2K International Relations and Global Conflict, c1890–1941 (A-level only) – The coming of war, 1911–1917 — AQA A-Level History

This topic covers the period from the Moroccan Crises to the entry of the USA into the First World War, focusing on the diplomatic and military decisions that led to the outbreak of war in 1914. It examines the July Crisis, the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, and the widening of the conflict through the involvement of the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and the USA.

Understanding this topic is crucial for explaining how a regional dispute between Austria-Hungary and Serbia escalated into a global war. It fits into the broader theme of international relations and global conflict, highlighting the fragility of peace and the impact of leadership, alliances, and military planning.

• →The July Crisis: a series of diplomatic and military decisions following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, leading to the outbreak of war.
• →The Schlieffen Plan: Germany's military strategy to avoid a two-front war, which failed and brought Britain into the conflict.
• →The 'blank cheque': Germany's unconditional support for Austria-Hungary, which encouraged Austrian aggression.
• →The role of mobilisation: military timetables and the fear of being unprepared led to rapid escalation.
• →The widening of the war: the entry of the Ottoman Empire and Italy, and later the USA, turned a European war into a global conflict.

• Explain the formation of the Balkan League and its role in causing the First Balkan War by attacking the Ottoman Empire.
• Analyse the causes of the Second Balkan War, specifically Bulgaria's dissatisfaction with the territorial settlements in Macedonia.
• Evaluate the Great Powers' attempts to impose peace, such as the London Conference (1912-1913) and the creation of Albania.
• Assess the impact on Serbia, noting its territorial expansion, increased military confidence, and heightened nationalist agitation against Austria-Hungary.
• Discuss the impact on the Great Powers, particularly the hardening of the Austro-German alliance and Russia's commitment to supporting Serbia.
• Detail Austria-Hungary's response to the Sarajevo assassination, focusing on the drafting of the July Ultimatum designed to be rejected by Serbia.
• Explain Germany's role in the crisis, specifically the issuing of the 'blank cheque' which encouraged Austro-Hungarian aggression.
• Analyse Russia's response to the Austro-Hungarian demands, including the decision to mobilise its army to protect Serbia and preserve Russian prestige.
• Describe the significance of the bombardment of Belgrade on 29 July 1914 as the definitive transition from diplomatic crisis to armed conflict in the Balkans.
• Evaluate how the interplay between Austro-German aggression and Russian mobilisation escalated the local conflict into a global war.
• Explain the timeline and impact of Russian and German mobilisation in escalating the July Crisis.
• Analyse the strategic rationale behind the Schlieffen Plan and how its reliance on invading Belgium forced a wider conflict.
• Evaluate the motives behind Britain's declaration of war, balancing the moral outrage over Belgium with long-term strategic concerns regarding German hegemony.
• Assess the roles and motives of key decision makers, such as Bethmann Hollweg, Sazonov, and Grey, in the failure of diplomacy.
• Detail the factors that escalated the conflict from a European dispute into a global war, including colonial involvement and naval warfare.
• Analyse Italy's shift from the Triple Alliance to joining the Entente, focusing on the territorial promises in the 1915 Treaty of London.
• Evaluate the impact of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram on shifting US public opinion and political stance.
• Assess the underlying economic and ideological reasons for the USA's entry into the war in 1917 under President Woodrow Wilson.

• 💡Link the outcomes of the Balkan Wars directly to the heightened tensions that precipitated the July Crisis of 1914.
• 💡Use specific treaties, such as the Treaty of London (1913) and Treaty of Bucharest (1913), to demonstrate the Great Powers' attempts to impose peace.
• 💡Contrast the differing impacts on Russia and Austria-Hungary to evaluate how the wars polarised the alliance system.
• 💡Trace the chronological escalation of the July Crisis to demonstrate how diplomatic miscalculations led to the bombardment of Belgrade.
• 💡Analyse the concept of the 'blank cheque' to evaluate the extent of German responsibility for the outbreak of war.
• 💡Discuss Russian mobilisation as a critical turning point that forced Germany to enact the Schlieffen Plan, broadening the conflict.
• 💡When discussing the outbreak of war, explicitly link military plans like the Schlieffen Plan to the diplomatic failures of the key decision makers.
• 💡Use specific dates from the July Crisis to demonstrate how the speed of mobilisation limited the window for diplomatic resolution.
• 💡Contrast the public justifications for war, such as defending neutrality, with the underlying strategic motives of the Great Powers.
• 💡Weigh the relative importance of ideological motives versus practical economic and security concerns when explaining the USA's entry into the war.
• 💡Use the Treaty of London as a specific example of how secret diplomacy and territorial ambitions drove Italy's motives for war.
• 💡When discussing escalation, ensure you reference both the geographical spread, such as the use of colonial troops, and the intensification of the methods of warfare.
• 💡Use precise dates and names to support your arguments, such as the 28 June assassination, the 23 July ultimatum, and the 4 August British declaration of war.
• 💡When discussing causes, distinguish between long-term tensions and short-term triggers, and evaluate their relative significance.
• 💡In essay questions, ensure you address the specific wording of the question and avoid simply narrating events.

