1: World War I and the Pursuit of Peace –

These question-and-answer flashcards cover the causes, course, and consequences of World War I, the aims and terms of the Paris Peace Conference and Treaty of Versailles, German reactions, and the structure, goals, and shortcomings of the League of Nations.

Which two countries engaged in a naval arms race that heightened pre-war tensions?

Britain and Germany.

Name the three original members of the Triple Alliance.

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (although Italy switched sides in 1915).

Which nations formed the core of the Triple Entente at the start of World War I?

Britain, France, and Russia.

State two reasons Britain viewed Germany as a threat before 1914.

Germany’s rapid industrial and naval expansion and its aggressive territorial ambitions.

What territory lost in 1871 did France hope to regain from Germany?

Alsace-Lorraine.

Give two immediate political consequences of World War I in Europe.

The overthrow of the German Kaiser and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

What was the main purpose of the 1919 Paris Peace Conference?

To negotiate a settlement that would officially end World War I.

Who were the “Big Three” leaders at the conference?

Woodrow Wilson (USA), David Lloyd George (Britain), and Georges Clemenceau (France).

Summarise Woodrow Wilson’s chief aims at Paris.

A lenient peace, self-determination for nations, and creation of the League of Nations.

What did France, under Clemenceau, seek from Germany?

Severe punishment, lasting weakening, and heavy compensation for French losses.

Why did Lloyd George view Germany as both a threat and a potential partner?

He wanted security from German aggression but also needed Germany as a trading partner and bulwark against communism.

Which article of the Treaty of Versailles became known as the "War Guilt Clause"?

Article 231.

How did most Germans react to the War Guilt Clause?

With feelings of injustice and humiliation, believing they were unfairly blamed.

How much were reparations set at for Germany in 1921?

£6.6 billion, payable in instalments.

List two territories Germany lost under the Treaty of Versailles.

Alsace-Lorraine to France and the Saar coalfield placed under French control for 15 years (others include land to Poland and Czechoslovakia).

What restriction limited the size of the German army?

It was capped at 100,000 volunteer soldiers and conscription was banned.

What term did Germans use for the Treaty of Versailles, and what does it mean?

"Diktat" – a dictated peace imposed without negotiation.

Which economic crisis hit Germany in 1923 partly due to reparations and the Ruhr occupation?

Hyperinflation.

Which 1918 treaty between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers did the Allies cite to justify harsh terms on Germany?

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Explain the principle of collective security in the League of Nations.

An attack on one member was to be treated as an attack on all, prompting collective action.

Where was the League of Nations headquartered?

Geneva, Switzerland.

Give two reasons the League of Nations lacked authority.

The absence of the USA and USSR and member reluctance to enforce sanctions or pursue disarmament.

Name one successful League intervention during the 1920s.

The Aaland Islands dispute (1921) between Sweden and Finland, resolved peacefully.

Provide one notable League failure in the 1920s.

The Corfu Incident (1923), where the League failed to force Italy’s withdrawal without Greek concessions.

What U.S. foreign-policy attitude kept America out of the League of Nations?

Isolationism, bolstered by Republican opposition in the Senate.

What 1928 agreement renounced war as a tool of national policy?

The Kellogg-Briand Pact.

Define "self-determination" as promoted in Wilson’s Fourteen Points.

The right of peoples to choose their own government and sovereignty without external interference.

What was the main objective of the 1924 Dawes Plan?

To restructure Germany’s reparations and stabilise its economy with U.S. loans.

Which 1925 treaties guaranteed Germany’s western borders and improved relations?

The Locarno Treaties.

Which Russian revolution in 1917 forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate?

The February (or March) Revolution.

Who won the Russian Civil War and what state was created?

The Bolsheviks (Communists), creating the Soviet Union.

Which region of Germany was to remain permanently demilitarised under the treaty?

The Rhineland.

How many battleships was Germany allowed to keep under the Treaty of Versailles?

Six battleships.

Why did Britain and France often hesitate to back League sanctions?

Fear of harming their own trade and unwillingness to commit militarily.

What economic term describes the rapid devaluation of currency experienced by Germany in 1923?

Hyperinflation.

Identify two colonial powers financially weakened by World War I.

Britain and France.

Why did some Germans claim their army was "stabbed in the back"?

They believed the military had not been defeated in the field but undermined by politicians who signed the armistice and Treaty of Versailles.