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- > Incidents which increased tension 1900-1914
The new century saw a number of incidents from sub-Saharan Africa across to Eastern Europe where the major powers clashed in desperate bids to conquer land and secure superiority over each other. The final straw was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in June 1914.
Events
During 1900-1914, the great powers of Europe clashed a number of times. Each of these events increased international tension and rivalry, and made war more likely. War was going to come sooner or later.
Key events 1899-1914
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Boer War 1899-1902 | Germany opposed Britain's attempt to defeat the Boers in South Africa. |
| 2. First Moroccan crisis 1905 | Kaiser Wilhelm promised to support the sultan of Morocco against France's attempts to take over the country. |
| 3. 'Daily Telegraph' article 1908 | In a newspaper interview, Kaiser Wilhelm said the English were mad and the Germans hated them. This caused great offence in Britain. |
| 4. Bosnia 1908 | Austria annexed Bosnia in the Balkans from Turkey. This annoyed Serbia, which had wanted to take over the area. Russia wanted to help Serbia, but had to back down. |
| 5. Dreadnought crisis 1909 | Scared by the growing German navy, the British people demanded that the government build eight of the new Dreadnought battleships. |
| 6. Agadir 1911 | There was a revolution in Morocco, so France sent an army to take over. Kaiser Wilhelm sent the gunship 'Panther', but Britain and France forced him to back down. |
| 7. Balkan Wars 1912-1913 | Serbia and other countries in the Balkans conquered most of Turkey's land in Europe. Serbia became a powerful country, and said Austria-Hungary was its next target. |
| 8. Assassination of Franz Ferdinand 1914 | The heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary was shot by Gavrilo Princip, a young Serb terrorist, in Sarajevo in Bosnia. |
- Question
Think about the events that increased tension across Europe and the consequences of these events. Can you think which event(s):
- Made the British public hate the Germans.
- Made France think that Germany wanted to destroy its empire.
- Showed that the British thought Germany wanted to challenge the British navy.
- Made Austria-Hungary determined to destroy Serbia.
- Made Russia determined to support the Serbs.
- Made Austria-Hungary frightened of Serbia.
- Made Britain think Germany wanted to destroy its empire.
- Made Germany determined to stand up to France and Britain.
- Answer
- The Boer War, the 'Daily Telegraph' article and the Dreadnought crisis made the British public hate the Germans.
- The first Moroccan crisis and Agadir made France think that Germany wanted to destroy its empire.
- The Dreadnought crisis showed that the British thought Germany wanted to challenge the British navy.
- Bosnia, the Balkan Wars and the assassination of Franz Ferdinand made Austria-Hungary determined to destroy Serbia.
- Bosnia made Russia determined to support the Serbs.
- The Balkan Wars made Austria-Hungary frightened of Serbia.
- The Boer War made Britain think that Germany wanted to destroy its empire.
- Agadir made Germany determined to stand up to France and Britain.
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