History Y9 Flashcards
Reasons for WWI
Beliefs - Religion, politics Fear Militarisation Alliance System Imperial and Economic Rivalry Nationalism
Militarisation
The main countries in the war were making more and more weapons to use if war did break out. This got other countries scared
Alliance System
As the countries were making alliances, other countries got scared again because there were strong countries coming together. This meant that people thought that they should make themselves look better by throwing the first punch.
Imperial and Economic Rivalry
Imperialism - where countries that have empires exploit countries in their empire other countries want an empire so this annoys them.
Economic - along with space from an empire empires make the economic value of your country go up and the higher your economic value the stronger your country is.
Beliefs
2 kinds
Religious
Political
What are the beliefs about
As the first world war was at a time where empires were everything, that is mainly what the beliefs are about. People thinking that the empire is good, therefore wanting to either expand or get one. Or people thinking that empires are bad and wanting to get rid of them.
Fear
This ties into everything. Countries are growing in power and other countries are scared of this. Therefore they are going to try to land the first punch.
Nationalism
Where people are extremely proud of their countries. This could be big countries or minorities.
Alliances
Two
Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
Triple Alliance
Germany
Italy
Austria Hungary
Triple Entente
Britain
France
Russia
Schlieffen Plan
4 things
Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilize
France would take 6 weeks to defeat
Belgium and Britain would stay neutral
Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilize
Schlieffen make the assumption that Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilize their army as their army was so big. IT ONLY TOOK 17 DAYS. Ten days after the plan was started and 7 before the plan had begun
France would take 6 weeks to defeat
The whole idea of the Schlieffen plan was that France would help Russia if they went to war with Germany. So for Germany not to be fighting a war on two fronts it would take out France in the time that it was taking Russia to mobilise, therefore it would be an easier war to win.
Belgium and Britain would stay neutral
Germany assumed that Britain and Belgium would stay neutral. They were right until Germany walked straight through Belgium to get to France. The Belgians started fighting back and then the Brits got involved as they had promised the Belgians neutrality.
What fully started the war
The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Ferdinand
He was the heir to the Austro - Hungarian throne.
Archduke Ferdinand
Assassinated when he was doing a military inspection in Serbia by terrorist organisation ‘The Black Hand’
Why the Schlieffen plan failed
Russians were mobilised quicker than originally though
Britain joined the war
France wasn’t defeated in 6 weeks
Why the Schlieffen plan failed
MAIN REASON
Russia mobilised in 17 days - 10 days after the Schlieffen plan was activated
Life in the trenches
Hell Nothing To do Very dangerous Dirty Unhygienic Rat infested
Life in the trenches
You would never really spend more than 3 days in the front line of the trench, and never more than a week in the trench itself.
Daytime in the Trenches
Nothing to do
Get some sleep
Do personal things, make sure feet are dry (to stop trench foot), check uniform etc.
Nighttime in the trenches
More active
Go on patrols
Put more wire outside your trench
Go to the German trenches and try and cut the wire there
Chronology of the July crisis
When28 th July 1914 - 4th August 1914
28th July Key date
Assassination day! - Austria Hungary very upset about this
5th July
Austria - Hungary writes to Germany for support in war against Serbia in war
23rd July
Ultimatum (from Austria - Hungary) to Serbia
25th July
Serbia rejects ultimatum
28th July
Austria - Hungary shells Belgrade
30th July
Russian’s begin to mobilise - they are allies with Serbia
31st July
Germany issue Ultimatum to Russia - to stop them mobilising
1st August
Russia still mobilising after ultimatum
1st August
Germany declares war on Russia as they haven’t stopped mobilising
2nd August
Germany has no choice so the Schlieffen plan is activated
