A-Level History (OCR) > International Relations and the Origins of War > Flashcards

International Relations and the Origins of War Flashcards

Analyse diplomatic developments and causes of global conflict in the early twentieth century. (100 cards)

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1
Q

What was the main contrast in political structure among the Great Powers by c1900?

A

Democracies versus autocracies

Britain and France were more liberal and parliamentary, while Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary remained more authoritarian.

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2
Q

Which two Great Powers were the main liberal democracies by c1900?

A
  • Britain
  • France

Their governments were more influenced by representative institutions than those of Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary.

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3
Q

Which three Great Powers were more autocratic by c1900?

A
  • Germany
  • Russia
  • Austria-Hungary

In these states, monarchs, elites and military leaders retained great influence over decision-making.

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4
Q

How could autocratic political systems increase international instability?

A

Decisions faced less restraint

Foreign policy could be shaped by small ruling elites with limited parliamentary control.

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5
Q

True or False:

By 1900 all the Great Powers had equally democratic systems of government.

A

False

Their political systems differed sharply, affecting the way policy was made.

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6
Q

What happened to Britain’s economic position by c1900?

A

Its supremacy was eroding

Britain remained wealthy and powerful, but rivals such as Germany were growing faster.

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7
Q

Which Great Power experienced especially rapid economic growth before 1914?

A

Germany

German industrial expansion helped underpin its growing military and political ambitions.

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8
Q

What broad change took place in Russia’s economy before 1914?

A

Economic reform

Russia attempted industrial and economic development to strengthen the state.

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9
Q

Why did economic strength matter in Great Power rivalry?

A

It supported armaments and war

Industrial power helped states finance armies, navies and imperial competition.

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10
Q

Fill in the blank:

Germany’s rising industrial strength helped support its growing _____ ambitions.

A

military

Economic expansion increased Germany’s weight in European power politics.

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11
Q

Which Great Power was especially associated with naval strength before 1914?

A

Britain

Britain’s global position depended heavily on the Royal Navy.

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12
Q

Which Great Power’s army was especially influential in politics before 1914?

A

Germany

The prestige and influence of the German army reinforced militarism in the Second Reich.

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13
Q

True or False:

Britain’s armed strength before 1914 depended mainly on a huge conscript army.

A

False

Britain relied more heavily on naval power than on a mass continental army.

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14
Q

What was the ‘Scramble for Africa’?

A

Rival imperial expansion in Africa

European powers competed to claim territory, increasing international tensions.

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15
Q

Why did empire-building increase Great Power rivalry?

A

It sharpened competition for power.

Colonial disputes reflected wider struggles for prestige, resources and influence.

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16
Q

Which region was a major source of rivalry between Russia and Austria-Hungary?

A

the Balkans

Both powers sought influence in an unstable region weakened by Ottoman decline.

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17
Q

Why was Russia interested in the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans?

A

It wanted influence and access.

Russia had strategic and ideological interests in the region, including support for Slavs and access to warm-water routes.

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18
Q

What alliance linked France and Russia by 1900?

A

The Franco-Russian Alliance

This alliance was important because it helped counterbalance Germany and its allies.

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19
Q

What alliance linked Germany and Austria-Hungary by 1900?

A

The Dual Alliance

It tied German policy closely to Austria-Hungary and increased bloc politics in Europe.

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20
Q

True or False:

By 1900 Europe was free of alliances and major diplomatic tensions.

A

False

Rival alliances and colonial disputes created clear potential for conflict.

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21
Q

What was the state of Anglo-French relations by 1900?

A

Historically rivals but changing

They had clashed over empire, though this rivalry would later ease.

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22
Q

What was the state of Anglo-German relations by 1900?

A

Increasingly strained

Germany’s naval growth and global ambitions made Britain more suspicious.

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23
Q

Why did Europe by 1900 contain strong potential for conflict?

