When was the First World War?
28th June 1914 to 1918.
What were the militarism reasons to why WW1 broke out? (3)
- Counties spent loads on huge armies in order to promote or defend their country.
- No one wanted the smallest army so countries got caught up in an arms race.
- No point in having a huge army if you weren’t going to use it so whenever there was an argument the temptation was always there.
What were the imperialism reasons to why WW1 broke out? (3)
- In 1914 several European nations wanted big empires, and Britain already conquered lots of land across the world.
- Race to gain control of other countries led to tension.
- Began to see each other as a threat and thought war was the cure.
What were the alliances reasons to why WW1 broke out? (3)
- If a country felt threatened they looked for alliances.
- Europe split into 2 alliances and some of the most powerful countries formed the Triple Entente.
- Idea was to put counties off fighting as it was 3 against 1, but it only took a small dispute to start war.
What were the nationalism reasons to why WW1 broke out? (3)
- Start of 20th century, people began to take pride in their countries.
- Some people thought their country was way better than others’.
- Many leaders thought war was the obvious way to prove their country was the best.
What was the spark to WW2 breaking out?
Gavrilo Princip was coincidentally nearby Sophie and Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s car after going to a cafe. They originally plotted to kill them but failed, and Princip happened to be outside the cafe as they drove past, and he shot them.
What were some of the mind control methods that people used to persuade men to join up? (6)
- Huge propaganda campaign was started to encourage men to join up.
- Poster campaigns used to make people feel different emotions, like sad, guilty or excited.
- Targeted volunteers between 19 and 30.
- British soldiers were made to look like heroes, and German soldiers made to look cruel.
- By 1916, 2.5 million men agreed to fight.
- Pushed news articles about battles and victories, but defeats hardly mentioned.
What did conscious objectors do? (4)
- Around 16,000 refused to join though some did other jobs to support war.
- Around 1,500 refused to help at all, and were sent to prison.
- Less volunteers for war by 1916.
- White Feather Campaign made some men join immediately.
What was conscription?
Any man between 18 and 41 could be forced to join up.
What was the White Feather Campaign?
Women handed out white feathers as a symbol of cowardice, to men who seemed fit enough to join up but weren’t in uniform.
What were pals battalions? (7)
- Government thought people would be more encouraged to join if fighting beside people they knew.
- Rival towns competed to prove how patriotic they were and formed pals battalions.
- Friends, family and even footballers, bankers and railway workers were pals battalions.
- There were tragic consequences, as people didn’t want to see loved ones die.
- 720 Accrington Pals fought, 584 killed or wounded.
- Formed in 1914 and went to France in 1915.
Who was Sidney Lewis and what did he do? (8)
- Youngest authenticated British soldier to serve in WW1, at age 12 in August 1915.
- He was 12 but claimed to be 18.
- Fought in the Battle of the Somme, becoming one of the youngest to see active combat during the war.
- Mother discovered his location and sent his birth certificate to war office.
- This lead to him being sent home for discharge.
- He re-enlisted once he was old enough and served until he became demobilised.
- After the war, he became a police officer and volunteered for bomb disposal in WW2.
- Awarded Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service.
What was stalemate?
When the Western Front didn’t move more than a few kilometres either way in over 4 years of war.
What illnesses could soldiers get in trenches? (5)
- Pneumonia.
- Boils.
- Dysentery.
- Trenchfoot.
- Bronchitis.
What were conditions like for soldiers in trenches?
- Many diseases.
- Infested with lice and rats.
- Hard to stay clean.
- Days spent in deep water.
- Basic food (stew, bread, stale biscuits; jam, ham etc were treats).
- Sent tins of treats from family including cigarettes, whiskey, sweets and socks.
Which 3 countries made up the Triple Entente?
UK, Russia, France.
Which 3 countries made up the Triple Alliance?
Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary.
Which country was Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne to?
Austria-Hungary.
What was the name of the terrorist group that carried out the assassination of Archduke Franz?
The Black Hand.
What was the name of the person who assassinated Archduke Franz?
Gavrilo Princip.
Which country was blamed by Austria-Hungary for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand?
Serbia.
Over which country did Britain decide to go to war?
Belgium.
Which member of the Triple Alliance did not declare war in 1914?
Italy.
What does BEF stand for?
British Expeditionary Force.
