The Great Powers

Question 1

Militarism

Answer 1

the belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests

Governments were strongly influenced by military leaders, their interests and priorities

De facto → generals and admirals acted as political leaders, influencing domestic policy and demanding increases in defence and arms spending

Created an arms race → lead to new technologies and defence spending

Question 1

Imperialism

Answer 1

a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonisation, use of military force, or other means

Question 2

New Imperialism

Answer 2

late 1800s- early 1900s Western Europe’s new policy of Imperialism - came to be seen as a reflection of national pride

Question 3

Great Britain Imperialism

Answer 3

Worlds largest and most dominant imperial power

occupied 1/4 of the globe

1875 - Britain purchased interest in the Suez Canal & 1882 - british occupatiion of Egypt (richest country in Africa)

Question 4

Berlin conference

Answer 4

1884 - Otto Van Bismark conveyed to establish the principal –> occupation of African territory has to be recognised by other european states and no single power could claim Africa

Question 5

Weltpolitik

Answer 5

1888 - Wilhem II Kaiser of Germany
Realpolitik - Weltpolitik

Aim to transform Germany into a global power through aggressive diplomacy, aquisition of overseas colonies and a large navy

Originated from the Reichstag debate december 8 - 1897

German secretary Bernhard Von Bulow ‘ we demand our own place in the sun’

Germany went to occupy more of Africa in the 1890s which created greater tensions with Britain

Question 6

The arms race

Answer 6

In pursuit of Weltpolitik, German built Naval ships in 1898
Britain responded withe the Naval Defence Act in 1889 → “two power standard” = British navy must maintain number of battleships at least equal to the combined strength of the next two largest navies in the world

1900-1914- Military expenditure sky rocketed → combining six great powers totalled 94 million pounds → 1914, 398 million pounds

Question 7

Dreadnought

Answer 7

1904 - Admiral John Fischer → aim to develop a new class of battleship that surpass size and power then any other battleship → three times as many guns than any other ship

In Britain, the press were calling on the government to commission more dreadnoughts → “we want eight and we won’t wait!”