Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the First World War through the lens of its imperial dimension. They analyse the reasons for the outbreak of war and assess how it affected Britain at home and abroad.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how the assassination of Franz Ferdinand caused European powers to declare war on each other as a result of the alliance system.

Key Notes

• Tensions rose in the Balkans due to the rise of nationalist movements and opposition to Austrian influence.
• The trigger for war was the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Serbia.
• German-supported Austria declared war on Serbia, supported by Russia.
• The system of alliances caused Germany and Russia to declare war, dragging other powers into the conflict.
• The failure of Germany's Schlieffen Plan, which assumed British neutrality, contributed to the outbreak of a global war.

Vocabulary To Learn

• nationalism: nationalism is the support for the political independence of a country
• assassinate: to assassinate someone is to murder an important person for a political or religious reason
• ultimatum: an ultimatum is a final demand which, if denied, will result in some form of retaliation
• mobilise: to mobilise is to prepare an army for war

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• That the assassination of Ferdinand led to the inevitable, immediate outbreak of a global war

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Growing international tension in the early 1900s Study Guide
• The First World War in the colonies Study Guide
• The impact of WW1 on the British Homefront Study Guide
• The impact of WWI across the Empire Study Guide
• The Western Front in WW1 Study Guide