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Conflict and Tension 1894 – 1918

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Conflict and Tension 1894 – 1918 Conflict and tension 1894 – 1918 Wider world depth study Revision workbook Acklam Grange History department 60 minutes 4 questions to answer. Total of 44 marks. Q1. This source supports …….How do you know? 4 marks Q2.How useful are sources B and C ……..12 marks Q3. Write an account of a crisis………8 marks Q4.The main reason for………was….How far do you agree? 16 marks + 4 SPaG Author: Mrs G Galloway Name: What you need to know Part One – The causes of the First World War The Alliance system including: The Triple Alliance, the Franco – Russian Alliance and the relations between the Entente powers. The crises in Morocco and the Balkans (1905 – 1912) and their effects on international relations. Britain and the challenges to splendid isolation. Kaiser Wilhelm’s aims in foreign policy, including Weltpolitik. Colonial tensions European rearmament, including the Anglo-German naval race. Slav nationalism and relations between Serbia and Austria- Hungary The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and its consequences The July crisis Timeline 1870 Franco-Prussian war. France was defeated. Germany as a country was created. Alsace and Lorraine were taken from France. To try and protect Germany from a revenge attack by France Germany entered into an alliance with Austria- Hungary and Italy (Triple Alliance) Early 1900s Anglo-German naval race. 1906 Britain launches the HMS Dreadnought. All countries in Europe also building up their arms 1905 First Moroccan Crisis – led to the humiliation of the Kaiser and the creation of the Triple Entente between Britain, France and Russia. Although not intended as a military alliance Germany felt threatened as it was surrounded by hostile neighbours. 1905 Germany devises the Schlieffen Plan. Germany was worried about being attacked on two fronts (from West and East). The plan was to attack France and defeat in 6 weeks and then turn against Russia. 1908 Balkan Crisis – Austro-Hungary took over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This angered Russia and Serbia. Russia had to back down as Germany supported Austria – but Russia began to build up its army. 1911 Second Moroccan Crisis – escalated the naval race. 1912 – 13 Lots of local wars in the Balkans. Serbia emerged as the most powerful country and Austria was looking for an excuse to crush Serbia. 28 June 1914 Assassination of the Arch Duke Ferdinand by the Black Hand Gang (Serbs) July Crisis 23 July 1914 Serbia sends a 10 point ultimatum to Serbia – 9 are accepted but Serbia cannot accept the 10. Asks to negotiate 28 July 1914 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. It has German support (Blank Cheque). This triggers off the Alliances 30 July 1914 Russia supports Serbia and begins to mobilise its troops (get ready for war) against Austria-Hungary and Germany 1 August 1914 Germany declares war on Russia At this point only the countries in the east are involved. However Germany then implements the Schlieffen Plan on 3 August and invades neutral Belgium to reach France 3 August 1914 Britain has an agreement with Belgium (Treaty of London) that stated that Belgium was a neutral country. Therefore Britain gives Germany an ultimatum – withdraw or Britain would declare war. 4 August 1914 Britain declares war on Germany 6 August 1914 Austria declared war on Russia. The alliance system intended to keep the peace had failed Part One Causes of the First World War Assassination at Sarajevo The assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife was critical in setting off the chain of events that led to the First World War. Not only was it a bad day for the Archduke and his family, but also a bad day for Europe. Sarajevo was in Bosnia, the province that - to Serbia's anger - had been occupied by Austria-Hungary in 1908. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. He was inspecting the army in Sarajevo with his wife Sophie. The royal couple arrived by train at 9.28am. Seven young Bosnian Serbs planned to assassinate Franz Ferdinand as he drove along the main road in Sarajevo, the Appel Quay. The first conspirator who tried to kill Franz Ferdinand threw a bomb at his car. He missed and was arrested. The Archduke escaped unhurt. He decided to abandon the visit and return home via a different route to the one planned. No one had told the driver the route had changed. On the way back, therefore, the driver turned into Franz Josef Street, following the published route and, when told of his error, stopped the car to turn around. Unfortunately, the car stopped in front of Gavrilo Princip, one of the conspirators, who was on his way home thinking he had failed. Princip pulled out a gun and shot at Franz Ferdinand, hitting him in the jugular vein. There was a struggle, during which Princip shot and killed