Unit 3: The Pursuit of National Intrest

Question 1

What is national interest?

Answer 1

What is best for your nation/nation-state

Question 2

What were the factors in 1914 that lead to WW1?

Answer 2

Major empires crumbling
Arms race between Britian and Germany
Alliances - Tripple alliance and Triple Entente

Question 2

Who comprised the Triple Alliance?

Answer 2

Germany, Austria-hungry, Italy

Question 3

Who composed the Tripple Entente?

Answer 3

France, Britian, Russia

Question 4

How did ideas of national soverignty contribute to WWI?

Answer 4

Naitons within the empire want independence
- Austria-hungry has many different ethnicities = difficult to control
- Wanting to expand territory = annex of bosnia
- Serbia (allied with Russia) wants to expand control over the Balkan Peninsula

Question 5

What was the spark of WWI?

Answer 5

The Austro-Hungarian archduke (like a prince) Ferdinand comes to Bosnia to assert their power over the region (warned not to)
Serbian terrorist groups (tolerated by the government) - kill Ferdinand

Question 6

What were the resulting ‘dominoes’ after the intial ‘spark’ of WW1?

Answer 6

Austria-Hungary demands to come in to run the investigation
Serbia refuses
Austria-Hungary gives an ultimatum which is ignored and so declares war (but then doesn’t do anything)
Russia mobilizes their troops to defend Serbia
Germany declares war on Russia to support their alliance with Austria-Hungary
France declares war on Germany to support their alliance with Russia, and get revenge for Franco-Prussian War

Question 7

What was the schlieffen plan?

Answer 7

To prevent a two front war, go after France quickly (surprise them by going through Belgium) and then you can turn around and hit the slow moving Russians

Question 8

What was the problem with the Schlieffen Plan?

Answer 8

Britain has an alliance with France and Russia, AND has an old treaty with Belgium to protect them

Question 9

Why is WWI, a world war?

Answer 9

While the fighting all occurred in Europe, those European countries had colonies who also came and got involved in the fight

Question 10

Why was Canada pulled into WWI?

Answer 10

1867 BNA Act gave us sovereignty over domestic affairs, but not foreign = we have no choice but to participate
We celebrated (“It’ll be over by Christmas)

Question 12

Why was the reason for blame on Germany?

Answer 12

Annexed Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, had aggressive foreign policy of expansion and military build up, competed in naval race with Britain, encouraged Austria’s conflict with Serbia
HOPE: Supremacy of Germany

Question 13

What was the reason for blame on Austria-Hungrey?

Answer 13

employed aggressive foreign policy in Balkans, used pretext of assassination to attack and attempt to annex Serbia
HOPE: destroy Serbia and strengthen Empire

Question 14

Why was some of the blame on Serbia?

Answer 14

Encouraged resistance to Austro-Hungarian Empire, served as a base for terrorist organizations
HOPE: Bring together the central Slavic people

Question 15

Why was some of the blame on Russia?

Answer 15

Encouraged Serb goal of acquiring Bosnia-Herzegovina, aggressively supported Serbia in Balkan Wars, creating tensions between Triple Alliance/Entente, mobilized troops
HOPE: Being the champion of Pan-Slavism (Father figure)

Question 16

Why was some of the blame on Britian?

Answer 16

Competed in arms race with Germany, kept treaty with Belgium a secret from Germany
HOPE: British supremacy (nationalism)

Question 17

Why was some of the blame on France?

Answer 17

sought war of revenge against Germany (Franco-Prussian War) , clashed with Germany and Italy in foreign policy, encouraged Russian mobilization
HOPE: Return losses of Franco-Prussian War (esp. Alscace-Lorraine)

Question 18

What role did nationalism play in the causes of World War I?

Answer 18

Nationalism led to militarism in countries like Germany and competition for land through imperialism, causing conflicts among nation-states.

Question 19

How did Serbia’s national interest conflict with Austria-Hungary?

Answer 19

Serbia wanted to control neighboring Slavic states, conflicting with Austria-Hungary’s goal to expand its empire.

Question 20

Why was the Balkan Peninsula called the “powder keg of Europe”?

Answer 20

It had many different nations with clashing national interests, which contributed to the tension and eventual outbreak of World War I.

Question 21

What was the immediate cause of Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia?

Answer 21

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian terrorist led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia.

Question 22

Why did Britain join World War I?

Answer 22

Germany violated Belgium’s neutrality, leading Britain to enforce a treaty from 1839 and declare war on Germany.

Question 23

What demand did Austria-Hungary make to Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

Answer 23

Austria-Hungary demanded that Serbia allow them to investigate the terrorist group responsible for the assassination.

Question 24

What was Serbia’s response to Austria-Hungary’s demands?

Answer 24

Serbia refused Austria-Hungary’s demand to allow them to investigate, leading to heightened tensions.

Question 25

When did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?

Answer 25

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.

Question 26

How did Russia respond to Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia?

Answer 26

Russia mobilized its troops to support Serbia, which alarmed Germany.

Question 27

What action did Germany take after Russia mobilized its troops?

Answer 27

Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914, due to its alliance with Austria-Hungary.

Question 28

What was the next step Germany took after declaring war on Russia?

Answer 28

Germany declared war on France on August 3, 1914, as France was allied with Russia.

Question 29

How did Germany plan to attack France at the start of World War I?

Answer 29

Germany implemented the Schlieffen Plan, which involved invading France through Belgium to avoid a direct confrontation along the France-Germany border.

Question 30

Why did Britain declare war on Germany?

Answer 30

Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, after Germany violated Belgium’s neutrality, which Britain had vowed to protect under the 1839 treaty.

Question 31

What was the role of colonies in the escalation of World War I into a global conflict?

Answer 31

European countries enlisted their colonies to fight, turning the European conflict into a global war, including countries like Canada which joined due to Britain’s involvement.

Question 32

What role did alliances play in the rapid escalation of World War I?

Answer 32

The network of alliances caused multiple countries to declare war on each other in a short period, turning a regional conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia into a global war.