Cambridge International A Level · History (9489)

The origins of the First World War: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on The origins of the First World War.

10 questions22 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

What was the primary objective of Germany's Schlieffen Plan?

Question 2

1 mark

How did the Anglo-German Naval Race contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?

Question 3

1 mark

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the event that triggered the July Crisis of 1914, took place in which city?

Question 4

1 mark

The Fischer Thesis, which emerged in the 1960s, primarily argued that:

Question 5

1 mark

The Dual Alliance of 1879 was a defensive agreement originally signed between which two powers?

Question 6

2 marks

What was the main purpose of the Triple Entente formed between Britain, France, and Russia?

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Question 7

3 marks

According to the Fischer Thesis, which nation bore the primary responsibility for the outbreak of the First World War?

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Question 8

2 marks

Briefly define the term militarism as it applied to the Great Powers in the years preceding \(1914\).

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Question 9

3 marks

a) Identify two key features of the alliance system that existed between the Great Powers by 1914.

b) Explain how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo led to a general European war during the July Crisis.

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Question 10

7 marks

Evaluate the argument that the alliance system, rather than the assassination at Sarajevo, was the most significant long-term cause of the First World War.

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