Rapid industrialization saw the growth of wealth among
countries in Europe. However, they
needed more resources to maintain or expand their industries. At the same time, they wanted to protect
their economic interests as countries competed with each other for more
economic power. As a result, militarism took
root. Out of protection, industrial
factories started producing weapons to protect countries should conflicts
arise. This only produced the opposite as effect as neighbor saw this as a sign
of aggression. In the end it together with other causes such as rival alliances
and nationalism would lead to World War I.
