Impact of World War 1 in Europe

Question 1

Causes of World War 1

Answer 1

1) Political Causes

2) Economic Causes

Question 2

What are the Political Causes?

Answer 2

1) Nationalism
2) Militarism
3) System of alliances
4) Colonial rivalry

Question 3

How did Nationalism contributed to the Political Causes of WW1?

Answer 3

1) Many nations that were colonies of larger empires wanted independence
2) There were rivalries over colonies due to the need to take land from other countries to strengthen one’s empire

Question 4

How did Militarism contributed to the Political Causes of WW1?

Answer 4

1) There was a need to be better armed to fight against enemies
2) When force is used between countries, the weaker country often loses
3) Countries therefore built up their armies in the event of war
4) An arm race among the countries in Europe began as factories tried to build bigger and better weapons
5) Germany and Britain competed to build bigger navy
6) Britain launched the Dreadnought which was better armed, faster and had a strong hull

Question 5

How did System of Alliances contributed to the Political Causes of WW1?

Answer 5

1) Some alliances were made in secret which aroused the suspicion of the other countries
2) Countries then started competing for trade and more land as they felt the need to be stronger to prepare for possible disputes
3) The main alliances were the Triple Entente, consisting of Britain, France and Russia, and the Triple Alliance, consisting of Germany, Austria and Italy
4) Countries in the same alliance promised not to fight with one another
5) A country helped those that were in the same alliance that it was in.
6) A dispute between a country in each alliance could lead to a war involving all countries

Question 6

How did Colonial Rivalry contributed to the Political Causes of WW1?

Answer 6

1) Countries competed to acquire colonies
2) Relations between the European countries became strained when countries fought with one another to gain control of places like Tunis and Morocco
3) This led to a strengthening of alliances. Alliances were formed more for the purpose of aggression than for defense
4) The arms race intensified as the powers rushed to build up their weapons and armies so that they could protect their colonies
5) There was greater hostility among the powers as they fought over colonies

Question 7

What are the Economic Causes?

Answer 7

1) Economic conflict occurred between the European countries due to rapid industrialization and the search for potential markets for the sale of manufactured goods
2) Germany was experiencing rapid industrialization and its products were competing with British products in the markets
3) There were also struggles over the struggles over the control of natural resources such as coal

Question 8

What are the factors for the Impacts of World War 1?

Answer 8

1) Political impact
2) Economic Impact
3) Social Impact

Question 9

What are the sub-factors for the Political Impacts of World War 1?

Answer 9

1)Smaller nation states
2)Nationalism
3)Policy of isolationism
(Can you elaborate these sub-factors?)

Question 10

What are the sub-factors for the Economic Impacts of World War 1?

Answer 10

1)Countries were in debt
2)Inflation
3)High unemployment
4)Food shortages
5)Homelessness
6)Low levels of international trade
7)Factories were not back to producing non-war goods
(Can you elaborate these sub-factors?)

Question 11

What are the sub-factors for the Social Impacts of World War 1?

Answer 11

1)Death of large numbers of males
2)There was less emphasis on class differences
3)There was greater equality of the sexes
4)Workers wanted better working conditions
(Can you elaborate these sub-factors?)

Question 12

Reasons for the outbreak of WW1 in 1918?

Answer 12

1) Competition for colonies
2) Arms and naval race
3) Alliances
4) Nationalism
5) Assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary

Question 13

How do you explain Competition for colonies?

Answer 13

1) Britain and France: built up empires by competing for colonies, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa.
2) A large empire would enhance their countries’ prestige, as well as provide access to raw materials and resources which were important for industrialization.
3) Germany and Japan later also joined in the competition for colonies to build their own empires.

Question 14

How do you explain Arms and naval race?

Answer 14

1) The great powers also sought to protect their empires from one another.
2) Leading powers such as Britain believed that it had to maintain military and naval superiority in order to remain as great power.
3) France and Russia also expanded their militaries and navies to ensure they did not lag behind others
4) This resulted in an arms and naval race as each country sought to build up its capabilities through increased production of weaponry and ships.

Question 15

How do you explain Nationalism?

