Conflict and Tension 1888-1914

Question 1

Describe Kaiser Wilhem

Answer 1

• withered arm, partly deaf
• wanted to be seen as a strong military leader
• unstable, needed to prove
• Jealous of Britain’s navy
• Grandson of Queen Victoria

Question 2

What did the Industrial Revolution allow?

Answer 2

Electricity, motor vehicles, aircraft, warships, guns

Question 3

Why were the factory workers upset?

Answer 3

Because the Kaiser promised to spend lots of money on the navy instead of improving life quality

Question 4

When did Britain build the dreadnought?

Answer 4

1905

Question 5

Describe the WeltPolitik

Answer 5

Kaiser Wilhem's aims in foreign policy 
- overseas Empire
- strong country
Aims :
Transform Germany into a global power through conquering colonies and a large navy.

Question 6

Militarism

Answer 6

When military matters influence a country’s policy which makes them build up armed forces

Germany used money for navy

Question 7

Alliances

Answer 7

Divided Europe into two.

Germany, Austria, Italy
France, Britain, Russia

Question 8

Imperialism

Answer 8

The desire to conquer countries.

Germany wanted a bigger Empire

Question 9

Nationalism

Answer 9

Belief your country is better than others.

Wanted to have a larger Empire/ conquer others

Question 10

Tension between Russia and Germany before 1914

Answer 10

• Russia was alarmed by it’s growth and increase in military power.
• Both wanted to control Bolkans.

Question 11

Tension between France and Germany before 1914

Answer 11

• Scared/feared navy but wanted Empire

- Wanted Alsace-Lorraine back

Question 12

Tension between Britain and Germany before 1914

Answer 12

• Suspicious of navy building

- Germany jealous of Britain’s Empire

Question 13

When and why did France and Russia become allies?

Answer 13

1892 - They both felt threatened by Germany

Question 14

When and why did France and Britain form the Dual Entente?

Answer 14

1904 - Became friends, put differences aside but not allies yet

Question 15

When and why did the Triple Entente form?

Answer 15

1907 - They were all afraid of Germany’s rise.

Britain - Kept Empire safe and put differences aside.

France - Promised help if land was attacked again as they lost Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in 1895.

Russia - They wanted to catch up with Western European powers and control South East Europe so they need help from Europe to balance Germany’s power.

Question 16

When and why did the Triple Alliance with Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy form?

Answer 16

1882 (1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary)

Germany - felt surrounded (circle of steel) so they wanted protection from Austria-Hungary on the South East side. Both German speakers.

Austria-Hungary - They wanted the Serbs to not take their land away so they could live together or people to break from their Empire and control the Bolkans. With the help of Germany (a major power) this was possible.

Italy - Was a weak country but they wanted to build an overseas Empire. This alliance helped them become stronger in military and industry.

Question 17

Define
Empire
colonies
colonial rivalry

Answer 17

• When one country conquers other countries to make them their own.
• The countries that have been conquered (e.g Canada, Egypt, India, New Zealand - British Empire)

Question 18

Explain the Splendid Isolation

Answer 18

• Until 1900 this was Britain’s policy, to stay out of European affairs.
• They abandoned it because:
  When France and Russia made an alliance they needed an ally in Europe as they were threatened by Germany’s navy.
  In the Boer War, Germany expressed support for the Boers as opposed to Britain.
  In 1896 the Kaiser sent a telegram to Paul Kruger (president of Transvaal, South Africa) to congratulate him on standing up to Britain.

Question 19

Summarise the key events of the Morocco Crisis 1905.

Answer 19

• In 1905, the Kaiser visited Morocco (North Africa) when Germany was building its own Empire (mainly the centre and south Africa)
• The French had plans to conquer Morocco but the Kaiser supported their independence.
• The Kaiser was sure that rivals Britain and France weren’t truly friends however when he put forward a speech on independence his views were openly rejected as Britain and France stood firmly together.
• The Kaiser tested the Dual Entente.

Question 20

What were the results of the Morocco Crisis 1905.

Answer 20

• Tried to prove that Germany could influence international decisions however the Kaiser was humiliated.
• International crisis.

Question 21

Summarise the events of the Morocco Crisis 1911.

