The Beginning and Causes of WWI
In what year did World War I begin?
1914
What were the two main alliance groups that fought against each other during WWI?
The Allied Powers (Triple Entente) and the Central Powers (Triple Alliance).
What was the name given to the system of long, deep ditches where soldiers fought and lived on the Western Front?
Trenches.
What is the term used to describe forcing people to join the armed forces?
Conscription.
In historical source analysis, what does the term origin refer to?
Where, when and by whom a source was created.
In what year did World War I end?
1918. The fighting ended on 11 November 1918, when the Armistice was signed.
Name three major countries that belonged to the Allied Powers (Triple Entente) at the beginning of WWI.
Britain, France and Russia.
Name two dangers or difficulties soldiers experienced while living in the trenches.
Examples include rats, lice, disease, trench foot, mud, flooding, poor sanitation, shelling, sniper fire and constant fear.
Name two jobs or roles women took on during WWI to support the war effort.
Examples include, working as nurses, volunteering in charities, replacing common men's jobs and activitly participating in the conscription campaigns
What is the difference between the explicit and implicit information in a historical source?
Explicit information is directly stated or shown. Implicit information is suggested or implied and requires the audience to interpret the source.
What does the acronym M.A.I.N. stand for when explaining the long-term causes of WWI?
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism.
Name three major countries that belonged to the Central Powers (Triple Alliance).
Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.
What was the name of the area of land between opposing trench systems, which soldiers had to cross when attacking the enemy?
No Man's Land.
What was enlistment propaganda designed to encourage men to do?
Join or enlist in the armed forces voluntarily.
What does the motive of a historical source refer to?
The reason why the source was created or what its creator hoped to achieve.
Explain how militarism contributed to the outbreak of WWI.
European nations competed to build larger armies and stronger navies. This created tension, suspicion and an arms race, making war more likely.
Why did the alliance system make a conflict between two countries more likely to develop into a much larger war?
Countries were committed to supporting their allies. When one country became involved in a conflict, its allies could also enter the war, creating a chain reaction.
Why is the Gallipoli Campaign considered a military failure for the Allies, but an important event in Australian history?
The Allies failed to achieve their strategic objectives and eventually evacuated the peninsula. However, the campaign helped shape Australian national identity and the Anzac legend through the experiences and sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand soldiers.
Why did governments use posters and other forms of propaganda during WWI?
To influence public opinion, encourage enlistment, increase support for the war, raise money and encourage people to make sacrifices for the war effort.
What is the difference between the reliability and usefulness of a historical source?
Reliability refers to how trustworthy or accurate the information is. Usefulness refers to how much the source helps historians investigate a particular historical question. A source can be useful even if it is biased or unreliable.
What happened on 28 June 1914 that triggered the outbreak of WWI? Why is this event considered a trigger rather than a long-term cause of the war?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. It triggered the July Crisis and declarations of war, but the long-term causes were the existing tensions created by M.A.I.N.
Explain Italy's alliances during WW1
Italy has a secret pact with the Central Powers. In 1915, it joined the Allies after being promised territorial gains in the Treaty of London.
Why did trench warfare often result in a stalemate on the Western Front?
Defensive positions were extremely difficult to attack successfully. Machine guns, barbed wire and artillery made crossing No Man's Land deadly, while advances often resulted in enormous casualties for very little territorial gain.
How did propaganda enlistment posters change from the start of the war to the end of the war?
At the start, enlistment posters were bright and fun, encouraging men to join through sportsmanship and adventure. As soldiers died and people heard about the horrors of trench warfare, the posters had to change to become more threatening and darker, often suggesting men were weak for not helping other soldiers, or that Australia would be invaded by Germany.
A British enlistment poster from 1915 depicts a heroic soldier and encourages young men to join the army. Explain its motive, intended audience and one limitation of using this source to understand the experiences of WWI soldiers.
Motive: To encourage enlistment and support for the war. Intended audience: British men of enlistment age, particularly those who had not yet joined. Limitation: It is propaganda designed to persuade, so it presents an idealised image of military service and does not accurately represent the dangers, suffering or conditions experienced by soldiers.