Wider — WWI 1894–1918 (general context)
Edexcel GCSE History revision on Wider — WWI 1894–1918 (general context). Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History 1HI0 specification. This bank has 18 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 18)
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Question 1
Which event is widely seen as the direct trigger of the First World War?
- A) The sinking of the Lusitania
- B) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- C) Germany invading Belgium
- D) The Russian Revolution
Show answer
Answer: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Long-term causes (MAIN — Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism) had built tension across Europe for years. The assassination provided the spark: Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, Russia mobilised to defend Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia + France, then invaded Belgium — bringing Britain in by August 4.
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Question 2
The Treaty of Versailles (1919) blamed which country for starting WWI?
- A) Austria-Hungary
- B) Russia
- C) Germany
- D) France
Show answer
Answer: Germany
The 'war guilt clause' was used to justify reparations (£6.6 billion), territorial losses (Alsace-Lorraine, all colonies, the Saar coalfield), military restrictions (army capped at 100,000, no air force/tanks/subs), and the demilitarisation of the Rhineland. Resented in Germany throughout the 1920s; key to Hitler's rise.
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Question 3
The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's strategy to...
- A) Invade Britain by sea
- B) Defeat France quickly then turn to fight Russia
- C) Establish a colony in Africa
- D) Hold a defensive line in Belgium
Show answer
Answer: Defeat France quickly then turn to fight Russia
Germany feared fighting France in the west AND Russia in the east simultaneously. The Schlieffen Plan: sweep through neutral Belgium, take Paris, defeat France in 6 weeks before slow-mobilising Russia could attack. Failed because: Belgian resistance + British intervention delayed the advance, the French stopped the Germans at the Marne. Result: 4 years of trench warfare.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
15 more questions on Wider — WWI 1894–1918 (general context) — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole History spec.
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