What Was The Main Cause Of The First World War

The first major cause of the First World War was the Treaty of Frankfurt. This treaty was signed as a direct result of the end of the Franco-Prussian War. The Franco-Prussian war was started on July 19, 1870, and the treaty was signed on May 10, 1871 (Doerr). This victory over the French helped prove the German empire as a major military force. After the victory the Treaty of Frankfurt was created by the German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck . Otto von Bismarck was the leader that had masterminded the war that led to the German empire (Doerr). The French leader at the time was Alphonose Thiers, who was very skeptical about the start of the Franco-Prussian War. The Treaty of Frankfurt stated the annexation of France provinces Alsace and Lorraine by Germany (Doerr).
Germans would have control over this French territory until the a 5 billion Franc indemnity was paid by the French over a four year period. Until this was paid most of northeastern France would be occupied by German troops (Doerr). Otto von Bismarck laid down such harsh punishment on France in order to create a more secure border for Germany. This border would allow for the Vosges Mountains of Alsace and fortresses of Loraine to prevent France from reaching southern Germany. Bismarck also believed that when the French seeked revenge he would be well prepared. The German control of provinces of Alsace and Lorraine for 3 years caused major tension between France and the German Empire. This tension was a major contributor in World War 1, since it left France a reason to seek revenge on the German Empire (Greenspan) “ The Treaty of Frankfurt was thought to be a major mistake and contributor to World War 1. Many historians regard the Treaty of Frankfurt as a major error”