The caues of WW1 - Anglo-German rivalry

Question 1

What was Britain’s splended isolation?

Answer 1

1. In the late 1800s and early 1900s Britain played little part in European affairs. It had no official alliances
2. Britain had spent many of the 1800s building up the British empire, mainly in Africa and Asia
3. By the late 1800s, the British empire was the largest the world had ever known
4. Britain had deliberately isolated itself from European affairs as it was the richest and most powerful nation on Earth, and had the largest navy
5. The British felt they did not need any military or economic alliances

Question 2

What were challenges to Britains splending isolation?

Answer 2

1. In the early 1900s, things began to change. the most powerful European nations started to split into two alliances
2. British - French clashed over control of colonies in North Africa - nearly went to war in late 1800s -However, agreements were made over the colonies which brought the nations together
3. From 1898, Germany began to build up its navy. The Kaiser began to talk of making Germany a global power. His plans were a threat to Britains power
4. Germany and A-H had joined together in an alliance. Italy later joined this alliance
5. France and Russia had made an alliance
6. Germany supported the Boers, a group of settlers in the British colony of South Africa who had revelled against British rule. This angered the British

Question 3

How did Britain get out of isolation?

Answer 3

1. In 1903, Britain’s king, Edward VII, while holidaying in the Mediterranean, heard that the French president was also visiting the region
2. Edward sent 4 battleships as a mark of respect to saulte the president, who was delighted with this gesture and invited Edward to Paris
3. The subsequent visit was a brilliant success and the climate was set for greater cooperation between the two nations
4. In 1904, the Entente Cordiale was signed between Britain and France
5. In 1907, Britain signed a similar agreement with Russia. Britain was allied with two other European powers, and was no longer in splendind isolation

Question 4

What was Weltpolitik?

Answer 4

1. The Kaiser felt that Germany should be a global power, and wanted a huge empire like France and Britain
2. In order to do this, Germany needed a large overseas empire with control over colonies worldwide
3. This idea was known as Weltpolitik or “world policy”
4. So, in the 1800s, Germany began to conquer other nations, especially in Africa

Question 5

Why did the kaiser want a large navy?

Answer 5

1. He thought it would help Germany take over more countries and protect the countries already in the empire
2. He wanted the German navy to rival the British navy. He spent huge sums of money increasing the size of the Navy at this time, and taxes were raised and money was borrowed - Germany remained in debt for a very long time

Question 6

Why did the kasier want a large empire?

Answer 6

He wanted to become a global power and compete with other nations

Question 7

Consequences of the Kaisers aims and actions?

Answer 7

1. They increased the tension between European nations
2. Other nations wondered whether the Kaiser would challenge them for their colonies, which could lead to war
3. Him building up his army and navy only increased tension
4. Many nations began to draw out detailed defence and attack plans in preperation for war

Question 8

What is an arms race?

Answer 8

An arms race is when rival countries build up their armed forces in a bid to become bigger and stronger than the other

Question 9

Evidence for the arms race?

Answer 9

1. In 1870, all of the major European nations had spent over 90 million on the military between them
2. By 1914, this spending had risen to 400 million
3. Germany increased spending the most (73 percent) compared to Frances 10% and Britains 13%
4. Except for Britain, every major European power introduced conscription

Question 10

Consequence of the arms race?

Answer 10

1. The arms race led to a culture of hostility and paranoia
2. Other countries were afraid that they were going to be attacked in the future, so they kept improving their armed forces just in case

Question 11

Britain plans for war?

Answer 11

A highly trained army unit would travel to France and short notice to help the French

Question 12

French plans for war?

Answer 12

1. French troops would march through alsace and lorrain, capture these areas and then continue onto Berlin
2. This was known as plan 17

Question 13

Russian plans for war?

Answer 13

Millions of Russian troops would attack the eastern borders of Germany and A-H known as plan 19

Question 14

German plans for war?

Answer 14

1. Planned to attack France first, defeat it quickly, then turn and fight the Russians in the east
2. Known as the schlieffen plan

Question 15

A-H plans for war?

Answer 15

Developed several plans that were dependent on whether other countries joined in or not

Question 16

What triggered the Anglo-German naval race?

Answer 16

1. In the 1800s, Britain had built up a huge navy to protect its trade routes and colonies around the world, and by 1900, was the worlds greatest naval power
2. However, in 1901, Germany’s kaiser announced that he wanted an empire to rival Britains
3. He needed a large navy to achieve this, so he began a huge shipbuilding campaign, financed through a series of Navy Laws

Question 17

What was the dreadnought?

Answer 17

1. In 1906, the British announced the creation of a new and improved type of warship - the dreadnought
2. It was immensely fast and powerful - more than any battleship ever built
3. Germany people referred to their own ships as “funf minuten” - the amount of time they thought it would take a dreadnought to sink one of their ships

Question 18

How did the naval race start?

Answer 18

1. After the Germans retaliated by working on their own version of the dreadnought, the Rhineland, the British responded withi an improved version of the dreadnought - the super-dreadnought
2. A naval race had started