part 1 - causes Flashcards
1
Q
What was Britain like before WW1?
A
- The richest country with the largest empire
- Smallest land army of major nations
- Largest navy in the world
- Was being outperformed in industry by Germany and USA
- Large discrepancy between rich and poor
2
Q
What was France like before WW1?
A
- Had lost power since 1800s
- Germany had taken land after the Franco-Prussian war (Alsace and Lorraine)
- Second largest empire
- Second largest professional army
- Outperformed by other nations in many areas
3
Q
What was Russia like before WW1?
A
- Largest country + population
- Large army but not many soldiers were professionally trained
- No overseas territory
- Extreme poverty and harsh working/living conditions
- Strikes and trade unions banned
4
Q
What was Germany like before WW1?
A
- Originally a series of states, but wars were fought and the largest state, Prussia, won, uniting the territories together in 1871
- Largest professional army
- Growing navy
- Determined to gain an empire
- Anger amongst workers; poor conditions meant that revolutionary groups were being formed
5
Q
What was Austria - Hungary like before WW1?
A
- Austria and Hungary united, containing many different ethnic groups, some of which wanting independence
- No overseas colonies
- Regular riots against laws and tension between different ethnic groups
- The country struggled to keep itself together
6
Q
Who was Britain ruled by?
A
King George V, head of the monarchy
Had little political power, parliament made laws and decisions
7
Q
Who was France ruled by?
A
A republic nation ruled by elected president + politicians
8
Q
Who was Russia ruled by?
A
Tsar Nicholas II, an emperor who was “chosen by God”
9
Q
Who was Germany ruled by?
A
Kaiser Wilhelm II, a dictator who rarely listened to the Reichstag
10
Q
How was Austria-Hungary ruled?
A
Ruled over by Franz Josef, old but well-liked, unlike the regional leaders
Separate parliaments for Austria and Hungary, but acted together when dealing with foreign affairs
11
Q
When was the dual alliance formed?
A
1879
12
Q
Who was a part of the dual alliance?
A
Germany and AH
13
Q
When was the triple alliance formed?
A
1882
14
Q
Who was a part of the triple alliance?
A
Germany, AH, Italy
15
Q
Why was the dual alliance formed?
A
Germany and AH were natural allies due to a shared language and culture
16
Q
When was the Franco - Russian alliance formed?
A
1892
17
Q
Why was the Franco - Russian alliance formed?
A
France and Russia developed a close relationship after the Franco - Prussian war
18
Q
When was the entente cordiale formed?
A
1904
19
Q
Why was the entente cordiale formed?
A
A casual agreement between France and Britain that offered Britain an ally in Europe
20
Q
Who was a part of the Entente cordiale?
A
Britain and France
21
Q
When was the Triple Entente signed?
A
1907
22
Q
Who was a part of the Triple Entente?
A
France, Britain and Russia
23
Q
Why was the Triple Entente signed?
A
France was an ally with both Britain and Russia, so this alliance was logical
24
Q
What was significant about the many alliances?
A
The alliance system meant that if any disagreement occurred between nations that were a part of different alliances, all of Europe would be dragged into war.
25
When was the first Moroccan crisis?
1905
26
When was the second Moroccan crisis?
1911
27
What happened during the first Moroccan crisis?
- France wanted Morocco to become a part of its empire
- The Kaiser heard this and visited Tangier to pledge his support for the Sultan of Morocco
- Wilhelm wanted to test how far France were willing to go, to test their alliances, and to show how Germany wanted to become a global power
- The Algeciras conference was held, and France were stopped from colonising Morocco, but were given special rights in the country
28
What were the results of the first Moroccan crisis for Germany?
The country was humiliated, and the strength of the Entente Cordiale was showcased
29
What happened during the second Moroccan crisis?
- A rebellion started in Morocco and France sent 20,000 soldiers to help
- The Kaiser saw this as an act of invasion, and sent a warship to Morocco as a show of strength
- Britain had a naval base in in Gibraltar and were concerned Germany would establish one in Agadir
- The crisis was averted after a series of meetings, which resulted in France taking control of Morocco and Germany receiving land in Africa as compensation
30
What were the results of the second Moroccan crisis?
- Germany once again humiliated
- Britain now saw Germany as a threat
- Britain and France grew closer
- Italy did not support Germany, weakening their alliance
- Germany would now look to AH as their main ally
31
When was the Balkan Crisis?
1908
32
What happened during the Balkan Crisis?
- After a rebellion in Turkey, AH annexed Bosnia and absorbed it into its empire
- Serbia was angered by this and called on Russia, which called for a conference to discuss AH's actions
- Russia backed down from any tensions, as they did not want to risk starting conflict
33
What was the impact of the Balkan Crisis?
Bosnia hated being ruled by AH
Serbian and Bosnian rebel societies were formed
34
What was the result of the Balkan wars on Serbia?
After wars over land between the Balkan nations, Serbia benefitted the most, almost doubling in size
Serbia was now determined to rule all of the Slav nations, including Bosnia, who wanted to join them
AH now saw Serbia as a major threat
Bulgaria wanted revenge on Serbia
35
What was "Splendid Isolation"?
