DEBSHANKAR SIR

WORLD WAR -1
Q1) What do you meant by intense nationalism?

Ans – It was also known as Competitive Patriotism which meant love for one’s own country and
hatred of other countries. Each nation thought about its own national interests and did not care for
the interests of the other nations.

Q2) What factors led to the rise of imperialism?

Ans- Aggressive nationalism also led to the rise of imperialism. Imperialism refers to the state policy
or practice by which a powerful nation establishes its control over another country, either by
territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control. The colonies provided raw
materials for their industries and markets for their finished products.

Q3) How Europe was divided into two hostile groups?

Ans- There exist two kinds of states in Europe in the early 20th century. On one hand there were
single nation states & on the other there were imperial states. In 1879 Germany & Austria-Hungary
entered into an alliance followed by Italy in 1882 which came to be known as Triple Alliance.

France, Russia & England formed Triple Entente in 1907 to counter the Triple Alliance.

Q4) How the mutual rivalries between the nations turned into World War 1?

Ans- Rivalries between nations happened not just for colonies but for colonial trade & trade routes
as well. These rivalries created suspicion & enmity between different countries which finally
culminated in the First World War.

Q5) What do you mean by the term “Entente”?

Ans-The French expression Entente means “an alliance “.

Q6) How far mad race for armaments can be held responsible for the outbreak of the World War 1?

Ans-The mad race for armaments which began soon after the Franco-Prussian War (1870) was one of
the reasons which led to the First World War. Every major power began stockpiling armaments in the
name of self -defence and preservation of Peace. As a result, if one country increased its armaments,
other countries were compelled to do the same. It filled the atmosphere with fear, apprehension and
mutual hatred. This led to fierce competition among the European countries and gave the rise to the
race for armaments.

Q7) What was the immediate cause of World War 1?

Ans- Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria -Hungary was assassinated at
Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia Sarajevo on June 28,1914.The assassination was organized by a secret
society called “ Black Hand” or “ Union of Death” by the assassin Gavrilo Princep who was nineteen
year old student revolutionary leader. Austria served an ultimatum on Serbia failing which Austria
declared war on Serbia on July 28,1914.
DEBSHANKAR SIR

Q8) Who were known as Allied powers & who are known as Central Powers?

Ans – Britain, France, Russia and their allies were called Allied powers, while Germany, Austria and
their allies were called the Central Powers.

Q9) Why Treaty of Versailles (1919) was concluded after the end of the World War 1?

Ans-As a result of the discussions at the Paris Conference, on June 28,1919 the Treaty of Versailles
was signed which finally ended the War. The Treaty was designed to prevent Germany from going to
war in near future.

Q10) Who are the Big four who attended the Paris Peace Conference?

Ans- US President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister Llyod George, French Prime Minister
George Clemenceau, Prime Minister of Italy V.Orlando.

Q11) What was the amount of war indemnity imposed on Germany?

Ans- The Treaty of Versailles declared Germany guilty of aggression. She had to pay a very heavy sum
estimated at 33 billion dollars as war indemnity or reparation (penalty) to the allies.

Q12) What was the fate of Rhine Valley as per the terms of the Treaty?

Ans- The area of the Rhine Valley was to be demilitarized and the Germen territory west of Rhine
was to be occupied by the Allied Troops for 15 years.

Q13) How France was benefitted from the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

Ans- The Treaty benefitted France in the following ways:

(i) France got back Alsace-Lorraine which she had lost in the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71)
(ii) Germany had to compensate France for the deliberate destruction of her coal mines & as
a result France was given full ownership of the rich coal mines in the Saar Basin for 15
years.
(iii) Togoland & Cameroon (West Africa) were partitioned between France & Britain.

Q14) How the fate of Schleswig was determined as per the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Ans- The fate of Schleswig taken away from Denmark in 1864, was determined by plebiscite. The
northern zone voted for incorporation in Denmark and the central zone voted for Germany.

Q15) Define “Governing Mandate”?

Ans- It means to govern a territory for carrying on economic and political reforms and enabling it to
gain freedom in the course of time.

Q16) How German army strength was crippled as per the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

Ans- The German Army was restricted to a force of 1,00,000 soldiers, the Navy was limited to 15,000
men and 36 ships and the Air Force was totally banned. No submarines were to be allowed.

Q16) Name the countries which got Independence as per the Terms of Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

Ans- The complete Independence of Belgium, Poland & Czechoslovakia was recognized by Germany.
Serbia obtained Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia & Herzegovina & assumed the name of Yugoslavia with its
capital at Belgrade.
DEBSHANKAR SIR

Q17) How Treaty of Versailles (1919) can be held responsible for the outbreak of future war &
aggression?

Ans- The Treaty of Versailles deprived Germany of all its colonial possessions & imposed enormous
compensation in the form of war damages. Her military strength was completely crushed. The Peace
arrangements, therefore broke down and & this became an important cause of World War II.

Q18) Which Treaty finally ended the War between Russia & Germany?

Ans- Russia signed a peace Treaty with Germany in March 1918, known as the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Germany imposed harsh terms on Russia and the Russian Government was forced to accept the
Terms.

Q19) How territorial rearrangements took place after the end of the World War 1?

Ans- The period after the War saw the beginning of the end of European supremacy in the World.
Economically & militarily, the United States surpassed Europe to emerge as a World power. The
Peace Treaties signed after the War transformed the political map of the world, particularly of
Europe. Three ruling dynasties were destroyed -the Romanov in Russia during the War itself, the
Hohenzollern in Germany and the Hapsburg in Austria-Hungary. Austria & Hungary became separate
Independent States. Thus, the War gave a serious blow to the autocratic monarchial system and led
to the democracy in Europe. Empires having different cultures were dissolved and Independent
states having distinct cultures emerged after the War.

Q20) What was the background for the formation of League of Nations?

Ans- The horrors of the War convinced the leaders of the World that there must be a mechanism to
prevent War and promote international cooperation. This culminated in the setting up of the League
of Nations.

Q21) When was League of Nations created?

Ans – League of Nations was created as World Organization of all Independent States in 1920, with
its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland.

Q22) What were the chief aim of League of Nations?

Ans- To promote international cooperation to achieve international peace and security.

Q23) What were the main objectives of League in the prevention of War?

Ans- (i) Not to resort to war

(ii) To establish “International law” as the actual rule of conduct among Governments

(iv) To respect all treaty obligations in their dealings with one another

Q24) Besides prevention of War what were the other objectives of League of Nations?

Ans – (i) Maintenance of status quo, that is, the situations that existed as a result of Peace
conference.

(ii) The protection of National minorities

(iii) Proper administration of the territories assigned to a nation under the “Mandate “(
Authority ) of League of Nations.

(v) Dealing with the socio -economic problems and the system of communication &
importation.

Q25) What was the primary strength of the League of Nations?

Q26) What was the criteria fixed for the admission of the new members in the League?
Ans- The new members admission requires not less than two third votes of the assembly.

Q27) Why United States did not join the League of Nations?
Ans- American Senate did not ratify the League’s Covenant.

Q28) Which two countries were not allowed to be the part of the League of Nations?

Ans- Germany & USSR.

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