History Time Line 1: Origins of War

Question 1

When was the Ottoman Empire first weakened in Europe? How? What further weakened the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 1

1876. The Congress of Berlin altered Balkan borders, weakening the Ottoman Empire. The Balkan wars of 1912-13 further weakened the Ottoman Empire.

Question 2

Which Alliance was formed first? Who were its members?

Answer 2

Triple Alliance in 1882, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

Question 3

What were the origins of the Triple Entente?

Answer 3

1892-4: France and Russia conclude military convention and treaty of Alliance; 1904-5: Entente Cordiale links France and Britain; 1907 Anglo-Russian Entente completes the Triple Entente.

Question 4

When did the USA emerge as an imperial power?

Answer 4

1898, with its victory in the Spanish-American war.

Question 5

When does Germany begin its naval race with Britain? How does Britain respond?

Answer 5

1898: Tirpitz Plan for naval expansion; HMS Dreadnought commissioned in 1906.

Question 6

When is the pro-Russian Karađorđević (or Karageorgevitch or Karadjordjevic) dynasty installed in Serbia? How?

Answer 6

1903. Via a coup. Note that Wikipedia makes it a little more ambiguous: “Following the assassination of the Obrenović King Alexander I of Serbia in 1903, the Serbian Parliament chose Karađorđe’s grandson, Peter I Karađorđević, then living in exile, to occupy the throne of the Kingdom of Serbia.”

Question 7

When did Austria-Hungary occupy Bosnia? When did they formally annex Bosnia?

Answer 7

1878 and 1908.

Question 8

When was trench warfare foreshadowed?

Answer 8

In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5.