Answer 15

1) The powers also made alliances with each other so that they would have assistance in the event of war.
2) The main alliances in 1914 were: Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) and Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
3) As more countries joined, they became known as the Allies and Central Powers respectively.

Question 16

How do you explain Assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary?

Answer 16

1) The Balkans: Serbia, Bosnia and Greece had been part of the Ottoman (Turkish) empire.
2) As the Ottoman empire declined, parts of its empire broke away.
3) Austria-Hungary and Russia were keen to control the Balkan states.
4) However, the Balkan states wanted independence which is known as the Balkan nationalism.
5) 1908: Bosnia came under the Austria-Hungary empire.
6) Serbia gained independence and wanted Bosnia to be part of a larger Serbian state and thus attempted to push Austria-Hungary out of Bosnia.
7) However, the Russians, who were also part of the Slavic race, protected the Slavs from Austria-Hungary which escalated the tensions over the control of Balkan states, which resisted to be ruled by a foreign power.

Question 17

How do you explain Alliances?

Answer 17

1) 28 June 1914: Archduke of Austria-Hungary murdered in Bosnia.
2) Assassin was from a Serbian nationalist group
3) War between Serbia and Austria meant a war between Austria and Russia, Serbia’s traditional ally.
4) Germany and Austria-Hungary formed Central Powers. Later joined by Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
5) Britain, France and Russia formed the Allies. Italy switched sides and joined the Allies. USA and Japan also joined the Allies later on.

Question 18

What are the Impacts of World War 1?

Answer 18

1) Heavy causalities
2) Political impact
3) Economic impact
4) Social impact

Question 19

How do you explain Heavy causalities?

Answer 19

1) Over 9 million soldiers and 6 million civilians .

2) Suffered poor living conditions and left homeless. Factories and farmland s were also devastated.

Question 20

How do you explain Political impact?

Answer 20

1) End of once powerful empires such as Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire.
2) Led to the formation of new nation states under the principle of self-determination.
3) New nation states and boundaries such as Hungary and Czechoslovakia were created from the former Austria-Hungary Empire.

Question 21

How do you explain Economic impact?

Answer 21

1) Trade was disrupted and drained valuable resources of the major powers resulted in post-war economic hardship especially in many European countries.
2) One expectation is the USA who joined the Allies only in 1917.
3) Who is geographically removed from the main fighting in Europe emerged with a stronger economy.

Question 22

How do you explain Social impact?

Answer 22

1) Many women played an active role in the society by working in the factories.
2) Expectations of women’s role changed which includes the right to vote.
3) Greater calls for racial and class equality with the working class demanding for equal rights with the political elite.

Question 23

What are the aims of Victorious Powers at the Paris Peace Conference (1919)?

Answer 23

1) The representative at the conference had different motivations and aims
2) Japan and Italy mainly concerned with territorial gains,
3) While public opinion in Britain and France reflected a desire to keep Germany weak.
4) USA more interested in establishing a lasting peace than the treatment of Germany.

Question 24

What They Want and Why? USA

Answer 24

1) Wanted a ‘fair and lasting peace’ for the world in general based on President Wilson’s Fourteen Points.
2) To establish world peace through the Fourteen Points which include, Self determination, Disarmament and Establishing the League of Nations (LON)
3) Not keen to be entangled in European affairs and was more concerned about making the world a safer place.

Why?

1) USA war’s experience is different from France who has been invaded by Germany and Britain.
2) Also USA has entered the war late and suffered very little and was not compelled to seek harsh reparations.

Question 25

What They Want and Why? France

Answer 25

1) Wanted revenge on Germany and compensations for its war damage.
2) Wanted Germany’s reparations to be as huge as possible.
3) Wanted Germany to accept total blame and to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine, which was lost to Germany in 1871.

Why?

1) Germany attacked France twice in 1870 and 1914 and lost valuable land like Alsace-Lorraine.
2) Determine to weaken Germany’s military so France will not be in danger again.
3) Punish Germany for the death and destruction caused in the invasion which suffered much causalities and shattered its economy by paying reparations for the damage they have done.

