Random cards on WW1

What were the Balkan Wars?

The Balkan Wars were a series of conflicts in the early 20th century (1912-1913) in Southeastern Europe, primarily involving the Balkan League (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro) against the Ottoman Empire. These Balkan League aimed to gain more territory from the crumbling Ottoman Empire and in fact resulted in significant territorial changes. After the first Balkan war, the tensions in the regions increased as the Balkan League wasn’t really sure about how the newly gained territory should be divided among the countries. The second Balkan war began, in which the allies of the Balkan league fought against each other for the territory gained.

What was the Entente Cordiale?

The Entente Cordiale was an agreement signed in 1904 between Great Britain and France. It resolved long-standing colonial disputes and paved the way for diplomatic cooperation. It was a significant step towards aligning these powers against potential threats, particularly from Germany.

What is nationalism?

Nationalism is a political ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state and holds that such obligations outweigh other individual or group interests.

What is militarism and why was it a factor in the outbreak of World War I?

Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. It was a significant factor in the outbreak of World War I because the European powers engaged in an arms race, building up their armies and navies. This created a climate of suspicion and fear, where the military held great influence in political decisions. Mobilization plans made it seem like war was inevitable.