Causes of WWI - Imperialism (Britain, France, Germany) Flashcards
What is an empire?
When a group of countries is ruled over by another country
Why did countries like Britain and Germany want large empires?
It gave the countries a sense of pride and prestige (respect)
In 2014, how many Britons said they were proud of the British Empire?
59%
Which two countries had the largest empires in 1900?
Britain and France
Why was Germany’s empire relatively small
It had only become a nation in 1871 so had missed out on the opportunity to build an empire like Britain’s which had been built up for hundreds of years
Why did the Kaiser desperately want an empire?
Because he knew to be a Great Power, you needed to have an empire
How big was Germany’s empire by 1914?
Third largest - but a long way behind France who had the second largest
What is a colony?
A country under the control of another (e.g. India was a British colony)
Name three of Germany’s African colonies
Any of:
Tanzania
Rwanda
Burundi
Namibia
How many square miles did the British Empire cover?
11 million
What was famously said about the British Empire?
“The sun never set on the British Empire”
Name three colonies in the British Empire in 1914
Any of:
India Australia Canada New Zealand South Africa Hong Kong
Which two places made up most of France’s empire?
West Africa
Indochina (e.g. Vietnam, Cambodia)
What is meant by ‘imperialism’?
To do with empires
Why did imperialism contribute to militarism?
Because to take over colonies, you are likely going to need to increase the size of your armed forces
