Lecture 9- Origins of the First World War

Question 1

What period does the lecture focus on regarding the origins of the First World War?

Answer 1

1900-1914

Question 2

Which technological advancements contributed to the globalised world before WWI?

Answer 2

Railways, Telegraph, Postal service, Shipping

Question 3

What organizations were founded in 1910 that aimed at promoting peace?

Answer 3

• World Peace Foundation
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Question 4

What concept did Norman Angell present in his book ‘The Great Illusion’?

Answer 4

Disruption to international credit would deter or quickly end any war

Question 5

Who authored ‘The Riddle of the Sands’, which reflects pessimism about European society?

Answer 5

Erskine Childers

Question 6

How many combatants were involved in the First World War?

Answer 6

32 combatants

Question 7

Name the Central Powers in the First World War.

Answer 7

• Austria-Hungary
• Germany
• Turkey

Question 8

List the main Allied Powers during the First World War.

Answer 8

• Serbia
• Russia
• Belgium
• France
• Britain
• Italy
• United States

Question 9

Which country had the most powerful army in Europe before WWI?

Answer 9

Germany

Question 10

What was the German foreign policy known as?

Answer 10

Weltpolitik

Question 11

What was the naval rivalry between Britain and Germany in 1896?

Answer 11

Britain had 33 battleships, Germany had 6 battleships

Question 12

What was the purpose of the First Navy Law in Germany?

Answer 12

To build 7 battleships and 9 cruisers

Question 13

What did the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1892 signify?

Answer 13

A military alliance against German expansion

Question 14

What was the Entente Cordiale of 1904?

Answer 14

An agreement between Britain and France

Question 15

Fill-in-the-blank: The 1908 Austrian annexation of _________ caused tensions with Russia.

Answer 15

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Question 16

What were the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 aimed at?

Answer 16

Gains against the Ottoman Empire

Question 17

When was Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated?

Answer 17

28 June 1914

Question 18

What was Austria’s response to the assassination of Franz Ferdinand?

Answer 18

Looking for an excuse to attack Serbia

Question 19

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Answer 19

Germany’s military strategy for a two-front war

Question 20

What event triggered Britain’s entry into the war?

Answer 20

Germany declared war on Belgium

Question 21

Identify one major cause of the First World War.

Answer 21

• Imperialism
• Alliances
• Arms race
• Diplomatic mistakes
• Balkan nationalism
• Domestic factors

Question 22

True or False: Russian panslavism supported Serbian nationalism.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

What did the 1907 Anglo-Russian Entente signify?

Answer 23

An alliance between Britain and Russia

Question 24

What was the outcome of the first Balkan War?

Answer 24

Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro made gains

Question 25

What did the term 'revanchism' refer to in the context of France?

Answer 25

The desire to regain Alsace-Lorraine lost to Germany

Question 26

Fill-in-the-blank: The _______ was a military alliance formed in response to the rise of German power.

Answer 26

Franco-Russian Alliance

Question 27

What was a significant outcome of the second Balkan War?

Answer 27

Bulgaria faced losses against Serbia and Greece