Long-Term Causes (Structural factors)
What long-term military build up increased tension among European powers?
Militarism and the arms race.
Which 1905 crisis worsened relations between France and Germany?
The First Moroccan Crisis.
What was Germany’s military plan for fighting a two-front war?
The Schlieffen Plan.
What shift in Germany’s foreign policy after 1890 increased tensions?
Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Weltpolitik (aggressive expansion).
Where did the assassination that started WWI occur?
Sarajevo, Bosnia.
What system divided Europe into two opposing power blocs?
The alliance system (Triple Alliance and Triple Entente).
What 1911 event showed how fragile European diplomacy had become?
The Second Moroccan Crisis (Agadir Crisis).
How did the July Crisis escalate the conflict?
Diplomacy failed, turning a regional dispute into a general war.
What new battleship symbolized the naval arms race between Britain and Germany?
The HMS Dreadnought.
Who was assassinated on June 28, 1914?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
How did imperialism increase tensions among nations?
It created competition for colonies, resources, and trade routes.
What 1908 event angered Serbia and Russia and increased Balkan tension?
Austria-Hungary’s annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
What action by Russia was seen by Germany as a direct threat?
Russia’s general mobilization.
How did the media and propaganda act as catalysts before 1914?
They fueled nationalism and glorified war.
Who was responsible for the assassination?
Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand.
What ideology made nations more aggressive and proud, fueling rivalry?
Nationalism.
How did the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) contribute to instability in Europe?
They strengthened Serbian nationalism and weakened Ottoman control.
Why did Austria-Hungary issue an ultimatum to Serbia in July 1914?
To punish Serbia for its links to the assassination.
Which repeated crises made countries rely more on military solutions than diplomacy?
The Balkan and Moroccan crises.
What did Germany give Austria-Hungary after the assassination?
A “blank cheque” of unconditional support.
Why did the balance of power system contribute to long-term instability?
It institutionalized mistrust and rivalry among great powers.
How did the 1900–1914 arms race increase the risk of war?
It created fear and readiness, pushing nations to mobilize faster.
How did poor communication among allies worsen the crisis?
It caused miscalculations and made escalation uncontrollable.
Why can the assassination in Sarajevo be seen as both a catalyst and a trigger?
It exposed existing rivalries and set off the immediate chain of reactions.
What sequence of events followed the assassination leading to war?
Austria attacked Serbia → Russia mobilized → Germany declared war → France and Britain entered.