Tell long-term causes from the event that set things off

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card C (today): “Crises before 1914”. Who made it: PencilGo, written for this sheet from standard references. For whom: students. Why: to compare the crises of 1905 to 1911 with 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1905 (Morocco), 1908 (Bosnia) and 1911 (Morocco again), powers from both groupings threatened one another, and each crisis ended in a settlement without a general war. Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out of the war in 1914 and joined the Allies in 1915. Context (what else was happening): Each settlement left rivalries in place. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): A short list; it does not explain why 1914 went differently.

2. 1.

   Cards A and C show the same alliance groups in the crises of 1905, 1908 and 1911, none ending in general war. What does that suggest about the alliances as a cause of 1914, Ari?

   • They show the earlier crises were rehearsals for 1914, so a general war was certain from 1905 onward
   • They were the cause of 1914, because card A shows each power tied to another and so ready to be drawn in
   • A condition at most: the same alliances stood without war before, so something else made 1914 differ
   • They can be set aside as a cause, because three earlier crises with the same alliances did not bring war

3. Use this

   Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card B (today): “4 August 1914”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers.

4. 2.

   Bo asks what cards A and B say about Britain's entry on August 4. Which reading do both cards support?

   • Britain had planned to fight since 1839, and Belgium was just an excuse to begin the war
   • The Entente ties made Britain a likely partner, but card B says Belgium's invasion tipped the balance
   • The assassination brought Britain in directly, because it comes first on card B's list of events
   • Britain joined because of its ties to France and Russia alone, since card A shows them from 1904 and 1907

5. Use this

   Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card B (today): “4 August 1914”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers. Card C (today): “Crises before 1914”. Who made it: PencilGo, written for this sheet from standard references. For whom: students. Why: to compare the crises of 1905 to 1911 with 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1905 (Morocco), 1908 (Bosnia) and 1911 (Morocco again), powers from both groupings threatened one another, and each crisis ended in a settlement without a general war. Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out of the war in 1914 and joined the Allies in 1915. Context (what else was happening): Each settlement left rivalries in place. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): A short list; it does not explain why 1914 went differently.

6. 3.

   Esme imagines Britain had made no promise to Belgium in 1839. Which statement do cards B and C best support?

   • Britain would have joined anyway, because card A shows it was bound to fight for France and Russia
   • Britain's entry depended on Belgium alone, so France and Russia played no part in Britain's choice
   • Britain might have stayed out: the invasion tipped its decision (card B), and Italy stayed out (card C)
   • Britain would have joined anyway, because war with Germany was bound to come once the Entente was signed

7. Use this

   Card B (today): "4 August 1914". Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers.

8. 4.

   Card B is a museum factsheet about Britain's entry. Kira asks it why Germany invaded Belgium. What happens?

   • It cannot be used as evidence, because a British museum takes the Allied side and so is biased
   • It answers well, because a British factsheet shows how Germany was seen by its enemies at the time
   • It reports the invasion but not Germany's reasons, which German records of the time would show
   • It answers fully, because it names the invasion as the event that tipped the balance for Britain

9. Use this

   Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card B (today): “4 August 1914”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers.

10. 5.

    Cards A and B both come from the Imperial War Museums. Luz asks if their agreement is evidence from two independent sources.

    • No: one maker means one point of view, so their agreement is weaker evidence than two makers would give
    • Yes, because card A is about alliances and card B about Belgium, so each checks the other's facts
    • No, because a war museum is not a reliable maker, so neither of its two cards can be used as evidence
    • Yes, because they cover different years and topics, so each card gives separate proof of the other

11. Use this

    Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card C (today): “Crises before 1914”. Who made it: PencilGo, written for this sheet from standard references. For whom: students. Why: to compare the crises of 1905 to 1911 with 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1905 (Morocco), 1908 (Bosnia) and 1911 (Morocco again), powers from both groupings threatened one another, and each crisis ended in a settlement without a general war. Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out of the war in 1914 and joined the Allies in 1915. Context (what else was happening): Each settlement left rivalries in place. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): A short list; it does not explain why 1914 went differently.

12. 6.

    The crises of 1905 to 1911 ended without war, but 1914 did not. Which explanation do cards A and C support, Noah?