Britain's belief that they did not need any military or economic allies abroad, as their navy and empire were so large that they provided all the protection and resources it needed
36
Why did Britain change its stance on Splendid Isolation?
In the early 1900s, Europe began to split into two armed alliances, and in the face of the German threat, Britain seemed a little toooooo isolated
37
What were the threats against Britain's splendid isolation?
- Tensions with France in Africa nearly caused war in the 1800s, but the countries grew closer after they came to agreement
- From 1898, Germany began to increase the size of its navy, and talk of becoming a global power, threatening Britain
- Germany supported the Boers, who went against British rule, showcasing how they were willing to provoke Britain
- Alliances being formed between France and Russia - along with the Triple Alliance, made Britain seem unsupported and isolated
38
What were the Kaiser's three aims for the future of Germany?
1. Weltpolitik - Germany needed an empire to become a world power, and began to colonise nations in Africa to achieve this
2. Navy - The Kaiser wanted a large navy to take more land and defend Germany's empire. He wanted an army larger than Britain's, sparking an arms race that cost taxpayers large sums of money
3. Empire/Tensions in Europe - Germany's increased military power and desire for global power alarmed many nations. The Kaiser was soon becoming a problem for Europe.
39
What is an arms race?
When countries increase the size of their militaries to be larger and stronger than the others
40
What was the Anglo-German naval race?
In the early 1900s leading up to war, Germany tried to increase its navy to be larger than Britain's, causing both nations to create more and more advanced ships to outcompete each other
41
What is a dreadnought?
A warship immensely better, faster and stronger than any other
42
What is the significance of the phrase 'Funf minuten'?
An insult designed for old German ships - they could be sunk by a dreadnought in 'five minutes'
43
What is a super-dreadnought?
An improved version of the dreadnought created by Britain when Germany made their own
44
When were the Balkan wars?
1912-1913
45
When was Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
28th June 1914
46
Why did the Black Hand decide to kill Franz Ferdinand on that day?
- He was visiting the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo
- Military exercises were being carried out by AH on the Bosnia - Serbia border
- It was also a national day in Serbia
47
Where did the Black Hand originate from?
Serbia, they were a terrorist group determined to drive AH out of the Balkans and unite all the Serbs - including those in Bosnia - into one country
48
Who were the assassins?
7 Bosnian students, lead by Gavrilo Princip, who was dying of tuberculosis and had nothing to lose
49
How did the assassination initially fail?
- Security was weak on the day (only 120 policeman to appear more friendly)
- Assassins waited for the car on route
- First assassin lost his nerve and did nothing
- Second threw a grenade at the car, but Ferdinand deflected it
- Bomb exploded under the car behind, and the assassination attempt appeared to have failed
50
After the initial assassination attempt failed, how was Franz Ferdinand killed?
- Ferdinand cancelled the rest of his visit to Sarajevo and went to check on those who were injured in the attack
- On the way there, Ferdinand's driver takes a wrong turn, and stops to turn around outside Schiller's café
- Gavrilo Princip, who had gone to buy a sandwich after the failed assassination, was now stood face-to-face with his target
- He shot Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, killing them both
51
Who was Franz Ferdinand?
An archduke who was heir to the empire of Austria-Hungary
52
Why was Austria-Hungary angered by the assassination?
- The heir to the empire was murdered
- The act was committed by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian -Serb
53
What did Austria-Hungary send to Serbia after the assassination?
A 10 point ultimatum, with a window of 48 hours to respond
54
Did Serbia agree to the ultimatum?
The King of Serbia accepted all demands except one - allowing AH police into Serbia - as it would have given them a foothold in the country
55
How did AH respond to Serbia's decline of the ultimatum?
AH shut down all communication, and declare war on Serbia
56
When was war first declared?
28th July 1914
57
Who supplied the weapons for the assassination attempt?
The Serbian government, which angered AH even more
58
When did Russia declare war on AH?
29th July 1914
59
Why was Russia first to respond?
They were supporters of Serbia, and mobilised their army to go to Serbia's aid
60
What happened on the 30th July?
Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm sends a message to his cousin, Tsar Nicholas of Russia, asking him to stop mobilising his army. Nothing was agreed.
61
When did Germany declare war on Russia?
1st August
62
Why does France begin to prepare its army on the 1st of August?
It was allied with Russia, who were now at war with Germany
63
What does Germany do to follow the Schlieffen Plan?
Germany asks Belgium for passage to France, but they refuse
64
When did Germany ask Belgium for free passage?
2nd August
65
When did Germany declare war on France and Belgium?
3rd August
66
How does Britain get involved?
- Germany declares war on Belgium on the 3rd of August
- Britain had a long-standing treaty (dating to 1839) with Belgium, and asks Germany to stop
- Germany ignores Britain and continues to invade Belgium
- Britain declares war on Germany
67
When did Britain declare war on Germany?
4th August
68
What happens on the 5th August?
France declares war on Germany?
69
When does AH declare war on Russia?
6th August
