World War I: Sections 1 & 2
Pros and Cons of Nationalism
+ deep devotion to one's nation + a unifying force within a country - can cause intense comp. among nations - countries want to overpower the other - fierce rivalry between nations
Causes of rivalry between nations
1) comp. for materials and markets 2) territorial disputes (loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in Franco-Prussian War) 3) comp. for overseas empires 4) comp. for domination of the Balkans
Why did Russian leader order the mobilization of troops toward the Austrian border?
Austria rejected Serbia's offer (settle issues at international conference) and declared war. Russia was an ally of Serbia.
Which nations were competing for power in the Balkans?
Austria-Hungary and Russia
Why did Austria issue an ultimatum that was difficult to accept without losing face?
Because the assassin was a Serbian, Austria decided to use the murderers as an excuse to punish Serbia. (contained numerous demands)
Sir Edward Grey
Britain's foreign minister
Which Great Power was the only country without a large standing army? Why?
Britain; because they relied on their navy (fought mostly at sea)
Schlieffen Plan
German militarists developed this plan to avoid a 2-front war; the plan called for attacking and defeating France in the west and then rushing east to fight Russia -> unsuccessful b/c Germany was unable to defeat France (stopped/defeated by Battle of the Marne)
Why did Bismarck want to isolate France? How?
He saw France as the greatest threat to peace. He believed that France still wanted revenge for its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. He isolated France by forming the Dual Alliance.
Triple Alliance
Italy later joined the two countries of the Dual Alliance; Bismarck makes treaty with Russia (Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria will join later)
How did Russia respond to Wilhelm's action?
Russia entered into alliance with France -> this was Bismarck's fear because it would lead to a 2-front war (fight on both borders)
Why did the the terrorist group, the Black Hand, instruct Gavrilo Princip to assassinate Franz Ferdinand?
They didn't want Bosnia to be ruled by Austrian rulers.
Why did Serbia pose a threat to the Austro-Hungarians?
They feared that efforts to create a Slavic state would stir rebellion among its Slavic pop.
Why were the Balkans called the "powder keg" of Europe?
They had a long history or nationalist uprisings and ethnic clashes.
What were Serbian ambitions?
They hoped to absorb all the Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula. There was a large Slavic pop. (Serbian nationalism)
trench warfare
a form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battle-field
Triple Entente
a military alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia in the years preceding WWI
Allies
allied powers - France, Britain, and Russia
Dual Alliance
attempt to isolate France; between Germany and Austria-Hungary
jingoism
belligerent foreign policies
What were nations competing for in Asia and Africa?
colonies; the quest for colonies pushed European nations to the brink of war
Great Powers
consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France
Western Front
deadlocked region in northern France
pan-Slavism
idea that all Slavs share a common heritage
Central Powers
in WWI, the nations of Germany and Austria-Hungary, along with the other nations, such as the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, that fought on their side
militarism
the policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war
Eastern Front
the region along the German-Russian border where Russians and Serbs battled Germans, Austrians, and Turks
What was the purpose of the alliance system?
to keep peace in Europe and maintain the balance of power; instead it helped push the continent into war
Kaiser Wilhem II
took power and forced Bismarck to resign and allowed treaty with Russia to lapse