Answer 21

• The French tried to take over Morocco again.
• France said they’d compensate if Germany’s trade with Africa was interfered.
• Germany used a more forceful tactic to make them listen by sending a gunboat called the Panther.
• Britain feared that the Kaiser wanted to set up a naval base in Adagir. They didn’t want German boats in the Mediterranean.
• Another conference took place where Britain and France stood firm against Germany.

Question 22

What was the result of the Moroccan Crisis 1911.

Answer 22

• France gained control of Morocco and Germany gained some marshland (central Africa) as compensation.
• Britain and France agreed that France should patrol the Mediterranean and the Royal Navy defend France’s Atlantic and North Atlantic and north sea coasts.

Question 23

Describe the Two Power Standard.

Answer 23

1889- Britain decided that her fleet should be larger than the next two powers combined (France and Russia).

Question 24

Explain the Germany Naval Law.

Answer 24

• Tirpitz (head of navy) passed the German Naval Law in 1898 that “Germany to maintain a fleet of 19 battleships).
• In 1900 the Second Naval Law was passed that “Germany fleet size set at 38 battleships”.

Doubled in two years.

Question 25

QUESTIONS | Explain Tirpitz's reasons for building the German Navy.

Answer 25

Their aim was to build the second largest navy in the world after Britain, advancing as a world power. He believed naval power was an absolute necessity which was key for survival.

Question 26

QUESTIONS | What relationship did Tirpitz want with Britain?

Answer 26

Although Britain would have more, Tirpitz wanted them to see Germany as an equal so they wouldn't attack. In order to defeat them,they should be afraid of their navy.

Question 27

QUESTIONS | Why did the Kaiser want to have a large navy?

Answer 27

- Defend their growing trade as they told Britain however it was really to conquer countries. - Make Britain fear them. - Becoming a leading power.

Question 28

QUESTIONS | Why did the British find the Germans so threatening?

Answer 28

- Because we had a large empire and therefore a large navy and we were an island but Germany's Empire was smaller as was their coastline so they didn't need a large navy/ warships.

Question 29

QUESTIONS | Why did the introduction of the dreadnoughts make other battleships seem obsolete?

Answer 29

- Because they had a massive amount of new guns. - Faster, manoueverable, advanced - Better warships

Question 30

QUESTIONS | What were the results in England because of the Arms race?

Answer 30

- Nearly an English Civil War because the Parliament refused to accept taxes from the rich on dreadnoughts although the public and government found it necessary for an Empire.

Question 31

QUESTIONS | Why did Colonial Rivalry lead to an arms race?

Answer 31

- They both wanted a large empire which needed dreadnoughts to defend them e.g Morocco.

Question 32

QUESTIONS | Why did the Alliance System lead to an arms race?

Answer 32

- Germany felt encircled by enemies e.g Britain, France and Russia (circle of steel) which caused a naval race. - Keep building a navy to keep up.

Question 33

QUESTIONS | Why might the arms race cause Britain to declare war on Germany sooner rather than later?

Answer 33

- It was a competition over who could build the biggest Empire so if you wait you're allowing them to build a navy which war could end.

Question 34

QUESTIONS Based on the Telegraph Interview: What does the Kaiser say about Britain and why did Germany allow it to be published?

Answer 34

- Wants to be their friend although they're making it difficult for him. - Shows Germany in a good light.

Question 35

QUESTIONS | What are the main provisions of the Schlieffen Plan?

Answer 35

- Allows them to quickly attack and defeat France through Belgium because they had patrols on the border of France. - Allows them to defeat France first instead of fighting France and Russia at the same time if war broke out.

Question 36

QUESTIONS | If dispute arose between Russia and Germany why would the Schlieffen Plan drag in France and Britain?

Answer 36

- They were planning to attack France because they didn't want to fight France and Russia at the same time. - Britain had the BEF Professional Fighters of 150,000 men who could fight alongside France. They signed a contract to defend Belgium.

Question 37

In 1911, summarise the key views of Davis George (leading government minister) and Von Moltke (head of the German Army).

Answer 37

- Britain's a great country. - He wants peace but if peace comes at a price of losing the Empire he doesn't want peace to be worth the humiliation. - It's getting on his nerves because they're losing the argument. - To stop the humiliation, they need to go to war i.e be more aggressive. - If they lose the war they might as well let Japan (a rising power) control them.