Question 26

What They Want and Why? Britain

Answer 26

1) Wanted ‘justice’ but not revenge.
2) Punish Germany but still needed Germany for its own political reasons.
3) However, Prime Minster Lloyd George was under pressure to make Germany pay a high price.

Why?

1) Concern with the threat of communism and a strong Germany can stop this threat.
2) Prime Minster won the election promising to ‘make Germany pay’

Question 27

What They Want and Why? Italy

Answer 27

1) Wanted as much territories as she could including those promised earlier in the London Pact.
2) Promised the control of Dalmatia, part of Germany’s colonies in Asia and Africa and protectorate over Albania.

Why?

1) Joined the Allies because she was promised territorial gains.
2) Suffered heavy casualties and expected its sacrifices to be rewarded as promised.

Question 28

What They Want and Why? Japan

Answer 28

1) Wanted control over German possessions in Asia and the Pacific.
2) Hoped to seen as the equal of European powers.

Why?

1) Beginning of 20th century, Japan had begun to modernize and strengthen its militarily.
2) Through the Peace Conference, she hoped to be treated as an equal to the European powers.
3) Entered the war based on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance

Question 29

What are the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 29

1) Guilt Clause
2) Armed forces and naval restrictions
3) Reparations
4) German territorial losses
5) League of Nations
6) Self determination

Question 30

War Guilt Clause?

Answer 30

1) Article 231: Germany had to accept full responsibility for causing World War I.
2) Once Germany admitted its guilt, the Allies could ask for reparations.

Question 31

How do you explain Territorial reductions?

Answer 31

1) Territories that belonged to Germany and Austria-Hungary were redistributed to the Allies
2) Rhineland became a demilitarized zone – no troops there.
3) Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
4) Saar run by the LON until 1934 and profits from industries to be given to France.
5) Austria and Germany forbidden to unite again.
6) East Prussia divided from Germany by a ‘Polish Corridor’ giving Poland access to sea.
7) Lost all overseas territories, Africa divided between Britain and France, Japan took most of her colonies in Asia Pacific.

Question 32

How do you explain German territorial losses?

Answer 32

1) Rhineland demilitarized –Germany unable to defend its borders with France.
2) Size of German army limited to 100,000 men. Not allowed to have an air force, armored vehicles, submarines or tanks.
3) Limited to 6 battleships and cruisers and 12 destroyers.

Question 33

How do you explain League of Nations?

Answer 33

An international body known as the League of Nations was to be set up to maintain world peace.

Question 34

How do you explain Self determination ?

Answer 34

An international body known as the League of Nations was to be set up to maintain world peace.

Question 35

How do you explain Reparations?

Answer 35

1) Called for the creation of independent nation states for the various ethnic groups within Central Europe.
2) Nine new states – Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
3) This idea was difficult to put in place as the different ethnic groups were so intermingled that it was impossible to create states in which just one ethnic group.

Question 36

How did the Germans reacted to the TOV and were their reactions justified?

Answer 36

1) ‘Diktat’ – dictated peace
2) Loss of Territories
3) Disarmament
4) Reparations

Question 37

How do you explain ‘Diktat’?

Answer 37

Terms of the Treaty

1) Germany was not allowed to negotiate the treaty
2) Not allowed any representatives during the negotiations.
3) All German criticisms are ignored.
4) They were forced to sign the treaty or risked invasion.

German reaction

1) Resented the treaty being forced on them
2) Called the treaty ‘diktat’ which is something they could not change but had to accept.

Was German reaction justified?
No. Germany had also imposed a harsh ‘diktat’ on Russia when she withdrew from World War 1.

Question 38

How do you explain Loss of Territories?

Answer 38

Terms of the Treaty

1) Loss of German territories like Saar, Alsace-Lorraine and division of Germany into two parts due to the “Polish Corridor.’
2) Loss of German colonies

German reaction

1) Disliked the land losses which represented about 13% of Germany’s total land area
2) By claiming these valuable land, it is particularly impossible for her to pay the reparations.
3) Felted unfair because the allies took over for themselves.
4) Interest of the people were ignored in stark contrast to the Fourteen Points.
5) Singled out to be punished.

