World War One
What was the main alliance system that divided Europe before WWI?
Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) vs. Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).
What was Zionism?
A movement for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Who was Theodor Herzl?
Founder of modern political Zionism.
Define “militarism.”
Belief in building strong armed forces and using them to achieve national goals.
True/False – WWI was inevitable due to alliances.
False — alliances increased risk, but choices by leaders still mattered.
Name one social or economic factor that contributed to rising tensions before the war.
Nationalism, imperial competition, arms race, or economic rivalries.
Who controlled Palestine before WWI?
The Ottoman Empire.
How did Arab leaders respond to the UN Partition Plan?
They rejected it, viewing it as unfair and a loss of Arab land.
Define “nationalism” and explain its role in WWI.
Pride in one’s nation; drove competition, independence movements, and hostility between states.
Historians disagree about the main cause of WWI. Name two interpretations.
Militarism/alliances, Germany’s aggression, Balkan nationalism, imperial rivalries.
Explain how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand acted as a catalyst for war.
It triggered Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum to Serbia, leading to a chain reaction due to alliances.
Explain the significance of the Balfour Declaration (1917).
Britain supported establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine — fueling Arab resentment.
What was the significance of the Gallipoli Campaign in WWI?
Failed Allied attempt to open Dardanelles; boosted Turkish nationalism and caused heavy ANZAC losses.
What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement?
1916 secret deal between Britain and France to divide Ottoman lands in the Middle East.
Why do some historians argue that Britain created the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Conflicting promises (Arabs vs. Jews), mandate policies, failed to prevent violence.
How did trench warfare shape the nature of WWI?
Stalemate, high casualties, defensive strategies, limited territorial gains.
Why did Britain’s promises during WWI (to Arabs and Jews) cause conflict after the war?
They promised Arabs independence (McMahon-Hussein) and Jews a homeland (Balfour), while secretly dividing the region (Sykes-Picot).
What was the Treaty of Versailles and why was it controversial?
Peace treaty ending WWI; blamed Germany, harsh reparations, seen as cause of future tensions.
What was the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence (1915–16)?
Britain promised Arabs independence in return for support against the Ottomans.
Debate: Was the Arab-Israeli conflict primarily religious or political in origin?
Political (nationalism, land, imperialism) but religion deepened divisions.
Assess one reason why the Allies were able to win WWI.
US entry in 1917, superior resources, effective blockade of Germany, German exhaustion.
Assess how British control after WWI contributed to long-term Arab-Jewish tensions.
Britain struggled to balance conflicting promises, migration increased, violence between communities grew, creating mistrust.
Compare the perspectives of Herzl and the Arab leadership (e.g., Sharif Hussein) on the future of Palestine.
Herzl wanted a Jewish homeland in Palestine; Hussein wanted Arab independence in the same region.
Assess the significance of the UN Partition Plan in the Arab–Israeli conflict.
It led directly to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War; deepened divisions, established basis for Israel’s legitimacy, and fueled Arab resentment.
To what extent do historians see WWI as a "modern" war?
New tech (machine guns, gas, tanks), industrialised total war, propaganda — but generals still used outdated strategies.