WW1- background Flashcards
1
Q
Why was there increasing tension between Germany and Britain in the 1890s?
A
- Germany wanted to become a greater country, Britain didn’t want change
- Germany wanted to take over countries, Britain thought everyone had enough power as it was
- Germany were trying to increase size of their navy, but Britain’s “Double Power Standard” meant that Germany couldn’t get a larger navy than them
- Britain were building better, bigger weapons
- Britain didn’t want to lose trade links which Germany threatened
2
Q
why was Kaiser Wilhelm dangerous?
A
- Supreme commander of a new German army
- could ignore decisions made by the Reichstag and could make his own decisions
- made decisions affecting army, navy and foreign countries
- wanted Germany to be a global power
- wanted a large navy with powerful battleships
- wanted German navy to rival British navy
3
Q
What were German politics like by 1900?
A
- “Junkers” French cartoon shows Junkers eating people. Kaiser and other high powers had these views
- By the 1890s, 1 in 3 Germans supported Lascelles’ German socialist party. Junkers and Kaiser were threatened
4
Q
What were German economics like by 1900?
A
- 1880- Britain had much larger percentage of World Trade but by 1913, Germany had overtaken them
- German businesses dominated chemicals and electrical industries across Europe
5
Q
What was German society like by 1900?
A
- More factories meant more jobs so most had comfortable housing and healthy diet
- relatively unstable society due to divisions such as powerful Junkers vs powerless socialists
- German workers were well educated as Germany had best school system in Europe
6
Q
when did France and Russia sign their alliance?
A
1892
6
Q
T/F? the alliance of France and Russia meant that Germany was strengthened
A
false- they were threatened on both the east and the west (encirclement)