• Confusing the causes of the two wars; correction: the First was against the Ottoman Empire for territory, while the Second was an internal dispute among the Balkan League over the spoils.
• Assuming the Great Powers were united in their peace efforts; correction: peace conferences like the Treaty of London were fraught with Great Power rivalries, particularly between Austria-Hungary and Russia.
• Underestimating Serbia's gains; correction: Serbia emerged significantly larger and more militarily confident, which directly destabilised its relationship with Austria-Hungary.
• Stating that Germany forced Austria-Hungary to declare war; correction: Germany provided unconditional support (the blank cheque), but the initiative and ultimatum came from Austria-Hungary.
• Claiming Russia mobilised solely because of a formal treaty with Serbia; correction: Russia had no formal military alliance with Serbia but mobilised due to pan-Slavism, strategic interests, and the need to restore prestige after the Bosnian Crisis.
• Overlooking the bombardment of Belgrade or dating it incorrectly; correction: explicitly mention the bombardment of Belgrade on 29 July 1914 (following the declaration of war on 28 July) as the physical outbreak of the war, ending the diplomatic phase of the July Crisis.
• Error: Claiming Britain went to war solely because of the 1839 Treaty of London. Correction: Acknowledge that while the treaty was the official casus belli, strategic concerns about the balance of power and naval security were crucial motives.
• Error: Stating the Schlieffen Plan was executed exactly as originally designed. Correction: Note that Moltke modified Schlieffen's original plan, weakening the right wing, which impacted its implementation and ultimate failure.
• Error: Assuming mobilisation meant immediate combat. Correction: Explain that mobilisation was the preparation and movement of troops, which in 1914 was seen as tantamount to a declaration of war due to rigid railway timetables.
• Error: Stating the sinking of the Lusitania immediately caused the USA to enter the war. Correction: Clarify that the Lusitania sank in 1915, and while it damaged US-German relations, the USA did not declare war until 1917 following the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.
• Error: Assuming Italy was always allied with Britain and France. Correction: Emphasise that Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance before the war but declared neutrality in 1914 because the alliance was defensive.
• Error: Ignoring the economic ties between the USA and the Allies. Correction: Include the significant loans and trade between the USA and the Entente powers as a crucial underlying motive for American entry.
• Misconception: The First World War was inevitable. Correction: The war was not inevitable; it resulted from specific decisions and could have been avoided at several points during the July Crisis.
• Misconception: The alliance system automatically pulled countries into war. Correction: Alliances were defensive and did not require automatic entry; decisions by leaders were crucial.
• Misconception: The Schlieffen Plan was a success. Correction: The plan failed due to Belgian resistance, Russian mobilisation, and the Battle of the Marne, leading to a stalemate.

1. 1Week 1: Create a timeline of key events from 1911 to 1917, including the Moroccan Crisis, Balkan Wars, assassination of Franz Ferdinand, and the July Crisis.
2. 2Week 1: Learn the key terms and concepts, such as 'blank cheque', 'Schlieffen Plan', and 'mobilisation', and be able to define them.
3. 3Week 2: Practice source analysis and essay planning on the causes of the war, focusing on the roles of different countries.
4. 4Week 2: Complete past exam questions on the topic, particularly 6-mark and 25-mark essays, and review mark schemes to understand expectations.

• 📋Source analysis (6 marks): Analyse a primary source, such as a telegram or speech, to explain its message and significance. Advice: Focus on provenance and content, and link to the wider context.
• 📋Essay (25 marks): Evaluate the relative importance of different causes of the war, such as the alliance system, the Schlieffen Plan, or the role of individuals. Advice: Develop a clear argument and use specific evidence to support it.
• 📋Interpretation question (20 marks): Compare two historians' interpretations of the causes of the war and explain why they differ. Advice: Analyse the historians' arguments, their use of evidence, and their historical context.