First World War

Question 1

causes of first world war

Answer 1

1. nationalism and imperialism
2. race for armaments
3. division of europe into two hostile groups
4. sarajevo crisis

Question 2

define nationalism

Answer 2

refers to the sense of unity felt by the people, who share a common history, language, and culture

Question 3

define aggressive nationalism

Answer 3

love for one’s own country and hatred of other countries

Question 4

define imperialism

Answer 4

the state policy or practice by which a powerful nation establishes its control over another country, either by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control

Question 5

race for armaments

Answer 5

every major power began stockpiling armaments in the name of self defence and preservation of peace
filled atmosphere with fear, apprehension, mutual hatred
britain and france were concerned with germany’s growing strength

Question 6

division of europe into two hostile groups

Answer 6

single nation-states: france, holland, germany
imperial states: austria-hungarian empire, russian empire
germany entered into alliance with austria-hungary. italy joined, forming TRIPLE ALLIANCE

Question 7

triple entente

Answer 7

france, russia, england, and later japan also joined

Question 8

sarajevo crisis (immediate cause)

Answer 8

assasination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to through of austria-hungary at Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia
assassination organised by ‘black hand’ or ‘union of death’ formed by extremist serbian nationalists

Question 9

when was archduke assassinated

Answer 9

June 28, 1914
Austria declared war on serbia on July 28, 1914

Question 10

how did triple alliance break

Answer 10

Italy remained neutral after sarajevo crisis

Question 11

allied powers

Answer 11

Britain, france, russia and their allies

Question 12

axis powers

Answer 12

germany, austria, their allies

Question 13

western front

Answer 13

germany and france

Question 14

eastern front

Answer 14

germany and russia

Question 15

entry of USA in war

Answer 15

in 1915, german U-Boats sunk british ship Lusitania
128 american passengers were killed
on 6 april, 1917, USA declared war on germany

Question 16

end of the war

Answer 16

1. britain, france, USA launched a military offensive in July 1918 and germany and her allies began to collapse
2. bulgaria withdrew from war
3. turkey surrendered
4. emperor of austria-hungary surrendered on 3rd november
5. germany became a republic
6. german emperor Kaiser William II fled to Holland
7. new government signed an armstice on November 11, 1918

Question 17

results of the war

Answer 17

1. treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919)
2. territorial rearrangements
3. formation of the league of nations

Question 18

treaty of versailles

Answer 18

1. june 28, 1919
2. allies met in conference first in Versailles, a suburb in paris, then later in paris between january and june 1919
3. russia was excluded
4. treaty was designed to prevent germany from going into war again

Question 19

people involved in treaty of versailles

Answer 19

1. president of USA- Woodrow Wilson
2. PM of Britain- Lloyd George
3. PM of france- George Clemenceau

Question 20

terms of treaty of versailles

Answer 20

1. declared germany guilty of aggression
2. germany was required to pay for the loss and damages suffered by allies during the war (33 billion dollars)
3. area of Rhine valley was demilitarised and the german territory west of Rhine was to be occupied by allied troops for 15 yrs
4. the coal mines in german area (Saar) were ceded to france for 15 years and the area was to be governed by the League of Nations
5. the german army was restricted to 1,00,000 soldiers, navy limited to 15000 men and 24 ships
6. air force and submarines were banned
7. complete independence of Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia

Question 21

germany lost what regions

Answer 21

1. Alsace Lorraine to France
2. Eupen-et-Malmedy to Belgium
3. Schleswig to Denmark
4. Danzig became free port in Polish territory

Question 22

territorial rearrangements after the war

Answer 22

1. beginning of he end of european supremacy
2. USA surpassed europe to emerge as world power
3. Romanov in Russia, Hohenzollern in Germany, and Hapsburg in Austria-Hungary were destroyed
4. austria and hungary became separate states
5. Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia became independent states
6. independent states like finland, estonia, latvia, lithuania emerged

Question 23

formation of league of nations after war

Answer 23

1. horrors of the war convinced the leaders of the world that there must be a mechanism to prevent war and promote international cooperation
2. created on Jan 20, 1920

Question 24

aims and objectives of league of nations

Answer 24

1. all states were prohibited from entering into any secret treaties and alliances
2. member states were not supposed to maintain huge armies, warships and destructive armaments
3. all states were to respect each other’s independence
4. all states were to refer their mutual disputes to the LON for peaceful settlement
5. member states were to take necessary action as directed by the league against any state which tried to disturb peace and order

Question 25

reasons for failure of league of nations

Answer 25

1. germany and soviet union were not allowed to become members for many years, while india which was not a member, became a member
2. USA which set up the league did not join it
3. rise of dictatorship in italy and germany
4. league ended when Hitler committed aggression on Poland