Causes of World War I: flashcards, quiz and summary

Flashcards

1. 1Why did the alliance system make a local conflict dangerous?

   Because the alliances tied major powers to their partners. A conflict between two countries could pull in every major power, turning a regional crisis into a general war.

2. 2How did militarism make war more likely to start quickly?

   Powers had large armies and detailed war plans, so once a crisis began, the military timetables could move faster than diplomacy.

3. 3What did imperialism add to the tensions between European powers?

   Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia created rivalry and distrust. The Moroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911 show this, setting Germany against France and pushing Britain closer to France.

4. 4Why were the Balkans called the powder keg of Europe?

   Slavic nationalism threatened Austria-Hungary, which ruled many Slavic peoples, and Russia backed Serbia's Pan-Slavism. The region was unstable, so a crisis there could spark a wider war.

5. 5What was the naval arms race, and why did it matter?

   Britain and Germany competed to build battleships after Britain launched HMS Dreadnought in 1906. It deepened distrust between the two powers and added to militarism.

6. 6What was the blank check, and why did it matter in July 1914?

   Germany gave Austria-Hungary unconditional support against Serbia. This encouraged Austria-Hungary to send a harsh ultimatum and declare war on Serbia.

7. 7Why did Germany invade Belgium, and why did it matter?

   Germany invaded neutral Belgium to carry out the Schlieffen Plan, which aimed to defeat France quickly. The invasion led Britain to declare war on Germany on August 4, 1914.

8. 8Why did mobilization timetables make diplomacy harder?

   Once one country mobilized, others felt they had to as well. This left little time for negotiation and helped turn the July Crisis into a world war.

Practice quiz

Pick an answer to check it.

1. 1Which countries made up the Triple Entente in 1914?

   1. Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy
   2. Germany, Russia and Britain
   3. France, Austria-Hungary and Italy
   4. France, Russia and Britain
   Show the answer

   D. France, Russia and Britain The Triple Entente was France, Russia and Britain. Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed the Triple Alliance, so the other choices mix up the two blocs.

2. 2Why did Germany invade Belgium in August 1914?

   1. To take Belgian colonies in Africa
   2. To reach Serbia by the shortest route
   3. To follow the Schlieffen Plan by passing through Belgium to attack France
   4. To punish Belgium for backing Serbia
   Show the answer

   C. To follow the Schlieffen Plan by passing through Belgium to attack France The Schlieffen Plan called for a quick attack on France through Belgium, followed by turning east to fight Russia. The other choices were not part of Germany's plan.

3. 3Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, citing which agreement?

   1. The Triple Alliance treaty
   2. The 1839 treaty guaranteeing Belgium's neutrality
   3. The Moroccan Crises settlement
   4. The Treaty of Versailles
   Show the answer

   B. The 1839 treaty guaranteeing Belgium's neutrality Britain pointed to the 1839 treaty that guaranteed Belgium's neutrality, which Germany broke by invading. The Treaty of Versailles came later, in 1919.

4. 4What was the blank check that Germany gave Austria-Hungary?

   1. Russia's promise to support Serbia's army
   2. Britain's loan to France before the war
   3. Germany's unconditional support for Austria-Hungary
   4. Serbia's full acceptance of the Austrian ultimatum
   Show the answer

   C. Germany's unconditional support for Austria-Hungary The blank check was Germany's unconditional support for Austria-Hungary. Serbia's acceptance of the ultimatum was only partial, and the other choices name different countries' moves.

5. 5Which best explains why the Balkans were called the powder keg of Europe?

   1. Its borders had been fixed by the Treaty of Versailles
   2. Competing nationalisms there, including Slavic nationalism threatening Austria-Hungary, made conflict likely
   3. It held most of Europe's colonies
   4. It was the main source of coal for European navies
   Show the answer

   B. Competing nationalisms there, including Slavic nationalism threatening Austria-Hungary, made conflict likely The Balkans were unstable because of nationalism, especially Slavic nationalism that threatened Austria-Hungary. The Treaty of Versailles came after the war, so it could not cause the tensions.

6. 6What started the naval arms race between Britain and Germany?

   1. The launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906
   2. The Schlieffen Plan
   3. The Moroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911
   4. The assassination in Sarajevo
   Show the answer

   A. The launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906 Britain launched HMS Dreadnought in 1906, and Britain and Germany then competed to build battleships. The Moroccan Crises and the Sarajevo assassination are other causes, not the start of the arms race.

7. 7Which statement about Italy in World War I is correct?

   1. Italy joined the Central Powers in 1914 and switched sides in 1917
   2. Italy fought with Germany from the first day of the war
   3. Italy joined the war in 1917 after the United States
   4. Italy stayed out in 1914 and entered on the Entente side in 1915
   Show the answer

   D. Italy stayed out in 1914 and entered on the Entente side in 1915 Italy did not join its Triple Alliance partners in 1914. It entered the war on the Entente side in 1915. The other statements mix up the timing and the sides.

Test traps

What teachers like to test on this, and the mistakes students make.

• Mixing up the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The Alliance was Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy; the Entente was France, Russia and Britain.
• Thinking Italy fought with Germany from the start. Italy did not join its allies in 1914 and entered on the Entente side in 1915.
• Treating the Schlieffen Plan as the cause of the war. It was a German war plan that explained the invasion of Belgium, and it helped push Britain to declare war.
• Giving one cause as the only reason. Essays need to weigh the alliance system, militarism and nationalism and explain how they connect to the assassination.
• Using the Treaty of Versailles as a cause. It came in 1919, after the war, although its war guilt clause (Article 231) shaped how the war is remembered.
• Confusing the blank check with the ultimatum. The blank check was Germany's support for Austria-Hungary; the ultimatum was Austria-Hungary's demand to Serbia.

Summary

• Militarism meant European powers had large armies and detailed war plans, so a crisis could escalate into war quickly.
• The alliance system (Triple Alliance and Triple Entente) was meant to deter war, but it meant a local conflict could pull in every major power.
• Imperialism created rivalry and distrust, shown by the Moroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911 and the Anglo-German naval arms race.
• Nationalism, especially Slavic nationalism in the Balkans, threatened Austria-Hungary and made the region the 'powder keg of Europe'.
• The assassination of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 was the short-term trigger.
• Germany's blank check and Austria-Hungary's harsh ultimatum to Serbia set the July Crisis in motion.
• Mobilization timetables and the Schlieffen Plan left little time for diplomacy once the first countries began to mobilize.
• Germany's invasion of neutral Belgium brought Britain into the war on August 4, 1914.

Key terms

Militarism

The buildup of large armies and detailed war plans, along with pride in military strength, which made war more likely to start quickly.

Triple Alliance

The alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. Italy did not join its allies in 1914.

Triple Entente

The alliance of France, Russia and Britain, completed in 1907.

Imperialism

Competition among European powers for colonies in Africa and Asia, which created rivalry and distrust.

Nationalism

Pride in one's nation, and the wish of ethnic groups to have their own nation. In the Balkans it threatened Austria-Hungary, which ruled many Slavic peoples.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's war plan to defeat France quickly by invading through Belgium, then turn east to fight Russia.

Blank check

Germany's unconditional support for Austria-Hungary after the assassination, which encouraged Austria-Hungary to act against Serbia.

Mobilization

Preparing an army for war. Once one country mobilized, others felt they had to as well, which left little time for diplomacy.

How to study it

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