Causes Of WWI

Question 0

What policy had Britain followed in the 19th century?

Answer 0

Splendid isolation

Question 1

Name the six rival nations in Europe in 1900.

Answer 1

Britain
France
Russia
Austria-Hungary
Germany
Italy

Question 2

Why was France bitter about the Franco-Prussian War?

Answer 2

Germany won and took Alsace-Lorraine.

Question 3

Why was Austria-Hungary unstable in 1900?

Answer 3

Its empire was made up of 10 different nationalities, many of whom wanted independence.

Question 4

What were the Kaiser’s aims?

Answer 4

To gain rich colonies and power of the seas and have a ‘place in the sun’ to rival Britain. He was jealous of his cousin’s power.

Question 5

Explain the formation of the Triple Alliance.

Answer 5

1879: Dual Alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany to protect against France.
1882: Triple Alliance formed when Italy joined so she had strong allies.

Question 6

Explain what caused the Triple Entente to be formed.

Answer 6

1892: Franco-Russian Alliance to protect against the Triple Alliance.
1904: Entente Cordiale between Britain and France to agree on colonial disputes, i.e. No French interference in Egypt and vice versa with Morocco.
1907: Anglo-Russian Entente completed the Triple Entente after the Moroccan Crisis and the Algeciras Conference.

Question 7

What were the effects of the alliances for each country?

Answer 7

It created more tension in Europe.
~ Triple Alliance felt surrounded and threatened by Triple Entente.
~ Russia concerned at Austria’s intentions in the Balkans.
~ Tensions between Germany and Britain rose as there was a naval race.

Question 8

When did the Arms Race begin?

Answer 8

In 1900 after the Kaiser passed a law.

Question 9

What was the name of the Kaiser’s aggressive foreign policy?

Answer 9

Weltpolitik.

Question 10

What were the four main causes of the war?

Answer 10

Militarism - the Arms Race
Alliances - Triple Entente and Triple Alliance
Imperialism - Kaiser’s ‘place in the sun’
Nationalism - strong patriotism felt during Dreadnought Crisis in Britain.

Question 11

Explain Britain’s naval policy.

Answer 11

It was called the Two Power Standard and meant that their navy was as big as the next two biggest navies in Europe put together so they would never be outnumbered at sea.

Question 12

When was the first Dreadnought built and by whom was it built?

Answer 12

It was built in 1906 by Britain to counter Germany’s naval growth.

Question 13

What was the chant that British people used to push the government to build more Dreadnoughts?

Answer 13

‘We want eight and we won’t wait!!’

Question 14

How many Dreadnoughts did the two sides have in 1914?

Answer 14

Britain had 29 and Germany had 17.

Question 15

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Answer 15

It was Germany’s plan for war, and was devised by von Schlieffen in 1905. If war was declared they would defeat France quickly before Russia could fully mobilise its army and then they would defeat Russia. It aimed to not fight a war on two fronts.

Question 16

When did the Moroccan Crisis happen?

Answer 16

1905-6

Question 17

What was the cause of the Moroccan Crisis?

Answer 17

France wanted to make Morocco a protectorate but the Kaiser protested and gave a speech saying they should be independent. At the Algeciras Conference it was decided that Morocco should be French and the Kaiser had to back down.

Question 18

What were the effects of the Moroccan Crisis?

Answer 18

The Kaiser felt humiliated. It also lead to the formation of the Triple Entente as Britain and Russia became supportive of France.