Year 10 History
Paper 1
Topic 1: The origins of the First World War
Homework Questions Booklet
Name: .............................
Class: ................................
Teacher: ...........................
Topic
1. Kaiser
Wilhelm’s
foreign policy
2. The Triple
Alliance and the
Triple Entente
3. The military
Arms race
4. The naval arms
race
5. The Moroccan
Crises of 1905 and
1911
6. The Bosnian
crisis of 1908-09
7. Austria
Hungary’s aims in
the Balkans
8. The Black Hand
9. The
assassination at
Sarajevo
10. The events of
28th June to 4th
August 1914
11. The Schlieffen
Plan.
4
Target
6 Target
10 Target
Total
Exam Question Writing Toolkit
Question
Describe...(4)
Do you
agree?......(6)
(The
interpretation
question)
How to get full
marks
Two or more
detailed and well
explained points
using the PEE
format
Agrees or
disagrees using
source AND own
knowledge.
Reaches an
evaluated
conclusion
How to structure it
1.
Give a brief general opening
statement about the issue
2.
One aspect in detail
3.
Another aspect in detail)
Sentence starters
The........was.......
Firstly.........
Secondly..........
1.
4. A final aspect in detail
Describe BRIEFLY the interpretation
given by the source
2.
Explain parts of the content which are
accurate when compared with your
own knowledge
3.
Explain parts of the content which are
not accurate when compared with
your own knowledge
4.
Refer to the purpose (provenance) of
the source
5.
Explain how and why the provenance
reduces or increases the accuracy of
the interpretation
6. Reach a balanced conclusion which
refers to the content and provenance
of the source
Finally........
The source .... shows......
The content of the source is accurate
because it is supported by the fact
that..........
However some things in the source are not
completely accurate because they are
challenged by the fact that...
The provenance of the source is....
This reduces/ increases the accuracy of the
interpretation because.....
Overall...../ In conclusion........
Which one of
these reasons
was more
responsible for/
more
important....(1
0)
(The Either-Or
question’)
DESCRIBES,
EXPLAINS and
ASSESSES both
factors in depth
and reaches a
CONCLUSION/
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe the first factor
Explain it’s role/ importance
Assess it’s role/ importance
Describe the second factor
Explain it’s role/ importance
Assess it’s role/ importance
7. Conclusion comparing the two
factors against each other
The....was.....
It was important/ significant in
causing......because......
It was important to a large extent/
only to a small extent because......
The....was.....
It was important/ significant in
causing......because......
It was important to a large extent/
only to a small extent because......
When comparing both factors.......is
more important than.....because....
Question:
Describe...(4)
Do you
agree?......(6)
(The
interpretation
question)
Paper 1: Conflict and Peace in the Twentieth Century
Level:
How to Answer:
1
1
2
3
1
One detailed and well explained point or range of basic, limited points
2-3
Two or more detailed and well explained points using the PEE format
4
Simple statement about the reliability of the source/ simple statement using own
knowledge
Simple explanation of EITHER how the content of the source is true or false
based on own knowledge
OR a simple explanation of how the provenance of the source makes it biased or
trustworthy
Developed evaluation: Agrees or disagrees using source OR own knowledge
EITHER a detailed/specific explanation of how the Content of the source is
supported or contradicted by events from your own knowledge
OR a sophisticated/specific explanation of how the provenance of the source
make the interpretation more or less reliable
Agrees or disagrees using source AND own knowledge. Reaches an evaluated
conclusion
Does both parts of Level 3 and reaches a balanced conclusion
EITHER basic/limited information OR simple comparison
Mentioning ONE factor
Mentioning BOTH factors
1
2
3
4
Which one of
these reasons
was more
responsible for/
more
important....(10)
(The Either-Or
question’)
Mark:
One basic point
1
2
For ONE factor
Good EXPLANATION of how the factor damaged the League
For ONE factor
For BOTH factors
4
4- 5
6
1
2
Detailed DESCRIPTION of the factor’s role
For BOTH factors
3
2-3
Detailed ASSESSMENT of how important the factor was
For ONE factor
Detailed ASSESSMENT of how important the factor was
For BOTH factors
DESCRIBES, EXPLAINS and ASSESSES both factors in depth and reaches a
CONCLUSION/judgement, citing
a new idea and new facts
3
4
4
5
5
6-8
9-10
1.
Kaiser Wilhelm’s foreign policy
a. Describe Kaiser Wilhelm’s foreign policy aims(4)
b. Study source A. The source suggests that Wilhelm was a militaristic megalomaniac. Do you
agree?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using it’s content and
your own
knowledge
Source A: Drawn by a
French cartoonist in 1901
c. Which of the following is the more important reason why Britain became involved in the
war?
 The Schlieffen Plan
 Kaiser Wilhelm’s actions prior to 1914
2.
The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente
a. Describe the reasons why the Alliance System made war more likely (4 marks)
b. Study Source A. How accurate is this description of the relationship between Britain and
France?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using it’s content and
your own knowledge (6 marks)
"The fundamental fact of course is that the Entente is not an alliance. For purposes of ultimate
emergencies it may be found to have no substance at all. For the Entente is nothing more than a frame
of mind, a view of general policy which is shared by the governments of two countries, but which may
be, or become, so vague as to lose all content."
Source A : Minutes of a British Foreign Office Meeting in 1911
c. Which of the following was more likely to cause a war in Europe to develop?


