causes of ww1 Flashcards
how big was the british empire before WW1?
Before World War I, the British Empire was the largest empire in history, covering approximately 23% of the world’s land surface and ruling over around 412 million people, which was roughly a quarter of the world’s population at that time.
what was imperialism?
Imperialism is when a powerful country takes control of other countries or territories, often for resources or to gain influence. It was common during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with European powers like Britain and France expanding their empires across the globe. Imperialism often involved economic exploitation and political dominance over the colonized territories.
why can imperialism be senn as a key cause of WW1?
imperialism can be seen as a key cause of World War I, because as countries like Britain and France expanded their empires, it resulted in increased tensions among European countries. The tensions were a result of many colonies often being acquired through coercion.
which countries were involved in the alliance called the central powers?
(Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire)
France
United Kingdom
Russia (until 1917)
United States (joined in 1917)
Italy (joined in 1915)
what is the name of the alliance that held these countries together?
allied powers
which countries were involved in the triple entente?
France
United Kingdom
Russia
what was the difference beetween the triple entente and the allies powers?
The Triple Entente and the Allied Powers are related but not entirely the same.
Triple Entente: This was an alliance formed before World War I between three major European powers: France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. It was primarily a diplomatic agreement aimed at countering the growing power of the Triple Alliance, which consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The Triple Entente laid some of the groundwork for the later Allied Powers during World War I.
Allied Powers: This term refers to the coalition of countries that fought against the Central Powers during World War I. While the core members of the Triple Entente—France, Russia (until 1917), and the United Kingdom—were major components of the Allied Powers, the Allied coalition also included other nations such as the United States, Italy (after 1915), Japan, and several smaller countries. The Allied Powers were a broader and more diverse group than the original Triple Entente, encompassing various nations united in opposition to the Central Powers.
what was the idea of serbian nationalism?
Serbian nationalism refers to the ideology and movement promoting the interests, culture, and independence of the Serbian people. It emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries, fueled by a desire for self-determination and the preservation of Serbian identity in the face of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian rule in the Balkans.
Serbian nationalists sought to unite Serb-inhabited territories under one state, often advocating for the creation of a Greater Serbia. This sentiment was particularly strong in regions like Bosnia and Herzegovina, where many ethnic Serbs lived under Austro-Hungarian rule. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in 1914 is one of the events that precipitated World War I, as it led to Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia.
what was the name given to the united sebian countries
The name given to the united Serbian countries was the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
when was the archduke franz ferdinand mudered?
On June 28, 1914
who killed the archduke franz ferdinand?
Gavrilo Princip.
what was the name of the serbian nationalism group that killed the archduke franzferdinand?
the black hand
what was the blank cheque?
The “blank cheque” refers to the assurance given by Germany to Austria-Hungary in the aftermath of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. German Emperor Wilhelm II and his government provided unconditional support to Austria-Hungary, essentially granting them a “blank cheque” to take whatever actions they deemed necessary against Serbia.
how did the issuing of the blank cheque that germany gave to austria hungary escalate the situation?
This assurance emboldened Austria-Hungary to issue a frankly impossible ultimatum to Serbia, knowing that they had the backing of Germany. Austria-Hungary’s subsequent declaration of war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, was made with the confidence that Germany would support them militarily.
what was the Austro -Hungarian ultimatum designed to do?
The ultimatum was intended to be harsh and humiliating, designed to provoke a response that could justify military action against Serbia
