Causes of World War I Worksheet

Make sure you store these handouts carefully. Answer the questions in full sentences .

Use the guided reading labelled “Causes of World War One” to answer questions 1- 9.

1. What is meant by the term alliance? an agreement made between two or more countries to
give each other help if it is needed. (Also see your vocabulary)
2. Why was Germany annoyed by Imperialism? They only owned a small part of Africa and not
much else.
3. Which armies had increased in size between 1870 and 1914? French and German
4. Describe the Von Schlieffen Plan. The operational plan for a designated attack on France
once Russia, in response to international tension, had started to mobilise her forces near the
German border. 
5. What was the significance of the two crises in relation to the outbreak of World War I?

The first crisis was the Moroccan Crisis which lasted from 1905 to 1906 and is known to be
one of the long-term causes of WW1 to happen. The fight over the control of Morocco broke
down the trust between the European Powers. The second crisis was the Bosnian Crisis
which lasted from 1908 to 1909. It was caused by Austria and Hungary's motives to annex
Bosnia- Herzegovina. This crisis resulted in the assassination of Franz Ferdinand that
triggered the breakout of WW1.

6. Which countries were bound to each other by which alliance?

By 1914, then, the three nations of the Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy - stood
against the three nations of the Triple Entente - France, Russia, and Great Britain.

7. How did imperialism contribute towards Germany’s increasing anger with Britain & France?

By 1900, the British Empire extended over five continents and France had control of large areas of
Africa. The number of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased the rivalry with Germany who
had entered the scramble
to acquire colonies late and only had small areas of Africa.

8. Why was nationalism an important factor?

Nationalism was an important factor because it was the re-unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany
in 1871. France was angry because the settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war had
given Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. Large areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to
differing nationalist groups, all of whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.

9. Describe the part Germany played in increasing European militarism.

The growing European divide had led to an arms race between the main countries. The armies of
both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce
competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The British had introduced the
'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their
own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking
France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany.

Use the graphic organizer labelled “European Alliances” to answer questions 10-14.

10. What was the purpose of the 1881 Austro-Serbian Alliance? How is this similar to the Dual
Alliance?
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Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to prevent Russian aggression in Serbia. It is like
the Dual Alliance because they were both made with Russian protection in mind.

11. When did Russia and Britain end their differences and decide to become allies?
1907

12. What nations were part of the Triple Alliance?

Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
13. What nations were part of the Triple Entente?
France, Russia, and Great Britain
14. How did the growth of alliances lead to tension in Europe?
The alliance system has created tensions in Europe for several reasons. First, two opposing teams
were established through the Triple Agreement of 1907 (Britain, France, and Russia) and the Triple
Alliance in 1882 (Germany, O-Hungary, and Italy). Moreover, the "spirit" of these coalition groups is
very aggressive----The triple compact was clearly established in the context of opposition to the
Sanchong coalition; the two groups were clearly unfriendly. This competition naturally leads to
tension and conflict, and it is through this conflict and competition that the alliance system is the
contributing factor to the outbreak of war in the 1914.

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 Causes of World War One; an overview
Although it was the Assassination of the Austrian archduke, Franz Ferdinand that led to the
outbreak of world war one in August 1914, the actual causes of the war were more
complicated and not confined to a single cause.
Alliances
An alliance is an agreement made between two or more countries to give each other help if it is
needed. When an alliance is signed, those countries become known as Allies. A number of
alliances had been signed by countries between the years 1879 and 1914. These were
important because they meant that some countries had no option but to declare war if one of
their allies declared war first.
Imperialism
Imperialism is when a country takes over new lands or
countries and makes them subject to their rule. By 1900 the
British Empire extended over five continents and France had
control of large areas of Africa. The amount of lands 'owned'
by Britain and France increased the rivalry with Germany, who
had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and only Pi
had small areas of Africa. nk = British Blue = French
Red = German
Militarism
Militarism means that the army and military forces are given a
high profile by the government. The growing European divide
had led to an arms race between the main countries. The
armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled
between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition
between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The
British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective
battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit
introducing their own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen
also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France
through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany. 
Nationalism
Nationalism means being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's country. The
Congress of Vienna, held after the Napoleonic wars left both Germany and Italy as divided
states. It was nationalism the re-unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany in 1871. France was
angry because the settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war had given Alsace-Lorraine
to Germany. Large areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to differing nationalist
groups, all of whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.

Crises
The Moroccan Crisis - In 1904 Morocco had been given to France by Britain, but the
Moroccans wanted independence and were supported by Germany. War was avoided, but in
1911, the Germans were again protesting against French possession of Morocco. Britain
supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of French Congo.

The Bosnian Crisis - In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over Bosnia. This angered Serbians who
felt the province should be theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia, allied to
Serbia, mobilised its forces. Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary mobilised its forces and
prepared to threaten Russia. War was avoided when Russia backed down. In 1911 and 1912
there was war in the Balkans when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area. The states
then fought each other over which area should belong to which state. Austria-Hungary
intervened and forced Serbia to give up land. Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary
was high.

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 1879 1881
The Dual Alliance Austro-Serbian Alliance
Germany and Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary makes an alliance
make an alliance to protect with Serbia to prevent Russia
themselves from Russia. gaining control of Serbia.

1882
1894
The Triple Alliance
Franco-Russian Alliance
Germany and Austria-Hungary
make an alliance with Italy to Russia allied with France to protect
stop Italy taking sides with herself from Austria-Hungary and
Russia. Germany.

1904 1907
Entente Cordiale The Anglo-Russian Entente
This was an agreement but not a Britain and Russia ended their
formal alliance between Britain differences with this alliance.
and France

1907
The Triple Entente
This alliance between Britain, France and
Russia was made because of worsening
relations between Germany and Russia and
Germany and Britain

 www.historyonthenet.com
I believe that Imperialism was the most important cause of World War I because building an empire
needs manpower such as an army and a navy to conquer and keep the land that they colonised.
The alliances system meant that a local conflict could easily result into an intimidating global one.