F.

4 History Test I, 2021-2022

Topic: Causes of WWI

Canossa College
2021-2022, First Term
F.4 History Test I
Topic: Causes leading to World War One
Time Allowed: 50 minutes
Total Marks: 25
2/11/2021

(1) Study Source A and Source B.

Source A:
- A War postcard with the entitled Watch Your Hand

Watch your hand

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F.4 History Test I, 2021-2022
Topic: Causes of WWI

Source B:
The following extract is adapted from the speech given by the Foreign Secretary of
Britain, Edward Grey, in the parliament in March, 1909.

When that program [of building a battle fleet] is completed, Germany, a great
country close to our own shore, will have a fleet of thirty-three Dreadnoughts….It is
true that there is not one of them in commission yet; but it is equally true that the
whole program when completed will be the most powerful fleet that the world has
yet seen. That imposes upon us the necessity, of which we are now at the beginning
-- except so far as we have Dreadnoughts already -- of rebuilding the whole of our
fleet.

…If we alone, among the great powers, gave up the competition and sank into a
position of inferiority, what good should we do? ...If we fall into a position of
inferiority, our self-respect is gone.

(a)Explain the attitude of Sun towards William II according to Source A.

(2 marks) . The sun itself is against
Germany’s expansion, and warned the Kaiser in the caption that his act
will burn his hands.

(b)What is the cartoonist’s view on Kaiser William II? Explain your answer with
reference to Source A. (3 marks)
Kaiser William II, was viewed as extremely militaristic, aggressive,
ruthless and greedy for world power. In the source, Wilhelm II
endeavoured to take possession of the world and dressed in a full
military uniform and also wearing a helmet and a pair of binoculars,
the Kaiser actually reached to grab the globe, while war and violence
rage behind his back. The conflict was a result of Wilhelm’s obsession
with ruling the world

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F.4 History Test I, 2021-2022
Topic: Causes of WWI

(c)With reference to question 1(a), Do you agree with his/ her view on Kaiser
William II? Explain your answer according to your knowledge and historical
development up to 1914. (5 marks)
Supporting Argument
- William II looked for a place in the sun and adopted expansionist colonial
policy so that he triggered the two Moroccan Crises.
- He also sent Kruger Telegram to the Boers that angered Britain.
- He adopted militaristic policy and expanded army size and naval power that
alarmed the other powers, especially, Britain.
- He was expansionist and extended her influence in the Balkans by building
Berlin-Baghdad Railway,
- He was the supporter of Pan-Germanism and granted unconditional support to
Austria-Hungary in both Bosnian Crisis of 1908 and Sarajevo Incident in
1914.

(d)Explain the source of conflict in worsening the relation between Britain and
Germany according to Source B. (3 marks)
- Naval race/ clue: The source mentioned they were racing in terms of
dreadnoughts. Grey also stated that in the competition of dreadnoughts,
Britain could not be reduced to the position of inferiority. He was also
worried about the building the most powerful fleet of Germany due to German
naval programme.

(e)Were Edward Grey’s worries as shown in Source B justified? Explain your

answer with reference to sources B and C and historical development up to
1909. (5
marks)
- Justified as Germany naval programme actually challenged Britain’s two
power standard and naval supremacy. Besides, Germany even built Kiel
Canal which greatly enhanced Germany’s naval power in the North Sea and
English Channel according to my knowledge.
- According to Source B, Germany planned to build a fleet of 33 dreadnought
which might become the most powerful fleet in the world.
- According to Source C After Britain built her first dreadnought in 1906,
Germany built 7 dreadnoughts in 1908. They were keen competition in naval
power.

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F.4 History Test I, 2021-2022
Topic: Causes of WWI

(f) Discuss the usefulness and limitation of Source A and Source B in

understanding the impacts of extreme nationalism on European diplomacy
(relation) up to 1914. (7 marks)

Usefulness:
Source A: William II’s lust for national glory and Pan-Germanism aimed at
establishing German domination in the world. He was unhesitant in starting
wars to achieve extreme nationalist aspirations.
Source B: Extreme nationalism would also caused armament race as shown in
Source B. William II expanded naval power partly due to the lust for national
glory but at the same time to expand German colonies and territorial interests.
But naval race badly affected Britain’s national security that finally led to her
end of splendid isolation policy and she even signed Anglo-French Naval
Agreement with France.

Limitation:
- They failed to show other impacts of extreme nationalism on European
diplomacy.
- French defeat in the Franco-Prussian war finally created the alliance system
that divided Europe into two armed camps.
- Colonial expansion as a way to get national glory had not been shown.
- Independence Movement, Pan Slavism and Great Serbia Movement
complicated Eastern Questions finally led to Austro-Serbian hostility which
triggered the First World War because of Sarajevo Incident.

END OF PAPER