Causes of Conflict

Causes of Conflict

Causes of Conflict

• Economic

• Ideological

• Religious 

• Resources 

• Territorial

Economic

• Economics is, basically, the study of how money moves from one place/person to the next place/person and how it can be controlled.

• Conflict can occur when one person or country wishes to take control of another’s wealth.

Ideological Differences

• Differing values and beliefs among countries can cause conflicts. 

• Countries can come into conflict if they think their ideological beliefs are being threatened.

• Examples: politics, racism, feminism, communism

Religious Differences

• Religious hatred is sometimes used as justification in many international conflicts and civil wars.

• Sometimes, a religious or minority group is used by its enemies as scapegoats to blame all the state's troubles on.

Natural Resources

• When countries have scarce resources they might use force to gain more which causes conflict.

• Resources such as land, gold, livestock, oil, gas, water, etc.

Territorial Issues

• When two or more countries stake claim over a tract or area of land, it can cause conflict between these nations particularly if the land means a lot to the countries.

Causes of Conflict

• Sort each real-life conflict scenario by the type of conflict you think fits best (look for keywords).

• Economic (money) 

• Ideological (beliefs)

• Religious (religion)

• Resources (natural resources)

• Territorial (land)

Multiple Choice

British interference with American trade and “war hawks” in Congress calling for western expansion into British territory led to the War of 1812 (1812-1815). By the end of the war, trade issues remained unresolved, but Britain did give up some of its territorial claims on the continent.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

During the American Revolution (1775-1783), Great Britain forced its 13 American colonies to pay taxes without any representation in the British Parliament. This and other injustices led the colonies to declare independence on July 4, 1776. Independence was achieved in 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed with Britain, ending the Revolutionary War.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

In 1955, communist North Vietnam invaded non-communist South Vietnam in an attempt to unify the country and impose communist rule. The U.S. joined the Vietnam War (1961-1973) on the side of South Vietnam in 1961, but withdrew combat troops in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnam succeeded in taking control of South Vietnam.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, both China and India were locked in a border dispute following India’s independence. China had built a road on the Aksai Chin Plateau (one of the contested areas of land) which led to rising tensions between China & India. After a brief war, China was victorious & took control.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

Somalia has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in 1991. A U.S-led humanitarian effort attempted to restore order to war-torn Somalia in 1993 so that food could be delivered and distributed within the famine-stricken country.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

Tension and rivalry between the rural South and industrial North grew into a civil war fought over slavery and states' rights in the United States. Eleven states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. The Union victory in the Civil War (1861-1865) reunified the country and ended slavery.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

The Crusades (1095-1291) were battles fought between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land which centered on the city of Jerusalem. All told, there were 9 big Crusades throughout the Middle Ages (the 5th – 15th centuries).

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) began when Iraq invaded Iran after a long history of disputes and demands to overthrow Saddam Hussein. The causes were deeply rooted in concerns over internal security and territorial boundaries between Iran and Iraq. This war ended when Iran accepted a UN Resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

Times when there are too many businesses closing & people out of work can cause a period of severe poverty called a ‘recession.’ If a recession continues for too long, it becomes known as a ‘depression’. The Great Depression (1929-1939) was called “great” because it was actually the worst, longest lasting depression known at that time.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

In the Russian Revolution of 1917 the communists took power. The U.S. and Britain were worried that the same thing might happen in their countries. They thus helped support the White Army, the side against communism, in the Russian Civil War that followed (though they failed). In fact, the United States did not acknowledge the communist government until 1933.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

Established by Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1478, the purpose of the Spanish Inquisition was to discover and punish converted Jews (and later Muslims) accused of going against the Roman Catholic Church. After more than 300 years, the Spanish Inquisition was finally abolished (ended) in 1834.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

The U.S. annexation of Texas, and its desire to acquire California and other Mexican territory, caused the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Mexico was forced to give up two-fifths of its territory. This land eventually became the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi party, rose to power in pre-war Germany during 1930-1939. Hitler wanted to create what he thought was the “best” and strongest race which excluded groups, such as Jews, Gypsies and those with physical & mental disabilities. Around 6 million Jewish people were killed during World War 2 in one of history’s most terrible events – the Holocaust.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

The Homestead Strike was a labor confrontation lasting 143 days in 1892. It happened in Homestead, Pennsylvania between the Carnegie Steel Company and the National Iron & Steel Workers Union. The company attempted to cut the wages of the steel workers. When the workers refused the pay cut, management locked the union out and replaced the workers with unskilled, mostly immigrant laborers.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Multiple Choice

Rivalries over power, territory, and wealth led to the “Great War” – World War I (1914-1918). In 1917, the U.S. joined the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Japan) who were at war with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey), after German submarines began sinking unarmed American ships.

• Economic

• Ideological

• Natural Resources

• Religious

• Territorial

Which cause do you think causes the most conflict and why?

• Economic

• Ideological

• Religious 

• Resources 

• Territorial