How did competition between the powers for empire and colonies add to the tensions that led to the First World War?
Explain how imperial and colonial rivalry between the great powers increased tension and contributed to the outbreak of the First World War
A clear N(A)-Level answer on how the race for empire raised tension before 1914. The scramble for colonies, the Moroccan crises, Anglo-German rivalry, and how to weigh imperialism against the other long-term causes.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point asks you to explain how competition for empire and colonies added to the tensions that helped cause the First World War. You should be able to describe the race for colonies, give a clear example of a crisis it produced, and explain how that rivalry made the powers more hostile to one another. As with the other long-term causes, the point is not that colonial rivalry started the war by itself, but that it built up resentment and distrust and hardened the divide between the two alliance camps.
The answer
The race for empire
In the years before 1914, the great powers of Europe competed to control colonies across Africa and Asia. This race for empire is called imperialism. Colonies were valuable for several reasons. They supplied raw materials such as rubber, minerals and cotton. They gave countries new markets to sell their goods. And they brought prestige, the sense of being a great and powerful nation. Owning a large empire was a sign of strength, and no great power wanted to be left behind.
Germany felt left out
Britain and France had built huge empires over many years. Germany, by contrast, had only become a united country in 1871, and by the time it looked for colonies most of the best territory had already been taken. German leaders argued that Germany too deserved a "place in the sun", meaning its fair share of colonies and the status of a world power. This demand brought Germany into direct competition with Britain and France, and made the older empires see Germany as a pushy rival trying to upset the balance.
Crises over Morocco
The clearest example of colonial rivalry causing tension was the two crises over Morocco in North Africa. France wanted to control Morocco, but Germany twice challenged this, in 1905 and again in 1911, partly to test the strength of the friendship between Britain and France. On both occasions the dispute brought Europe close to war. Although war was avoided each time, the crises had an important effect: instead of dividing Britain and France, they pushed the two countries closer together against Germany.
How colonial rivalry hardened the alliance camps
Colonial rivalry mattered most because of how it strengthened the divisions in Europe. Each crisis taught the powers who their friends and enemies were. The Moroccan crises made Britain and France trust each other more and see Germany as the common threat. So colonial rivalry did not exist on its own. It fed into the alliance system, turning loose friendships into firmer commitments and making the two camps see each other as global rivals rather than just neighbours.
Rivalry, prestige and public opinion
The competition for empire was also fought in newspapers and public speeches. Leaders boasted about their colonies and warned about the ambitions of their rivals. This stirred up national pride and made ordinary people in each country see the others as dangerous competitors. By the time the July Crisis of 1914 arrived, years of colonial rivalry had already taught the European public to view rival nations with suspicion and resentment.
Examples in context
Example 1. The scramble for Africa. In the decades before the war the powers divided almost the whole of Africa among themselves. This rush to grab territory, often racing to claim land before a rival could, created repeated friction and taught the powers to view one another as competitors across the globe, not just in Europe.
Example 2. The second Moroccan crisis. In 1911 Germany sent a warship to the Moroccan port of Agadir to pressure France. The move alarmed Britain, which feared Germany was trying to gain a naval base near important sea routes. Britain made clear it would stand by France, and the crisis ended with Germany gaining little. The lesson for everyone was that Britain and France would now act together against Germany.
Try this
Cue. List the three reasons colonies were valuable to the great powers (raw materials, markets, prestige) and explain why Germany felt it had been left behind.
Cue. Describe the two Moroccan crises and explain how they pushed Britain and France closer together rather than apart.
Cue. Explain the difference between imperialism and nationalism as causes of the war, giving one sentence on each.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SEAB exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Original8 marksExplain how rivalry over colonies increased tension between the European powers before 1914.Show worked answer →
- Point of view
- Colonial rivalry increased tension because the powers competed for territory, resources and prestige, and these clashes hardened the divisions between the alliance blocs.
- Reason 1 (the scramble)
- The powers competed to seize colonies in Africa and Asia for raw materials, markets and national pride. Germany, a newer power, wanted colonies to match Britain and France.
- Reason 2 (direct clashes)
- This competition produced direct crises, such as the two clashes over Morocco, where Germany challenged French control and nearly caused war.
- Reason 3 (hardening the camps)
- Each crisis pushed Britain and France closer together against Germany, so colonial rivalry strengthened the alliance blocs.
- Conclusion
- Colonial rivalry did not start the war, but it built up resentment and distrust and made the two camps see each other as rivals across the whole globe.
What markers reward: a clear point of view, the idea of competing for resources and prestige, a named example such as Morocco, and a short judgement linking it to the alliances.
Original7 marksStudy the source. A German speech from about 1900, paraphrased, claims that Germany too must have its rightful share of colonies and its own place among the great powers, and that it will no longer stand aside while others divide the world. What does this source suggest about why colonial rivalry caused tension? Support your answer with details from the source.Show worked answer →
- Message
- The source suggests that colonial rivalry caused tension because newer powers like Germany felt left out and were determined to gain colonies and status equal to the older empires.
- Support from the source
- The claim that Germany must have its "rightful share" of colonies suggests Germany felt it had been treated unfairly. The refusal to "stand aside while others divide the world" suggests Germany would now compete directly with Britain and France, which would create rivalry.
- Brief explanation
- This fits the real situation in which Germany, a young united country, wanted an empire and prestige to match Britain and France, which alarmed those powers.
What markers reward: an inference about Germany feeling left out and demanding equality, two details from the source used as support, and a short link to your own knowledge.
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