Was German reaction justified?
No. Also forced Russia to hand over some of their best industrial land when Russia withdrew from WW1. Some of the lands German lost were non-German anyway like Alsace-Lorraine belonged to the France and was seized by Germany in 1870.

Question 39

How do you explain Disarmament?

Answer 39

Terms of the Treaty
1)Significant reduction in German army and navy.

German reaction

1) Humiliated by disarmament.
2) Argued that 100,000 troops were not enough to keep law and order at a time of unrest.

Was German reaction justified?
Yes. Impossible for Germany to maintain law and order in time of political instability. Vulnerable to attacks by other countries. In addition, no other country was forced to reduce its military strength.

Question 40

How do you explain Reparations?

Answer 40

Terms of the Treaty
1)To pay 269 billion gold Reichmarks through ongoing payment to the Allies and through surrender of coal and other resources.

German reaction
1)Objected to heavy reparations, claiming they were impossible to repay.

Was German reaction justified?
Yes. Even British advisors at the conference thought that 2,000 million pounds would have been fairer.

Question 41

What was the main reason for the weakness of the League of Nations?

Answer 41

1)Structural weaknesses
2)Lack of Authority
3)Membership Issue
4)Post-war attitudes of major powers
5)Appeasement and disarmament
(Make sure you know how to explain these factors)

Question 42

What the reasons for establishing the League of Nations?

Answer 42

1)Collective security
2)Disarmament
(Make sure you know how to explain these factors)

Question 43

How do you explain Structural weaknesses?

Answer 43

1) The Secretariat was understaffed and disorganized.
2) Roles of the Assembly and the Council were not clearly defined.
3) Issue of Unanimity: Any action required unanimous vote by the Council and majority votes in the Assembly which presented two major problems. The need for unanimous decision meant members of the council had veto powers. This meant once a power vetoed a decision, the action could not be carried out. This make decision making difficult especially when it involved a dispute which involved one permanent member. Some decisions required the consent of the entire Assembly. With so many nations, it is virtually impossible to come to a unanimous decision.

Question 44

How do you explain Lack of Authority?

Answer 44

1) No military power to coerce aggressor nations as the League did not have their own army to enforce military sanctions.
2)No economic power to enforce economic sanctions effectively. Trade sanctions did not work as they were not binding on the League’s members. The aggressor could choose to trade with other nations outside the League. Member nations were more concern with solving their own economic problem rather than resolving peace.
Legacy of TOV.
3)Too closely linked with TOV. Singing the TOV at the end of the war meant accepting the League. As the TOV was unpopular, the League was inadvertently affected by this unpopularity. Thus, they lost credibility when it proved ineffective in stopping nations like Germany, Japan and Italy from their expansionist goals.

Question 45

How do you explain Membership Issue?

Answer 45

1) Not as strong as it initially seemed.
2) Britain and France had been devastated by the war and were unwilling to be involved in disputes that did not involve them.
3) Serious blow to the League when the USA did not join the League, as it followed the policy of isolationism.
4) This would mean that the League will be deprived of a powerful member whose presence would have been of great psychological and financial benefit.
5) Many nations felt that USA did not take the League seriously so they too find it no point that they should.
6) Seen as an organization for the benefit of the victorious powers. Did not allow communist Russia to join and Germany only allowed to join in 1926.
7) Lost whatever power when other powerful nations such as Japan and Germany withdrew in 1933 and 1937, respectively.

Question 46

How do you explain Post-war attitudes of major powers?

Answer 46

1) Britain and France were war-weary and adopted a pacifist policy.
2) France continued to view Germany as a threat and was determined to keep her weak,
3) Italy was dissatisfied with its share of the spoils after WW1.
4) USA adopted the isolationist policy, distancing herself from issues outside America.
5) Hence the major power during the 1920s and early 1930s were more interested in their own national interests than to cooperate to achieve stability and long-term peace in Europe though the League.

Question 47

How do you explain Appeasement and disarmament?

Answer 47

1)Britain and France were the only powers who were strong enough to deal with a military threat.
2)However, they were unwillingly to impose economic or military sanctions,
3)Instead, adopted a policy of appeasement.
4)Hence, none of the major powers were willing to ensure that the League was able to enforce its decisions.
This destroyed the credibility of the League.