Sophie. By 11.30am, Franz Ferdinand bled to death. In order to understand why World War One broke out in 1914, you will need to understand the key events leading up to this assassination and how they contributed to the outbreak of war in 1914. Causes of World War One Background to Europe between 1894 and 1914. Great Britain Russia - Wanted to maintain their imperial and naval - Had a large but ill-equipped army. supremacy. - Had a long-standing rivalry with Austria- - Did not want to get involved in European affairs – Hungary due to the high Slavic population in they were in ‘splendid isolation’. the A-H Empire. - Was a strong trading nation, which, by 1914 had been - Fought and lost a war with Japan in 1905 and overtaken by Germany in chemical and steel therefore could not afford another one. production. France Serbia - Had a long-standing - Gained feud with Germany independence as they had been from Turkey in defeated in the 1878. Franco-Prussian War - Wanted to join and had lost Alsace- with Bosnia due Lorraine. to the number of - Was not on good Serbs living there. terms with Britain as - Believed in pan- they had squabbled Slavism. The over land in Africa. biggest obstacle - Was worried about to this was the A- the growth of the H Empire where German military and Slavs lived under industry. Austro-Hungarian not Slavic rule. Germany - Unified in 1870 - Franco – Prussian War 1870-71. Germany won this war. They knew that France would want revenge. - Germany wanted to maintain dominance by creating alliance but wanted to weaken and isolate France. - Wanted to increase the size of their empire and navy. - Was also worried about the growing size of the Russian army Reason one - The alliance system One of the key factors that led to the outbreak of war was the existence of the two rival alliances in Europe as by 1914 the six most powerful nations in Europe were divided into two opposing alliances: The Triple Alliance 1882 - was arranged by the German Chancellor - Bismarck. Germany were aware that France would want revenge for its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War therefore the Triple Alliance was designed to: a) Alienate France and, b) Create a military alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy in case of invasion from a foreign power. The Triple Entente consisted of 3 separate agreements. o The Franco-Russian Agreement 1894 – had the intention of encircling Germany. This was a military alliance but these two countries only promised to defend the other if Germany attacked either of them. o The Franco-Russian Agreement could only be signed after the Reinsurance Treaty between Russia and Germany had lapsed. Wilhelm failed to renew it after Bismarck was dismissed meaning that Russia was now free to form alliance with another country. o The Entente Cordiale 1904 - was signed between Britain and France. The two countries agreed to stay on good terms and settled colonial disputes in Africa. Britain was following a policy of Splendid Isolation at this time – they did not want to interfere in European affairs and therefore these agreements were seen as a way of preserving British supremacy in areas that concerned them. Although this was not a military agreement, Germany saw this a threat that needed to be tested. The Triple Alliance (Central Powers). Triple Entente. Formed 1907 Formed 1882 (See Moroccan crisis later) Germany Britain Austria-Hungary France Italy Russia The existence of these alliances meant that tension within Europe was increased and in 1914 a local war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia escalated into World War One. 1. Make a list of the countries in: The Triple Alliance The Triple Entente 2. If the Triple Alliance attacked France, how could Russia’s friendship help France? 3. If Austria-Hungary attacked Russia, how could France’s friendship help Russia? 4. If Russia attacked Germany, how could Austria-Hungary’s friendship help Germany? 5. Look at the source below. Which countries are represented by the three boots? Who is being kicked? Reason two – the Moroccan Crises Why did the events in Morocco become an international crisis in 1905? The events in Morocco are a really good example of rivalry over empires, tension and escalation of the alliance system and increased hostility between Germany, Russia and France. Morocco and the Entente Cordiale Morocco was one of the few areas of Africa that had not been colonised by a European country. As part of 1904 deal between France and Britain (the Entente Cordiale), the British agreed to supports France’s plans. However, Germany’s Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II was determined to prevent this from happening and visited Tangier to pledge his support for Morocco’s rule, the Sultan Abdelaziz. The first crisis, 1905 – 06 The German Emperor’s support for Morocco was a direct challenge to France’s ambitions.
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