Long Term Causes of WW1, Spark, Schlieffen Plan

Question 1

Explain militarism

Answer 1

• Belief that having a military is good
• Building up armed forces/weaponry aka ‘ARMS RACE’
  Ex. Britain had largest navy with Dreadnaughts, Germnay was jealous and so built those ships too. Reduced wealth/increased chance of war

Question 1

Explain alliances

Answer 1

Agreements made between two or more countries to help each other in time of need.

Ex. Triple Entente (“The Allies”): Britain, France, Russia (TE:BFR)
Triple Alliance (“Central Powers”): Gemrany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (TA:GAI)

Question 2

Explain imperialism

Answer 2

Country taking over new lands/country to make them subject to their rule. For resources.

Ex. Britain had a lot of colonies, which made other European countries jealous

Question 3

Explain nationalism

Answer 3

Love/pride for one’s own country. Belief that their country is greatest.

Citizens believed their government was right, everyone else was inferior, increased chances of war as countries believed that winning the war was easy

Question 4

Explain the Spark.

Answer 4

Gavrilo Princip (member of Serbian nationalist terrorist group ‘Black Hand’) assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary gave ultimatum to Serbia (to let AH officials kill BH members), but Serbia declines leading Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia.

Timeline to War:

1. (The Trigger) The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
2. Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia
3. Serbian Rejection and Russian Guarantee of Support
4. Austria-Hungary invades Serbia
5. Russia mobilizes to threaten Austria-Hungary
6. Germany mobilizes to threaten Russia
7. Germany declares war on Russia but…
8. Germany declares war on France and invades using the Schlieffen Plan
9. Great Britan declares war on Germany.

Question 5

Schlieffen plan

Answer 5

• Created by German general Schlieffen in 1904, attempted in August 1914.
• 6 week right wing flank (go around and hit them from behind), going through Belgium and Holland to win against French forces

Failed because:
- Went through Belgium only (bottleneck for 1 month/resistance)
- Russians moved faster than expected
- Britain and France mobilized their forces