MUN World History Module 19.1-2 Study Guide

What were Europe’s Great Powers?

Russia, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, Germany

Why was there a rivalry between the Great Powers?

Tensions for land and markets; imperialism

What was happening in the Balkans?

The ethnic groups demanded their indpendence

In 1914, which great power did not have a standing army?

Great Britain but they had an excellent navy

Who was Germany rivaling as the world’s top industrial nation?

Great Britain

Why was France hostile to Germany?

They took land during and beat them during Franco-Rrussian War

Why did France make an alliance with Russia?

Bismark let the treaty with Russia expire

What did Bismark do to isolate France?

Create an alliance with Italy, Russia, and Austria-Hungary

Why did Britain create an entente with Russia and France?

France was creating a navy to compete with Britain

What is an entente?

when countries group together as a promise to not fight each other

What did Serbia want, and why?

unite Slavic nations into one nation

Who supported Serbia?

Russia

Who opposed Serbia’s mission?

Austria-Hungary

What did Austria-Hungary do to throw off Serbia’s mission?

annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina

What started the war?

Gavrilo Princip (a Bosnian radical) killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria-Hungary emperor heir) and his wife

Why was Germany’s alliance called the Central Powers?

They are located in the center of the European map

Why did the Ottoman’s and Bulgaria join the Central Powers?

They wanted to gain land

Why did Italy switch sides?

they accused the former alliance of unjustly starting war

Which country was almost all the war in the west fought?

France

What geographic disadvantage did Germany and Austria-Hungary have?

they were surrounded by other countries

What was the western front like?

miles and miles of trenches

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

created during Franco-Prussian War and it was focused on lighting war

Why was the Battle of Marne important?

allies stopped the Germans which means Germany’s plan failed and they had to fight a two front war