WWI Flashcards
(144 cards)
Draw and label a map of Europe in 1914 including alliances.
See text
What were the four major factors in causing WWI?
Militarism, alliances, and imperialism, and nationalism.
What is the philosophy behind militarism?
Issues with other countries should be settled by war.
What is an example of militarism in 1870?
Germany unified. France went to war to stop them becoming a country.
What was the arms race?
-Countries expected to go to war at any time
-Getting bigger, better weapons
Military spending increased
How did military spending increase from 1870 to 1900?
1870: $100 million
1900: $250 million
What was the standing army of Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, Germany, and Great Britain in 1914
Austria-Hungary: 3 million France: 3.5 million Russia: 4.4 million Germany: 8.5 million Great Britain: 700 000+320 000 colonists to help them. Massive navy instead of army
Why did Germany have such a big army in 1914?
Germany was surrounded by enemies. They also had a militaristic tradition as a country.
When and what was the naval race?
1900s. Both Britain and Germany started building dreadnaughts. Realizing that the Germans couldn’t beat the ‘Brits at their own game they were like, FINE and started making killer submarines.
What was a dreadnaught?
Dreadnaughts were mega battleships
- take on an entire navy
- steel covered
- instead of shooting only from the sides they had tiered turrets which allowed them to shoot in any position
- steam powered
What was the purpose of alliances?
- pledge to support other countries in times of war
- supposed to be a deterrent from other countries attacking.
What was the relationship between Germany and France?
-traditional enemies
What was Alsace Lorraine?
- Tract of land between France and Germany
- large coal and other reserves
- Germany took from France
- France wanted revenge and the Germans expected it
What does Germany do regarding alliances in 1875?
Chancellor Bismark makes alliances with Russia and Austria-Hungary
Why did Germany start making alliances?
- surrounded by enemies
- expected a war with France, wanted to deter them.
What happens regarding the Triple Alliance in 1882?
- Italy joins alliance
- Kaiser Wilhelm (German) talks bad about Russia. Their relationship downgrades to just a friendship.
What happens to the Triple Alliance in 1890?
Wilhelm continues to undue work done by Bismark. Alliance with Russia gone
What happens to the alliances in 1892?
Russia allies with France
Why is Germany a threat?
They are an economic powerhouse
What happens to the Triple Entente in 1904?
Britain joins with Russia and France (even though Britain and France are traditional enemies
Britain is talking to Italy, who will switch sides once the war begins.
What is the situation in the Balkans in 1914?
- a unique cultural area
- Austria-Hungary is mostly in control
- Serbia wanted freedom.
- Russia is allied with Serbia
What is the trigger event to the war and how does it play out?
- June 28 1914
- Serbians have a terrorist group called the “Black Hand”
- Archduke Ferdinand is to be the next leader of Austria-Hungary
- he comes to Bosnia
- Bosnian serbs of the Black Hand plan to assassinate him
- find his route where he will drive through the town. Low security since he did not want a big military presence
- group of about 14 guys set up along road
- passes first guy, he does nothing
- next day has a bomb, throws it, but forgets delay. Archduke not hurt
- takes poison, which doesn’t work. Tries to drown himself in 4 inches of river
- everyone else in line too shocked to do anything
- regroup at park
- leader goes off to get a sandwich
- Archduke decides to go visit those injured by bomb in hospital
- driver takes wrong turn
- leader happens to be coming out of sandwich shop and shoots him
- Austria-Hungary finds out through interrogation that the assassins were from Serbia
- gives Serbia 24 hour ultimatum, which they partially refuse
- Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia
What is imperialism?
Expanding your country to include colonies in other parts of the world. Resources were often extracted, processed, then sold to the colonies.
What was the colony situation before 1905?
Old countries all had colonies. Germany had none. They only land left was in Africa. Germany manages to take Morocco from France.
Diamonds are found in Dutch part of South Africa. Britain fights for it and Canada joins.