1. Look at your five steps to war.
Who was accountable for the outbreak of WWI? C aim – to explain how different countries could be considered accountable for the outbreak of WWI B aim - to explain how different countries could be considered accountable for the outbreak of WWI and which one you believe is correct A aim – to justify which countries were and were not accountable for the outbreak of WWI
Look at your five steps to war.
Which countries could you hold accountable for the outbreak of WWI?

2. By 1914 the Austro-Hungarians said that they ruled the Serbians
By 1914 the Austro-Hungarians said that they ruled the Serbians. The Slavic Serbians and Russians weren’t happy with this. The Serbians were still angry with the outcome of the Bosnian Crisis and the creation of Albania.
This is about the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He was an Austrian-Hungarian prince who came to visit Serbian to show that Austria-Hungary definitely ruled them. A Serb nationalist group the ‘Black Hand’ murdered him to show that the Serbs wanted to rule themselves. The Russians then said they would help the Serbs.

3. What happened next? Number these events in the right order.
Why did each step occur?
Number these events in the right order.
Franz Ferdinand assassinated.
Britain became involved to defend Belgium, who they had an alliance with as it had important sea ports close to Britain.
France was friends with Russia so found itself in war against Germany. Germany decided to enter through Belgium.
The whole of Europe is at war
Kaiser Wilhelm II promised that the Germans would support the Austro-Hungarians in the Blank Cheque agreement.
Germany saw Russia’s actions as an act of war against Austria-Hungary and declared war on Russia
Russia had an alliance with Serbia so gave them some of their soldiers.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

4. What happened next? Franz Ferdinand assassinated.
Why did each step occur?
Franz Ferdinand assassinated.
Kaiser Wilhelm II promised that the Germans would support the Austro-Hungarians in the Blank Cheque agreement.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Russia had an alliance with Serbia so gave them some of their soldiers.
Germany saw Russia’s actions as an act of war against Austria-Hungary and declared war on Russia.
France was allies with Russia so found itself in war against Germany. Germany decided to enter through Belgium.
Britain became involved to defend Belgium, who they had an alliance with as it had important sea ports close to Britain.
The whole of Europe was at war
Which countries are aggressive here?
Which country do you think was the main aggressor?

5. Some historians argue that Austria-Hungary and Germany thought the violence would stay as a localised war.
Do you believe their interpretation?
Do you think it could have remained a localised war?
When individuals went to fight they stated that ‘the war would be over by Christmas’. Why do you think they said this?

6. Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Explain to your partner what sparked WWI and include these key words. Say who was to blame for WWI and who wasn’t.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Austria-Hungary
Serb Nationalists
Black Hand
Russians
Sarajevo
Peer Marking Criteria
C – they include all the key words, explain what happened, how war broke out and suggest whose fault it was
B – they explain the sequence of events fully with the key words and give solid reasons for whose fault the outbreak of WWI was
A/A* - they explain the sequence of events fully with the key words and give solid reasons for whose fault the outbreak of WWI was. They also argue against another point of view.

7. Who was to blame for WWI?
Add as many comments as you can to the sheets.

8. Homework – due Thursday
Write one of these critiques for each source.
Interpretation the source has of who is to blame for WWI.
Knowledge which supports this source.
Knowledge which challenges this source.
Other sources which support this source.
Other sources which challenge this source.

9. Thursday – meet at the beginning of lunch in reception
Thursday – meet at the beginning of lunch in reception. We’re going to the Imperial War Museum! Bring your bus pass.