History WW1 Exam Revision Notes

Long 19th Century

A term created by Eric Hobsbawm to describe the period between 1789 and 1914.

Militarism

A belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war, characterized by an arms race among European powers.

Balance of Power

A system created in 1815 where each country matched the military strength of others, preventing any one country from invading another.

Arms Race

Rivalry among European powers to build up military strength, leading to increased military spending and stockpiling of weapons.

Dreadnoughts

Battleships armed with 12 inch guns, first launched by Britain in 1906, which created tension between Britain and Germany.

First Balkan War

A conflict in 1912 where Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro fought against the Ottoman Empire for territory.

Second Balkan War

A 1913 conflict ignited when Bulgaria attacked its former allies over disputes regarding land gained from the first war.

Alliance System

A network of alliances in Europe set up by Bismarck after the Franco-Prussian War to politically isolate France.

White Man's Burden

The belief that European powers had a duty to 'civilize' less developed nations in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Scramble for Africa

The rapid colonization of Africa by European powers between 1880-1914, leading to increased tensions over territorial claims.

Weltpolitik

Kaiser Wilhelm II's foreign policy aimed at securing Germany's place in the world, often causing tensions in Europe.

First Moroccan Crisis

A 1905 incident where Germany aimed to undermine French influence in Morocco, unintentionally strengthening the Franco-British alliance.

Second Moroccan Crisis

The 1911 event when France sent troops to Morocco, and Germany dispatched a gunboat, escalating tensions between the two nations.

Alsace-Lorraine

A region taken by Germany from France after the Franco-Prussian War, causing lasting resentment and nationalist tensions.

The Black Hand

A secret Serbian nationalist group aimed at uniting all Serbs through violent means.

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914, triggering the series of events leading to World War I.

July Crisis

The diplomatic crisis in July 1914 following the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, where Austria-Hungary received support from Germany.