WW1 4-Mark Questions - WS

Imperialism (Cause of WWI)

A nation’s effort to expand its political and economic control over other regions, often through colonization.

Example: Britain controlled India; France had Algeria and Indochina; Germany, a newer empire, had far fewer colonies.

Tension: Germany's attempts to challenge French dominance in Morocco (1905, 1911) escalated tensions and distrust, especially with Britain and France viewing German expansion as a direct threat.

Militarism (Cause of WWI)

The belief that a strong military is essential to national power and preparedness for war.

Example: Germany expanded its army and navy, building battleships like the Dreadnought to rival Britain’s fleet.

Tension: The arms race fueled a climate of fear and aggression, empowered military leaders in governments, and made war seem both inevitable and acceptable.

Machine Guns (Tactic in WWI)

Fired 400–600 rounds per minute, drastically increasing killing efficiency. Required several operators due to weight and complexity.

Result: Made traditional charges and open-field battles deadly. Contributed to trench warfare and stalemates. Example: Battle of the Somme saw over 1 million casualties, partly due to machine-gun fire.

Poison Gas (Tactic in WWI)

Introduced as a new industrialized weapon to incapacitate or kill—chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas caused blindness, burns, and lung damage.

Result: Created psychological terror and led to the development of gas masks. First used by Germany in 1915 at the Second Battle of Ypres. Violated earlier wartime conventions.

France (Georges Clemenceau’s Goal)

To permanently weaken Germany and prevent another invasion of France.

Treaty Examples: Rhineland demilitarized, Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, and Germany forced to pay harsh reparations.

Why: France had suffered major destruction during WWI and wanted revenge, security, and compensation.

United States (Woodrow Wilson’s Goal)

Establish a fair peace that would prevent future wars through diplomacy and cooperation.

Treaty Examples: Advocated for the League of Nations and proposed the Fourteen Points.

Outcome: While the League was included, many of Wilson’s points were ignored or rejected. The U.S. Senate later refused to join the League.

War Guilt Clause (Article 231)

Provided the legal basis for reparations by officially blaming Germany for starting the war.

Why unfair: Germany was not solely responsible—Austria-Hungary, Serbia, and others played roles. It humiliated Germany and fueled resentment that would later be exploited by Hitler.

Reparations

To make Germany pay for the war’s destruction, especially in France and Belgium.

Why unfair: Germany was required to pay 132 billion gold marks, which devastated its economy and led to hyperinflation and political instability in the 1920s.

Self-Determination (Point 10)

Created nations like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.

Not Fully Applied: Ethnic Germans were placed in these new countries without consent. Colonial populations in Africa and Asia were denied self-rule.

Reduction of Armaments (Point 4)

Only Germany was forced to significantly reduce its military (limited to 100,000 troops, no air force, no submarines).

Not in Treaty: Other nations kept large armies, making the enforcement selective and one-sided. Undermined the fairness Wilson had envisioned.