Causes of World War I PDF

Causes of World War I 1.​ What was the political situation in the Balkans leading up to World War I, and why was the region called the "powder keg of Europe"? a.​ The Balkans (terrorist groups) had a lot of ethnic groups fighting for independence. It was called the "...

Causes of World War I 1.​ What was the political situation in the Balkans leading up to World War I, and why was the region called the "powder keg of Europe"? a.​ The Balkans (terrorist groups) had a lot of ethnic groups fighting for independence. It was called the "powder keg" because small conflicts there could quickly turn into a big war. 2.​ What were Austria-Hungary's main goals in the Balkans before the war? a.​ Austria-Hungary wanted to stop independence movements and keep control of their empire. They were worried Serbia would inspire other groups to rebel. 3.​ How did Pan-Slavism influence Russia’s actions before World War I? a.​ Pan-Slavism was the idea that all Slavic people should unite, and Russia saw itself as their leader. Russia helped Serbia and other Slavic countries against Austria-Hungary. 4.​ What was Germany’s approach to imperialism, and how was it different from Britain's and France’s? a.​ Germany wanted more colonies, especially in Africa, and challenged Britain and France, who already had big empires. This caused tensions. 5.​ How did militarism lead to tension in Europe before World War I? a.​ Militarism meant countries were building up their armies and weapons. It made war seem likely because everyone was ready to fight. 6.​ What role did alliances like the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance play in starting the war? a.​ Alliances split Europe into two sides: b.​ Triple Entente (France, Britain, Russia): known as “the allies” c.​ Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy): known as the “central powers” d.​ This turned small conflicts into a big war. 7.​ Why was the July Crisis of 1914 important? a.​ The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand started a chain of events. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia, and other countries got involved through alliances. b.​ June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia. 8.​ What was the "blank cheque" that Germany gave to Austria-Hungary? a.​ Germany promised to support Austria-Hungary no matter what. This made Austria act more aggressively toward Serbia, leading to war. b.​ issued on July 5, 1914 9.​ Why did Austria’s ultimatum to Serbia lead to war? a.​ Austria made demands they knew Serbia couldn’t fully agree to. When Serbia didn’t meet all the demands, Austria declared war. 10.​What was the two-power standard? a.​ The Royal Navy should be equal to or greater in strength/size than the next two largest navies. At the time these were assumed to be France and Russia, with the United States as a future possibility.