Unit 7: Topic 2 - WW I: Causes Flashcards
Central Powers
Alliance that was first known as the Triple Alliance originally between German, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Italy, however, became neutral after the outbreak of WWI and joined the Central Powers’ rivaling alliance, the Allies in 1915. When WWI started, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined, and the alliance became known as the Central Powers.
Triple Entente
Alliance originally between Britain, France, and Russia. These countries all perceived German as an enemy country: France because German took the Alsace-Lorraine, a major industrial region, and Britain because it competed with German for African colonies. The Triple Entente became known as the Allies when Italy, China, Japan, the United States, and other countries joined. The Allies’ rivaling alliance is the Central Powers.
Militarism
The belief that a country should practice aggressive military preparedness in order to advance or defend national interests. The Industrial Revolution made it possible to mass-produce military weapons and supplies for European powers, such as Britain and German, that were already competing amongst each other in various aspects. These European powers fought for dominance in their investments in the military and celebrated their armed forces, encouraging their citizens to perceive war as a simple competition instead of a tragedy.
Nationalism
Pride in a national identity. Nationalist movements, such as the Serbs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Arabs in the Ottoman Empire, arose, desiring self-determination. Nationalism was prevalent in the early 20th century, seen in the European powers and the assassination of the archduke in June 1914.
Black Hand
Nationalist group dedicated to ending the Austro-Hungarian presence in the Balkans. Gavrilo Princip, assassinator of the Austro-Hungarian archduke, was a part of this organization.
June 28, 1914
The date of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, and his wife Sophie while they were visiting Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was the immediate cause of WWI.
Gavrilo Princip
The person who assassinated Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Gavrilo Princip was a member of the Black Hand, a nationalist group against the Austro-Hungarian government.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to the Austria-Hungary empire. The archduke was assassinated with his wife on June 28, 1914, becoming the immediate cause of World War I.
July Crisis
A month-long chain reaction of events that followed the assassination of Austrian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914 and began with an Austrian ultimatum to Serbia and ended with declarations of war by the Great Powers of Europe starting World War I.
Schlieffen Plan
Battle plan proposed in 1905 that was designed to allow Germany to wage a successful two-front war in World War I. The plan, which was designed by Alfred, Graf von Schlieffen, chief of the German general staff, was heavily modified by his successor prior to its implementation and has been blamed for Germany’s failure to win a quick victory as the main change was to drastically reduce the size of Germany’s attacking army.
Self-Determination
The belief that people of the same ethnicity, culture, language, and political beliefs deserve to have the right to be united and to be able to establish an independent nation-state. Groups such as the Serbs and the Arabs wanted self-determination.
Kaiser Wilhelm II
German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 to the end of World War I in 1918, Williams II’s erratic foreign policy and antagonizing public statements towards the international community are considered, by many, to be one of the underlying causes of World War I.
Tsar Nicholas II
The last Russian emperor, ruling from 1894 until his abdication in 1917, ending the Romanov dynasty’s 304-year rule of Russia. Nicholas, along with his wife and children were assassinated by the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution.
Secret Alliances
Groups with secret member countries agreeing to help one another when attacked. When one member country was attacked, the other countries in the secret alliance would have to help the attacked country. An example would be Russia and Germany’s agreement to join the Serbia and Austria-Hungary conflict. The forming of alliances was a factor in the outbreak of WWI.
Triple Alliance
Alliance created before outbreak of WWI with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Italy became neutral after WWI started and later joined the Triple Alliance’s rival alliance, the Allies that included countries like Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, and the United States.