A

Rival blocs and ambitions

Alliances, militarism, imperial rivalry and Balkan instability all increased danger.

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24
Q

What force of instability was created by Balkan nationalism?

A

Pressure on empires

Nationalist movements threatened Austria-Hungary, worried Russia and destabilised the region.

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25
# Fill in the blank: _\_\_\_\_ nationalism threatened multinational empires and increased tension before 1914.
Balkan ## Footnote Nationalist aspirations in south-eastern Europe were hard for the Great Powers to control.
26
Why was **Balkan nationalism** especially dangerous for Austria-Hungary?
It threatened imperial unity. ## Footnote Nationalist agitation could encourage unrest among the empire’s own subject peoples.
27
Why was **Balkan nationalism** important to Russia?
Russia backed Slavic interests ## Footnote Russian leaders used pan-Slavic ideas and regional influence to justify intervention.
28
What is meant by **militarism** before 1914?
The glorification of military solutions ## Footnote Military values and assumptions became highly influential in politics and planning.
29
Why was militarism especially important in **Germany**?
The army held great prestige ## Footnote The German military had strong influence in the Second Reich and shaped policy thinking.
30
# True or False: Militarism before 1914 meant that **military leaders** had little influence over foreign policy.
False ## Footnote In several states, military thinking had a major effect on decision-making.
31
What race developed between Britain and Germany before 1914?
The naval arms race ## Footnote Competition over battleships worsened relations and increased mutual suspicion.
32
What broader race involved several powers before 1914?
The arms race ## Footnote Expanding armies and weapons systems increased both tension and readiness for war.
33
Why did **military plans** increase the danger of war?
They encouraged rapid mobilisation ## Footnote Once a crisis began, states feared delay would leave them at a disadvantage.
34
Which German war plan was central in 1914?
The Schlieffen Plan ## Footnote It aimed to defeat France quickly before turning east against Russia.
35
What did the **Moroccan Crises** reveal about European diplomacy?
Alliances were hardening ## Footnote They increased tension and pushed Britain and France closer together.
36
What was the **Anglo-French Entente**?
A diplomatic understanding ## Footnote It reduced colonial rivalry and marked improved relations between Britain and France.
37
# True or False: The **Anglo-French Entente** was a formal military alliance requiring automatic war.
False ## Footnote It was an understanding, though it encouraged closer cooperation.
38
What broader grouping emerged from improved **Anglo-French and Anglo-Russian relations**?
The Triple Entente ## Footnote Britain, France and Russia became increasingly aligned against the Triple Alliance powers.
39
# Fill in the blank: Britain, France and Russia formed the _\_\_\_\_ Entente.
Triple ## Footnote This grouping helped create two armed camps in Europe.
40
Why did the decline of the **Ottoman Empire** matter to the Great Powers?
It created a power vacuum ## Footnote Rival states competed to influence or exploit weakening Ottoman control in Eastern Europe.
41
What was the **Young Turk Movement**?
A reform movement in the Ottoman Empire ## Footnote It sought to modernise and strengthen the empire but also created new tensions.
42
What was one consequence of the **Young Turk Movement**?
Greater instability in the Balkans ## Footnote Efforts to reform and centralise rule interacted with nationalist pressures and foreign intervention.
43
What is **Pan-Slavism**?
Support for Slavic peoples ## Footnote It was important because Russia could use it to justify influence in the Balkans.
44
# True or False: Pan-Slavism was mainly a policy of **Austria-Hungary** to strengthen its hold on the Balkans.
False ## Footnote It was more closely linked to Russian influence and Slavic nationalism.
45
What was the **Bosnian Crisis**?
Austria-Hungary’s annexation of Bosnia angered Serbia and humiliated Russia.
46
# Fill in the blank: The _\_\_\_\_ Crisis worsened Austro-Serbian tension and damaged Russian prestige.
Bosnian ## Footnote The episode increased bitterness in the Balkans and among the Great Powers.
47
Why was the **Bosnian Crisis** important in the long term?
