combination of the volatile Eastern Question and the System of Alliances were long term causes. While German aggression as a factor is not denied, a verdict which takes no account of the Eastern Question, must be considered extremely naive.