Chapter 16 - World War 1 Flashcards
What were the main causes of World War I?
1. Assassination: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand began World War 1. This is because when a Serbian nationalist shot Franz Ferdinand, Austria declared war on Serbia which was what began all of WW1.
2. Militarism: There was an arms race in Europe which led countries to have a sense of fear and suspicion on neighbouring countries which increased the likelihood of war to solve disputes.
3. Alliances: in the decades leading up to WW1, two major alliances were formed:
Triple Entente: UK, Russia, France | Triple Alliance: Italy, Germany, Austro-Hungary. These alliances were made to ensure peace, by making one country afraid to attack another.
4. Imperialism: Many European Countries had established vast empires in Africa and Asia by the early 20th century. Competition for land and resources lead to tension between European countries.
5. Nationalism: Nationalism was a powerful force in Europe and contributed to tensions both within and between countries. In multi-ethnic empires like Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, nationalist movements wanted independence.
Explain the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
Germany would pay £6.6billion in reparations to Britain, France and other countries. Which was finally cleared in 2010. Germany would surrender all its colonies in Africa and Asia to Britain and Japan. Germany would lose territory in Europe to France, Denmark and Poland. Germany’s armed forces would be reduced to 100,000 men and they could have only six naval ships, no airforce, tanks or submarines. And finally Germany and Austria would be forbidden from uniting.
Explain the consequences of World War I.
What is an alliance?
An alliance is an agreement between states to aid each other in wartime.
What is no-man’s land?
No-man’s land is the strip of land between the opposing armies.
What is the right to self-determination?
The right to self-determination is the right of a people or nation sharing a common language and culture to govern themselves independently.
What are reparations?
Reparations are compensation payments paid by the loser to the victors after a war.