    • The cards show the same groupings each time but not why 1914 differed, so more evidence is needed
    • The alliances grew stronger each year after 1907, so by 1914 they were strong enough to bring war
    • The assassination made 1914 different, because it was the first crisis in which a life was lost
    • The earlier crises were minor, so 1914 just seems different now that historians know how it ended

13. Use this

    Card A (today): "What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances". Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card B (today): "4 August 1914". Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers. Card C (today): "Crises before 1914". Who made it: PencilGo, written for this sheet from standard references. For whom: students. Why: to compare the crises of 1905 to 1911 with 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1905 (Morocco), 1908 (Bosnia) and 1911 (Morocco again), powers from both groupings threatened one another, and each crisis ended in a settlement without a general war. Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out of the war in 1914 and joined the Allies in 1915. Context (what else was happening): Each settlement left rivalries in place. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): A short list; it does not explain why 1914 went differently. Card D (invented for this sheet): a student's note. "The alliances caused the war. Without them, Austria-Hungary and Serbia would have fought a small war, and Britain would have stayed out."

14. 7.

    Card D claims the alliances caused the war. Pia tests it against the cards. Which reply is best?

    • Right: card A is written by historians who know how the war ended, so it settles the question
    • Partly: alliances widened the conflict, but Britain's entry turned on Belgium and Italy stayed out
    • Wrong: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia alone on July 28, so the alliances played no part in the war
    • Right: card A shows each power had an ally, so the alliances caused each entry into the war

15. Use this

    Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card B (today): “4 August 1914”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers. Card C (today): “Crises before 1914”. Who made it: PencilGo, written for this sheet from standard references. For whom: students. Why: to compare the crises of 1905 to 1911 with 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1905 (Morocco), 1908 (Bosnia) and 1911 (Morocco again), powers from both groupings threatened one another, and each crisis ended in a settlement without a general war. Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out of the war in 1914 and joined the Allies in 1915. Context (what else was happening): Each settlement left rivalries in place. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): A short list; it does not explain why 1914 went differently.

16. 8.

    A student says “Alliances automatically dragged every ally into war in 1914.” Ren tests this against the cards. Which evidence is strongest?

    • Card C: the crises of 1905 to 1911 ended in settlements, so alliances did not bring any power into war, even when a crisis grew
    • Card A: Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary, so the alliances had already made a general war certain by 1914
    • Card B: Britain entered on August 4, so alliances brought in each power that had an ally at the time
    • Card C: Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out in 1914, so an alliance did not force entry

17. Use this

    Timeline strip “Europe, 1870 to 1915” (each mark is 5 years). 1871: the German Empire is proclaimed. 1894: France and Russia ally. 1904: Britain and France reach an understanding. 1907: Britain and Russia reach an understanding. 1905, 1908 and 1911: crises over Morocco, Bosnia and Morocco again; none leads to a general war. 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated at Sarajevo (June 28); Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (July 28); Britain is at war with Germany (August 4). Card A (today): “What you need to know about pre-First World War alliances”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the alliances before 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: A unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the balance of power. France and Russia allied in 1894, and Germany drew closer to Austria-Hungary. Britain aligned with France in 1904 and with Russia in 1907, the Triple Entente, which stoked German fears of encirclement. Russia and Austria-Hungary also quarreled over South Eastern Europe. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the outcome of 1914 known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It explains the groupings, not the decisions made in July 1914. Card B (today): “4 August 1914”. Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers.

18. 9.

    Tala reads the student's claim “Germany's fear of encirclement made war certain.” What do cards A and B show about it?

    • Card B shows it, because Germany invaded Belgium in 1914 just to break out of the encirclement card A describes
    • Both cards show it: card A names the fear and card B shows the war that followed from that fear
    • Card A shows the fear; neither card shows it made war certain, and Britain's entry turned on Belgium
    • Neither card shows even the fear, because card A was written after the war and so cannot be trusted

19. Use this

    Card B (today): "4 August 1914". Who made it: historians at the Imperial War Museums. For whom: journalists and readers today. Why: to explain how Britain came to be at war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Gavrilo Princip, backed from Serbia, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality since 1839, and Germany's invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain, which was at war on August 4. Context (what else was happening): Written for the anniversary of Britain's entry into the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It focuses on Britain's decision, not on the decisions of the other powers. Card C (today): "Crises before 1914". Who made it: PencilGo, written for this sheet from standard references. For whom: students. Why: to compare the crises of 1905 to 1911 with 1914. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1905 (Morocco), 1908 (Bosnia) and 1911 (Morocco again), powers from both groupings threatened one another, and each crisis ended in a settlement without a general war. Italy, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stayed out of the war in 1914 and joined the Allies in 1915. Context (what else was happening): Each settlement left rivalries in place. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): A short list; it does not explain why 1914 went differently.

20. 10.

    Zee tests the claim “The assassination alone caused the war.” Which reply fits cards B and C?

    • It was a long-term cause, because it began a chain of declarations that no earlier crisis had begun
    • It was the trigger, but card C shows crises ending in settlements, so conditions mattered too
    • It alone caused the war, because card B lists the declarations that followed it within just weeks
    • It did not matter, because card C shows the powers had settled earlier crises without going to war