It deepened resentment and mistrust ## Footnote Serbia became more hostile to Austria-Hungary, while Russia was determined not to back down again.
48
What caused the **First and Second Balkan Wars**?
Rivalries over Ottoman lands ## Footnote Balkan states and Great Powers struggled over territory as Ottoman power retreated.
49
Why did the **Balkan Wars** matter to Serbia?
Serbia emerged stronger and bolder ## Footnote Its gains increased tension with Austria-Hungary, which feared Serbian expansion.
50
How did the Great Powers respond to the **Balkan Wars**?
They tried to impose peace ## Footnote They wanted to stop local conflict from becoming a wider European war.
51
# True or False: The **Balkan Wars** reduced Serbian confidence and removed Austro-Serbian rivalry.
False ## Footnote Serbia’s position strengthened, making Austria-Hungary more alarmed.
52
What event in 1914 triggered the **July Crisis**?
the assassination at Sarajevo ## Footnote The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand set off a chain of diplomatic and military decisions.
53
How did Austria-Hungary respond to the **assassination in Sarajevo**?
It moved against Serbia ## Footnote Austrian leaders used the crisis to confront Serbia with German backing.
54
How did **Germany** support Austria-Hungary during the July Crisis?
It gave firm backing ## Footnote German leaders encouraged Austria-Hungary to act decisively against Serbia.
55
Why did **Russia** respond to Austria-Hungary’s demands on Serbia?
It wanted to protect Serbia and its prestige ## Footnote Russia feared losing influence in the Balkans if Serbia were crushed.
56
What was the significance of the **bombardment of Belgrade**?
It marked the start of war in the Balkans ## Footnote The local conflict now moved rapidly towards a wider European war.
57
Why did **mobilisation** turn a Balkan war into a European war?
It activated rigid plans and fears ## Footnote Once Russia and Germany mobilised, leaders found it harder to step back.
58
# True or False: Mobilisation in 1914 was seen by governments as a minor step with no real risk of escalation.
False ## Footnote Mobilisation was widely understood as highly dangerous and closely linked to war plans.
59
What happened when Germany implemented the **Schlieffen Plan**?
It invaded Belgium ## Footnote Germany sought a quick defeat of France by moving through neutral Belgium.
60
Why was the **invasion of Belgium** important in 1914?
It brought Britain into the war ## Footnote Belgian neutrality and the wider balance of power influenced Britain’s decision.
61
Why did Britain declare war in August 1914?
To resist German aggression and defend Belgium ## Footnote British leaders also feared German domination of the continent.
62
What role did **key decision makers** play in the outbreak of war?
They turned crisis into conflict ## Footnote Individual choices by emperors, ministers and generals mattered greatly during the July Crisis.
63
Why did the war become a **world war** rather than remain a European one?
Alliances and empires spread it ## Footnote Colonial possessions, sea warfare and wider diplomatic interests globalised the conflict.
64
Why did **Italy** enter the war?
To pursue its own interests ## Footnote Italy was motivated by territorial and strategic calculations rather than simple alliance loyalty.
65
# True or False: Italy entered the war immediately in 1914 solely because of automatic loyalty to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
False ## Footnote Italy delayed entry and later joined the war for its own advantage.
66
Why did the **USA** eventually enter the war?
Escalating conflict affected American interests ## Footnote The widening war increasingly threatened US security, trade and political principles.
67
# Fill in the blank: The USA entered the war as the conflict became more _\_\_\_\_ and threatening to American interests.
global ## Footnote By this stage, the war had moved far beyond its original European setting.
68
Which **four autocratic empires** collapsed at the end of the First World War?
* Russia * Germany * Austria-Hungary * the Ottoman Empire
69
# Fill in the blank: At the end of the First World War, the autocratic empires of Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary and the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Empire collapsed.
Ottoman ## Footnote The collapse of these empires reshaped Europe and the wider international order.
70
What broader force is linked to the **collapse** of the autocratic empires?
Nationalist ambitions
71
What **years** are covered by the peace-making section?
