There are three sections to this topic-
The years 1900 - 1914 and the events leading to the outbreak of the First World War
The Events of the War 1914 - 1918
The Peace treaty at the end of the War and the attempts to make that peace permanent between 1919 and 1929.
Key Facts
The world was dominated in 1900 by 6 Great Powers - Britain, Germany, France, Russia, Austria-Hungary and the USA.
France and the USA were the only countries not ruled by a King or Emperor.
The British Empire covered over a third of the globe and included large sections of Africa, all of India, Pakistan, Burma and Malaya.
The Royal Navy was larger than any other two navies combined.
London was the centre of the world's financial system.
The major powers were divided by a number of long standing quarrels.
To protect themselves the powers had formed themselves into alliances.
In Europe the most dangerous and tense area was the Balkans - Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey.
The attitude of Germany was making the situation worse.
Read pages 4 and 5 in Coopration and Conflict and answer these questions-
What had Bismarck always managed to do and how had he achieved this?
Who became the new master of Germany in 1890?
In what ways was he different from Bismarck?
According to Source E who had the largest European army in 1880 and in 1914?
What had happened to the size of the French army between 1880 and 1914?
What happened to the size of the German army between these two dates/
What did the Kaiser want this large army for?
Why did he think the Germans had no need to fear other countries?
Document Exercise-
What point of view is being expressed in source H.
Read pages 4 and 5 of the textbook and complete the following-
In 1890...........................was dropped as the German leader.
The new leader was Kaiser...............................II. He said that he
placed his trust in the.............. By 1914 German had an army of
.......................................soldiers while there were...................................
soldiers in the French army. The Kaiser wanted more...........................
for Germany. He wanted Germany to be so ...................... that no
other country would stand up to them. In any case Britain and...........
............ and Russia all ..................................each other.
Document Exercise-
Look at Source h and answer these questions-
Who is standing up at the front of the boat?
What are the other rulers afraid he will do?
Sinking the boat would be the same as what?