What Caused The First World War?
Overview
On 28 June 1914 a teenage gunman shot dead an Austrian archduke in a Bosnian street. Six weeks later the most powerful nations on earth were at war. How could a single assassination drag the whole of Europe into a conflict that would kill millions? The answer is that the murder was only the spark. The dry timber had been piling up for decades: rival alliances, an arms race, clashes over colonies, and a tinderbox of nationalism in the Balkans.
This lesson uses the familiar MAIN framework, Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism, to make sense of the long-term causes, then traces the July Crisis step by step from Sarajevo to the outbreak of war. By the end you will be able to explain not just what happened, but how far each cause was to blame, exactly the balanced judgement the Cambridge exam rewards.
Objectives
- Did the Alliance System and global diplomacy make war more likely or less likely?
- How far did colonial problems create tensions between the Great Powers?
- Why were problems in the Balkans so difficult for the Great Powers to solve?
- How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to war?
- The origins of the First World War, 1890-1914: - the Alliance System and the European diplomatic system - the 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance - the arms race - colonial rivalries - developments in the Balkans - the crisis of June-July 1914 and the outbreak of war
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on What Caused The First World War?. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which three countries made up the Triple Alliance of 1882? A. France, Russia, Britain B. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy C. Germany, Russia, Italy D. Britain, France, Japan Answer: B
- On what date was Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated? A. 28 June 1914 B. 28 July 1914 C. 4 August 1914 D. 1 August 1914 Answer: A
- The letters MAIN, used to remember the long-term causes of the war, stand for Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and: A. Neutrality B. Nationalism C. Navalism D. Negotiation Answer: B
- Britain declared war on Germany in August 1914 chiefly because Germany invaded: A. Serbia B. France C. Belgium D. Russia Answer: C
- The German plan to defeat France quickly before turning to fight Russia was the: A. Triple Alliance B. Schlieffen Plan C. Entente Cordiale D. Anglo-Japanese Alliance Answer: B
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