History Term 1 Flashcards
Why did France go to war with Prussia?
Because of the deliberate insulting telegram from Prussia who wished to created a ‘unified Germany’.
What did Prussia’s victory in the Franco-Prussian War led to?
It led to the creation of Germany, which was now considered a new Great Power, upsetting the balance of power previously in Europe.
When was the Franco-Prussian War?
1870-1871
Why was the French’s pride dented?
Because in the proclamation made by Kaiser Wilhelm I at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, fuelling French resentment towards Germany.
What did Germany want to do?
Germany wanted to create an Empire like that of other great European powers (e.g. Britain) and this threated British politicians into believing that Germany wanted to overtake them in naval supremacy.
Why did Britain and Germany embarked upon an arms race?
Britain and Germany embarked upon an arms race in creating the most powerful
navy. The primary weapon of which was called the ‘Dreadnought’. This subsequently
led to better relations between Britain, France and Russia who had also begun to build
up their armed forces.
What are the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance?
Europe was split into two armed defensive alliances by 1907. These were the
Triple Entente, made up of Britain, France and Russia, and the Triple Alliance, made
up of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy.
What did the fall of the Ottoman Empire cause?
The fall of the Ottoman Empire created an unstable situation in the Balkans region
of Europe. This threatened the Austro-Hungarian Empire who faced resistance from
The Black Hand who wished to unify all Serbs under the country of Serbia.
How did WW1 start?
Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, assassinated the Archduke of Austro-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo subsequently triggering the alliance
systems in Europe into an all-out World War.
Why did they they introduce conscription?
The regular British Army was not big enough and so 1.1 million volunteers were recruited following an extensive propaganda campaign by the British government.
What is Conscription and when was it was introduced?
By 1916, conscription was introduced by the British government to make it compulsory for single men between 18 and 41 to join the army.
What are the names of the theatres that the First World War was fought in?
The first World War was fought in several theatres around the world including Western and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
What did the failure of the Schlieffen Plan led to?
The Schlieffen Plan failure led to a stalemate in Europe whereby both sides dug long trenches facing each other. Thousands were killed and wounded taking and re-taking a few kilometres at a time.
What were the conditions in the trenches like?
Conditions in the trench were poor for many soldiers living in dirty, wet trenches surrounded by death, lice and rats.
How many people died on the first day and by November in the Battle of the Somme as well how much laned was gained by November?
The Battle of the Somme was a disaster for the British with 57, 470 dead or wounded on the first day on 1st July 1916. By November, 620, 000 Allied soldiers had been killed or wounded for the gain of 15km of land.