1919–1923 ## Footnote This section includes the Paris Peace Settlement and related treaties.
72
Which treaty is specifically named in the **peace-making** section?
The Treaty of Versailles
73
# True or False: The peace-making section focuses only on the Treaty of Versailles and ignores settlements in Eastern and Southern Europe.
False ## Footnote It also includes the East and Southern European settlements and the settlement with Turkey.
74
Which regions’ settlements are included alongside the Treaty of Versailles?
East and Southern Europe
75
Which country’s settlement is separately identified in the peace-making section?
Turkey ## Footnote This reflects the wider post-war settlement beyond Germany alone.
76
What major **challenge** to the peace settlement came from the USA after the war?
A return to isolationism
77
Which international organisation is named in the challenges to the **peace settlement** section?
The League of Nations
78
Which three countries’ responses to the **post-war settlement** are specifically mentioned?
* France * Britain * Germany ## Footnote Their reactions shaped the unstable international system after the war.
79
Which two powers’ positions in world affairs are specifically mentioned by 1923?
* The USA * Russia ## Footnote Both had complex relationships with the post-war settlement and international diplomacy.
80
What continuing problem is listed as affecting international relations by 1923?
Continuing border disputes ## Footnote These disputes reflected the instability of the post-war settlement.
81
Which occupation is specifically named as important by 1923?
The occupation of the Ruhr
82
What phrase is used for the atmosphere of improved diplomacy in the mid-1920s?
the ‘Spirit of Locarno’ ## Footnote This is linked to consolidation of the post-war settlement.
83
What did the ‘Spirit of Locarno’ attempt to do?
Consolidate the post-war settlement ## Footnote It is linked to conciliation and attempts at disarmament in international relations.
84
What two broad diplomatic aims are linked to the ‘**Spirit of Locarno**’?
* Disarmament * Conciliation
85
Which **plan** is specifically named under attempts at maintaining the peace?
The Dawes Plan ## Footnote It is listed alongside the Geneva Protocol and the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
86
Which **protocol** is specifically named under attempts at maintaining the peace?
The Geneva Protocol ## Footnote It appears as part of attempts at disarmament and conciliation.
87
Which **pact** is specifically named under attempts at maintaining the **peace**?
The Kellogg-Briand Pact ## Footnote It is included as part of efforts to preserve peace in the interwar years.
88
Name three terms of the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
* Renounced war as national policy * Promised peaceful dispute settlement only * Signed by major world powers (U.S., France, Germany, others)
89
What major economic crisis affected **international relations** in this period?
The Depression
90
Which two conferences are named as failures in relation to debts and reparations?
* The Lausanne * London Conferences
91
# True or False: The Depression strengthened international cooperation and made reparations easier to resolve.
False
92
Which three powers are named under the changing balance of power?
* Italy * Japan * Germany
93
What concept is said to collapse in the early 1930s?
Collective security
94
Which two crises are named as evidence of the failure of the **League of Nations**?
* The Manchurian * Abyssinian Crises ## Footnote These are central to the collapse of collective security.
95
# Fill in the blank: The collapse of collective security is linked to the failure of the League of Nations in the ______ and Abyssinian Crises.
Manchurian ## Footnote These crises exposed the weakness of international enforcement.
96
Whose aims and actions are central to Germany’s challenge to Versailles after 1935?
Hitler
97
What **treaty** did Hitler challenge after 1935?
The Treaty of Versailles
98
Which **crisis** is named in relation to Germany’s international challenge in the later 1930s?
The Rhineland Crisis ## Footnote It is one of several examples of aggression and weak international response.
99
Which pact is specifically named in relation to the crisis over **Poland**?
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
100
Which event is specifically named in connection with **Japan and American** entry?
Pearl Harbor
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