What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War? (p. 150 - 153)

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

World War I & Peacemaking

Statement of Inquiry: 

Global competition for resources can be a cause of conflict and peacemaking is dependent on global cooperation and justice. 

Key Concept: Global interactions 

Related Concepts: Conflict; Perspectives 

Global Context: Orientation in Space and Time 

What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War?

Goals of this week:

At the end of this week classes you...

...understand that the concepts of militarism, alliance systems, imperialism and nationalism are key long-term factors that led to the outbreak of the First Word War

What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War?

What led the 'civilized' Great Powers of Europe 

There are four M.A.I.N. long-term causes of WWI:

1. Militarism
2. Aliances
3. Imperialism
4. Nationalism

What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War?

Imperialim: why did Europeans built overseas empires?

• technological advances due to IR 
• exploration and missionaires
• economic reasons
• population growth 
• national rivalries & strategic reasons 

What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War?

What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War?

What key factors led to the outbreak of the First World War?

Read the text and check out Figure 8.2 on p. 150 in the History book.

'Word War I was a brutal, horrific and destructive war'.

Give three examples from the text on this page and/or images from Figure 8.2 that fit with this statement.

Check out the information on the the first slides of this LessonUp.

List the four M.A.I.N. long-term causes of Word War I

02:36

Nationalism is one of the main long term causes of WWI

Based on this video, give three examples of how Nationalism can be a cause for WWI.

Nationalism

Check out the information on p. 192 - 194 in the History book.

For the following reason, give one example of how this contibuted to imperialism:
Technological advances

Imperialism

Check out the information on p. 192 - 194 in the History book.

For the following reason, give one example of how this contibuted to imperialism:
Explorers and missionaries

Imperialism

Check out the information on p. 192 - 194 in the History book.

For the following reason, give one example of how this contibuted to imperialism:
Economic reasons

Imperialism

Check out the information on p. 192 - 194 in the History book.

For the following reason, give one example of how this contibuted to imperialism:
Population growth

Imperialism

Check out the information on p. 192 - 194 in the History book.

For the following reason, give one example of how this contibuted to imperialism:
National Rivalries/Strategic Reasons

Imperialism

00:13

Which two European countries were the first with colonies?

1. Britain & Spain
2. Britain & Portugal
3. Portugal & Spain
4. Britain & France

00:35

Which two European countries have the most colonies?

1. France & Spain
2. France & Britain
3. Spain & Britain
4. Spain & Russia

00:54

What happened in the second half of the 20th century?

1. Colonization
2. Decolonization

Check out the information on the the first slides of this LessonUp.

Give an example how Imperialism can be a cause for WWI

Imperialism

Use the information on p. 199 in the History Book.

Check out Figure 9.10.

Give the name of the two Aliances and list the countries that belong to them.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 199 in the History Book.

Describe how Germany became one country after 1871.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 200 in the History Book.

Give two reasons why Germany was getting more powerful during the reign of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1870 - 1890)

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 200 in the History Book.
Also, check out Figure 9.11

Describe the difference between the German foreign policy of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 200 in the History Book.
Also, check out Figure 9.12

List all the nationalities that were part of Austria-Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 200 in the History Book.

Explain why the Emperor of Austria-Hungary Franz Joseph did not desire to acquire colonies.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 200 in the History Book.

Give two reasons why the newly independent Serbia was a threat to Austria-Hungary.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 201 in the History Book.

Give two reasons why Italy remained the weaker partner of the Triple Entente.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 201 in the History Book.
Also, check out Figure 9.13

List the names of all the colonies of the British Empire shown in Figure 9.13

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 201 in the History Book.

Give three reasons why Britain at the beginning of the 20th century was the world's greatest power.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 201 in the History Book.

Describe the British policy of 'splendid isolation' and why this policy end.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 201 in the History Book.

Name one strength, one weakness and one fear of France at the beginning of the 20th century.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 201 in the History Book.
Also, check out Figure 9.14

Describe what perspective the author of this cartoon had on the German annexation of Alsace-Loraine.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 202 in the History Book.
Also, check out Figure 9.15

Estimate how many kilometers the Russian Empire in 1914 would be from east to west.

Alliances

Check out the information on p. 202 in the History Book.

From a political, economical and military perspective, list three weaknesses of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.

Alliances

	Britain	France	Russia	Germany	Austria-Hungary	Italy
population (millions)	46		167	65	50	35
steel production (mln ton)	7,9	4	4	17		3,9
merchant ships (mln ton)	20	2	0,75		3	1,75
foreign trade (mln pound p year)		0,4	0,2	1	0,2	n/a
number of soldiers (in thousands)	248	1800		2200	1338	750
warships	122	46	26	85	24

Put the numbers in the right cell.

Challenge yourself: don't use figure 9.16

5

36

40

1

3409

2,6

Check out the information on the the first slides of this LessonUp.

Give an example of how the Alliance System can be a cause for WWI.

Alliances

Read p. 152 in the History Book about 'The need to plan for war'

Explain why the increase in militairy spending ment that countries needed to make plans for war.

Militarism

Read p. 152 in the History Book about 'The increase in military spending'

Give a definition to the following key words:
1)arms race
2) conscription
3) armaments

Militarism

Check out Figure 8.4 on p. 152 in the History Book

Calculate which alliance (Triple Entente or Triple Alliance) has the biggest % of increase in armaments spending (between 1872 - 1912).

Militarism

Read p. 152 in the History Book about 'The need to plan for war'
Also, check out Figure 8.5

Describe how Count von Schlieffen wanted to solve fighting on two fronts.

Militarism

Read p. 152 in the History Book about 'The need to plan for war'
Also, check out Figure 8.5

List three assumptions the German plan for war (von Schlieffen Plan) made.

Militarism

Read p. 153 in the History Book about 'The need to plan for war'
Also, check out Figure 8.5

Give one difference between the France and the Russian plan for war.

Militarism

Check out the information on the the first slides of this LessonUp.

Give an example how Militarism can be a cause for WWI

Militarism