causes of the first world war Flashcards
what was the bosnian crisis (1908)
an internal crisis in the ottoman empire caused by the young turk revolution raised the issue of the Eastern Question (future of the ottoman empire).
Austria-Hungary decided to act by annexing (to join on to) two provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
what were the outcomes of the bosnian crisis (1908)?
it caused outrage in Serbia who hoped that they would form the two provinces into ‘Greater Serbia’. Serbia is angry and forms a terrorist organsiation (‘the black hand’).
Relations between Russia and Austria-Hungary are strained, Russia wants a conference but doesn’t and is therefore humiliated.
Germany also is publicly supporting Austria-Hungary.
what was the first moroccan crisis (1905)?
kaiser wilhelm of germany declares his support for the sultan of morocco which angers france and great britain.
germany wanted to challenge france’s growing control over morocco.
what were the outcomes of the first moroccan crisis (1905)?
the crisis was resolved by a conference (algeciras 1906) which affirmed france’s control but worsened germany’s relations with france and britiain but helped with the new anglo-french entente.
what was the second moroccan crisis (1911)?
france sent troops to fez, morocco to suppress a revolt (on request of the sultan).
germany saw this as the beginning of a french takeover and sent over a german gunboat (hoping to pressurize france into giving them compensation in the french congo).
britain was worried that germany would acquire Agadir as a naval base.
britain’s chancellor gave a speech and it turned the franco-german crisis into an anglo-german confrontation.
what were the outcomes of the second moroccan crisis (1911)?
germany accepted two strips of territory in the french congo.
german public opinion was hostile of their government’s handling of the crisis (another failure of the weltpolitik).
the entente of france and britain was strengthened.
but there was increased tension between germany and britain.
what was imanuel geiss’ quote about the bosnian crisis?
“dress rehearsal for the first world war”.
what was the order of each crisis?
- moroccan crisis - 1905
- bosnian crisis - 1908
- second moroccan crisis - 1911
(4. germany vs britain naval boats)
what else contributed to the causes of the first world war?
- britain was unhappy that germany wanted to expand their navy.
- their large colonial empire upset france and britain.
what were weltpolitik’s aims?
- increasing the strength of germany
- more power in their navy
- more colonies
