Alliances
What was the name of the 1882 alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy?
The Triple Alliance.
What is militarism?
Militarism is the belief that a country should build up strong armed forces and be ready to use military power to defend or expand national interests.
Define nationalism
Nationalism is a strong sense of loyalty and identity with one's nation, often combined with the desire for independence, unity or national superiority.
In which city was Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated on 28 June 1914?
Sarajevo
On what date did Austria Hungary declare war on Serbia?
28 July 1914
Which two countries were linked by the Dual Alliance of 1879?
Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Name the British battleship launched in 1906 that helped spark a naval arms race with Germany.
HMS Dreadnought
Which region was known as the "powder keg of Europe" because of nationalist tensions?
The Balkans
Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Gavrilo Princip
What was the "blank cheque"?
Germany's promise of unconditional support to Austria-Hungary in early July 1914, which encouraged Austria-Hungary to take tough measures against Serbia.
Explain how the Triple Entente increased tension with the Triple Alliance before 1914.
The Triple Entente created a rival power bloc. Germany felt encircled, and crises in Morocco, the Balkans and the naval race made the two sides suspicious and more willing to prepare for war.
Explain how the Anglo-German naval race increased tension before 1914
Germany's Navy Laws of 1898 and 1900 aimed to build a large fleet, challenging British naval dominance. Britain responded with the Dreadnought and strengthened ties with France and Russia. The naval race deepened distrust and made war more likely.
Explain how imperial rivalry increased tension between European powers before 1914.
European powers competed for colonies and influence in Africa and Asia.
The Moroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911 humiliated Germany and strengthened Britain and France. Imperial rivalry worsened distrust and helped push the powers into rival alliances.
Explain how the Bosnian Crisis of 1908 increased tensions in the Balkans.
Serbia was angered because it wanted to unite South Slavs, and Russia felt humiliated for not supporting Serbia strongly enough. The crisis made Austria-Hungary and Serbia more hostile and encouraged Russia to back Serbia in future.
Explain how the Schlieffen Plan contributed to the outbreak of war in August 1914.
Germany planned to defeat France quickly through Belgium, then turn east against Russia. When Russia mobilized, Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August and on France on 3 August, then invaded Belgium on 4 August.
This brought Britain into the war.
Compare the purpose of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
Both were designed to provide security and diplomatic support. The Triple Alliance was a formal defensive agreement, the Triple Entente was a looser alignment but it still divided Europe into two armed camps and turned a local dispute into a wider crisis.
Compare the significance of the Anglo-German naval race and the Schlieffen Plan in increasing tension.
The naval race was a long term cause: it escalated the competitiveness between Britain and Germany and contributed to the alliance system. The Schlieffen Plan was a short term cause: it committed Germany to a rapid attack on France through Belgium, which brought Britain into the war. The Schlieffen Plan was more directly responsible for turning the July Crisis into a European war.
Compare the impact of Balkan nationalism and imperial rivalry outside Europe on the outbreak of WWI.
Balkan nationalism was the more immediate cause, it led to the Sarajevo assassination and the Austro-Serbian crisis. Imperial rivalry was a long term cause: it increased Anglo-German and Franco-German tension but did not directly trigger the war. Both mattered, but Balkan nationalism was more directly linked to the July Crisis.
Compare the significance of the Congress of Berlin and the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for increasing Balkan tensions before 1914.
The Congress of Berlin divided Bulgaria into three parts, recognised Serbia, Romania and Montenegro as independent, left Macedonia under Ottoman control, and gave Austria-Hungary the right to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina. It checked Russian influence, angered Slav nationalists and helped undermine Bismarck’s Dreikaiserbund. The occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina gave Austria-Hungary a direct stake in the Balkans and deepened Austro-Serbian hostility. Both increased tension, but the occupation was more directly linked to later Balkan crises and the hostility that culminated in 1914.
Compare the roles of Germany and Austria-Hungary in escalating the July Crisis.
Austria-Hungary wanted a local war against Serbia and issued a harsh ultimatum. Germany gave the blank cheque and then escalated by declaring war on Russia and France. Austria-Hungary started the regional conflict, but Germany's support and military timetable turned it into a general European war.
"The alliance system was more a cause of tension than a protection against war." Evaluate the judgement.
It increased tension more than it prevented war. Alliances encouraged commitments such as Germany's "blank cheque" to Austria-Hungary, Russian support for Serbia, and the Schlieffen Plan, all turned a Balkan crisis into a general war. However, alliances were originally meant to prevent attack, so they were not the only cause.
Assess whether militarism made war inevitable by 1914
Militarism made war more likely but not inevitable. Arms races, conscription and war plans created a climate of fear and a military timetable. Without other causes, the war might not have broken out.
Was Nationalism the most important long-term cause of WWI?
Nationalism was extremely important. However, nationalism alone did not cause the war: alliances, militarism and imperial rivalry also played major roles. It is seen as one of several long term causes, not the single cause.
How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand trigger the July Crisis?
The assassination gave Austria-Hungary a pretext to crush Serbian nationalism. With Germany's blank cheque, Austria-Hungary sent a harsh treaty to Serbia. When Serbia did not accept all demands, Austria-Hungary declared war on 28 July 1914. The assassination was the spark, but the deeper causes turned it into a European war.
Was the July Crisis was a failure of diplomacy rather than an inevitable war?
This is largely a diplomatic failure. There is a chance to negotiate: Serbia's response was reconciliation, Britain proposed mediation, and Germany briefly suggested stopping in Belgrade. But the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanted war, Germany gave unconditional support, and the military mobilization schedule took over. War is not inevitable, but structural tensions make diplomacy very difficult.