Origins of World War I:Question of the Day

Daniel W. BlackmonDaniel W. Blackmon

IB HL HistoryIB HL History

Coral Gables Sr. High SchoolCoral Gables Sr. High School

Identifications of the Day

Alsace-LorraineAlsace-Lorraine The Eastern QuestionThe Eastern Question Bosporus and DardanellesBosporus and Dardanelles Gen. Friedrich von BernhardiGen. Friedrich von Bernhardi Dual AllianceDual Alliance

Essay of the Day

"Germany must bear the ultimate responsibility for the outbreak of the First World War." How far do you agree with this judgment? (1995) (HL)

Key Words

““ultimate responsibility”ultimate responsibility” ““How far do you agree”How far do you agree”

You must “assess / evaluate”You must “assess / evaluate”

SFI: Germany is Guilty!

Wilhelm IIWilhelm II Alfred von TirpitzAlfred von Tirpitz Risk fleetRisk fleet Two Power StandardTwo Power Standard Alsace-LorraineAlsace-Lorraine Kruger TelegramKruger Telegram

SFI: Germany is Guilty!

Pan-German LeaguePan-German League Friedrich von BernhardiFriedrich von Bernhardi ““A place in the sun”A place in the sun” Dual AllianceDual Alliance Daily Telegraph interviewDaily Telegraph interview First Moroccan CrisisFirst Moroccan Crisis

SFI: Germany is Guilty!

Algeciras ConferenceAlgeciras Conference Agadir CrisisAgadir Crisis Haldane MissionHaldane Mission The Blank ChequeThe Blank Cheque The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan Fritz FischerFritz Fischer

SFI: Germany is Not Guilty!

Eastern QuestionEastern Question Pan-SlavismPan-Slavism DreikaiserbundDreikaiserbund Eastern CrisisEastern Crisis Treaty of BerlinTreaty of Berlin Franco-Russian AllianceFranco-Russian Alliance

SFI: Germany is Not Guilty!

Bosnian CrisisBosnian Crisis First Balkan War Balkan League Second Balkan War Gavrilo Princip Archduke Franz Ferdinand

SFI: Germany is Not Guilty!

Harry Elmer Barnes Sidney Bradshaw Fay

Identifications of the Day

Risk fleetRisk fleet Two Power StandardTwo Power Standard Kruger TelegramKruger Telegram HMS HMS DreadnoughtDreadnought Entente CordialeEntente Cordiale

Essay of the Day

To what extent can it be said that the First World War was caused by the alliance system? [HL] [1999]

Essay of the Day

““To what extent”To what extent” ““caused”caused”

You must analyze, explain, and evaluateYou must analyze, explain, and evaluate

SFI: Alliances

Dual AllianceDual Alliance Triple AllianceTriple Alliance Franco-Russian AllianceFranco-Russian Alliance Entente CordialeEntente Cordiale

SFI: Alliances

Balance of PowerBalance of Power RealpolitikRealpolitik The German QuestionThe German Question

SFI: Alternative Explanations

The Eastern QuestionThe Eastern Question Germany’s Will to PowerGermany’s Will to Power

Identifications of the Day

Algeciras Conference Haldane Mission Bosnian Crisis First Balkan War Agadir Crisis

Essay of the Day

"Wars may be started by a single incident. They are never caused by such an incident." With reference to any ONE twentieth century war show how far you agree with this statement. (1990) (HL)

Essay of the Day

““started”started” ““caused”caused” ““how far you agree”how far you agree”

You must analyze and evaluateYou must analyze and evaluate

SFI: Alternate Explanations

The German QuestionThe German Question The Eastern QuestionThe Eastern Question The Will to PowerThe Will to Power Sidney Fay Bradshaw ThesisSidney Fay Bradshaw Thesis

“The German Question”

The creation of a powerful and united The creation of a powerful and united Germany upset the traditional balance Germany upset the traditional balance of power in Europe, leading to World of power in Europe, leading to World War I/.War I/.

Donald Kagan tends to this viewDonald Kagan tends to this view

“The Eastern Question”

The problem of rising nationalism in The problem of rising nationalism in the decaying Ottoman and Austrian the decaying Ottoman and Austrian Empires led to World War IEmpires led to World War I

“The Will to Power”

Fritz Fischer– a variation of the Fritz Fischer– a variation of the German QuestionGerman QuestionGermany’s Will to Power—that is, Germany’s Will to Power—that is,

aggressive policies—led to World aggressive policies—led to World War IWar I

Sidney Bradshaw Fay Thesis

What miscalculations / failuresWhat miscalculations / failures Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary RussiaRussia GermanyGermany FranceFrance Great BritainGreat Britain

How would you develop a multi-causal How would you develop a multi-causal explanation for the outbreak of World War explanation for the outbreak of World War I?I?

Rank the broad theories in descending order Rank the broad theories in descending order of importance.of importance.

Identifications of the Day

Archduke Franz Ferdinand the “blank checque” the Schlieffen Plan Harry Elmer Barnes Fritz Fischer

Essay of the Day

"Wars are caused by miscalculations of the aggressor and the failure of politicians and diplomats to exercise crisis management." Discuss the validity of this statement with reference to ONE twentieth century war. (1993) (HL)

““caused”caused” ““miscalculations”miscalculations” ““failure . . . Crisis management”failure . . . Crisis management” ““Discuss the validity”Discuss the validity”

You must analyze and evaluateYou must analyze and evaluate

Word to the Wise!

Are you prepared to write one of these Are you prepared to write one of these essays?essays?

Do you have a command of the SFI with Do you have a command of the SFI with which to support your arguments?which to support your arguments?

Would Mr. Blackmon be so evil, wicked, Would Mr. Blackmon be so evil, wicked, mean, bad, and nasty as to make you write mean, bad, and nasty as to make you write one of these??????one of these??????

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