Questions and Answers
What was the primary purpose of the alliance system created among the Great Powers in the 1870s?
Which of the following was NOT a member of the Triple Alliance in 1915?
What was the name given to the alliance that consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy?
What was a significant aspect of the European arms race in the early 20th century?
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What was a major consequence of the competition for colonies in Africa and Asia among European nations?
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How many warships did Germany have by 1914?
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What was the name given to the alliance that consisted of France, Russia, and Britain?
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How many trained soldiers did Germany have by 1914?
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What was a consequence of the increased militarism in Germany and Russia during this period?
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What was the main reason for France's tension with Germany?
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What was the immediate cause of World War I?
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What was the name of the plan devised by Count Alfred von Schlieffen?
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Why did Germany plan to attack France through Belgium?
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What was the outcome of the Battle of the Marne in September 1914?
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Which of the following was NOT a reason for the increase in tensions leading to World War I?
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What was the name of the Serbian nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
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Study Notes
The First World War: Causes and Course
- The First World War (1914-18) was an international conflict involving most European nations, Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions.
- The war was caused by a combination of factors, including mutual defense alliances, imperialism, militarism, and nationalism.
Root Causes of WW I
- Mutual Defense Alliances: The creation of military alliances among the Great Powers, such as the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Britain), designed to keep peace in Europe but ultimately leading to war.
- Imperialism: Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia, leading to rivalry and mistrust among European nations.
- Militarism: An arms race in Europe, particularly in Germany and Britain, and the growing influence of the military on public policy, contributing to the outbreak of war.
- Nationalism: Tensions between France and Germany over Alsace and Lorraine, and struggles for independence in the Balkans.
Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914, triggered the war.
Course of WW I
- Austria-Hungary's Ultimatum: Austria-Hungary sent a warlike ultimatum to Serbia on July 23, 1914, which Serbia partially accepted, leading to Austria-Hungary declaring war on July 28, 1914.
- European War: Most of Europe was at war within a week, with Germany following the Schlieffen Plan to attack France through Belgium and occupy Paris before turning to face Russia.
- Battle of the Marne: The Germans' attack was forced back at the Battle of the Marne in September 1914.
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Description
Learn about the international conflict that involved most European nations and other regions, and its root causes including mutual defense alliances, imperialism, militarism, and nationalism.