The Alliance System
The Arms Race
Explain you answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
3, The military arms race
a. Describe how the Empires of Europe built up their armies before 1914 (4)
b. Study Source A. How accurate is this interpretation of Europe in 1914?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using it’s content and
your own knowledge (6)
Source A German Cartoon published in 1914
c. Explain which you think had the greatest effect on the Alliance System in Europe.
 Naval Race
 Arms Race
Explain your answer and give a reasoned judgment.
4. The naval arms race
a. Describe the competition over naval power between Britain and Germany in the run up to the
First World War.
b. Source A suggests that Wilhelm I was responsible for the Naval Race. Do you agree?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using its content and your
own knowledge
‘The German emperor Wilhelm II had a dream of being an imperial ruler. He set his sights on having an
Empire to match that of the British. To do this he would need to have a large and powerful navy. In 1900
Wilhelm decided to put this dream into practice.’
Source A From a History website for schoolchildren (2005)
c. Which of the following was a greater reason for the strengthening of the relationship between
Britain and France after 1905?


The Moroccan Crisis of 1905
The Naval Race
Explain you answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
5. The Moroccan crises of 1905 and 1911
a. Describe the reasons for the crisis in Morocco in 1905. OR Describe the events of the Agadir
Crisis of 1911
b. Study Source A. How accurate is this interpretation of the outcome of the First Moroccan Crisis?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using its content and your
own knowledge
Source A: A Cartoon published by a patriotic British cartoonist in 1905.
c) Which of the following created the most tension in Europe by 1909?


The Moroccan Crisis of 1905
The Bosnian/Balkan Crisis of 1908
Explain your answer and give a reasoned judgement.
6. The Bosnian crisis of 1908-1909
a) Describe the results of the Bosnian/Balkan Crisis of 1908.
b) Study Source A: How accurate is the source below in its interpretation of Austria’s annexation of
Bosnia in 1908? Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using its
content and your own knowledge
Source A: A cartoon from the
Ottoman Empire (Turkish
Empire) showing Austria’s
annexation of Bosnia.
The text below the cartoon
ironically states:
‘’Advance of civilization in
Bosnia and Herzegovina"
c) Which of the following sets of events was more likely to help to cause a war between the European
powers?


The Bosnian/Balkan Crisis of 1908
The events in Morocco between 1905 and 1911
Explain you answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
7.Austria Hungary’s aims in the Balkans
a. Describe Austria Hungary’s aims in the Balkans (4 marks)
b. Study Source A.
Source A suggests a reason why Austria-Hungary should declare war on Serbia in 1914.
Do you agree that this was the main reason Austria-Hungary went to war against Serbia in 1914?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source, as well as using its content and your
knowledge.
Source A
Advice of Conrad von Hötzendorf to the Austro-Hungarian government after the assassination of
Franz Ferdinand in 1914. Von Hötzendorf was a senior military officer and leader of the war party in
Austria-Hungary.
This is not the crime of a single extremist: the assassination represents Serbia’s declaration of war on
Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary must go to war against Serbia.
.
c. Which of the following did the most to create war after June 1914?


Austria-Hungary
Russia
Explain your answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
8. The Black Hand
a. Describe the Black Hand movement and the part it played in the assassination of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand.
b. Study source A. Source A suggests that the murder of Franz Ferdinand was an ‘immediate’
cause of Ww1. Do you agree with this interpretation?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source, as well as using its content and your
knowledge.
The murder of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo is accepted by historians as the immediate
cause of World War One though serious trouble - long term causes - had been brewing
for sometime.
Source A: An extract from a modern day history website for GCSE students.
c. Which of the following did the most to make war possible between the nations of Europe
prior to 1914?
 The Alliance System
 The role of the Black Hand Gang
Explain you answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
1o. The assassination at Sarajevo
a) Describe how the death of Franz Ferdinand led to a war between many nations.
b) Study Source A: How accurate is the source below in describing the events of the 28 th June
1914?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using it’s content and your
own knowledge
As the car quickly reversed, a thin stream of blood spurted from His Highness's mouth onto my right
check. As I was pulling out my handkerchief to wipe the blood away from his mouth, the Duchess
cried out to him, "For God's sake! What has happened to you?" At that she slid off the seat and lay on
the floor of the car, with her face between his knees.
I had no idea that she too was hit and thought she had simply fainted with fright. Then I heard His
Imperial Highness say, "Sophie, Sophie, don't die. Stay alive for the children!"
Source A From the memoir of Count Franz von Harrach, who was stood on the sideboard of the car on
28th June 1914.
c) Which of these two countries was more responsible for the outbreak of the First World War in 1914:
 Austria Hungary
 Germany
Explain you answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
11. The events of 28th June to 4th August

Describe what happened after the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand (4
marks)

Study source A. How accurate is the source below in explaining the steps to war after the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using it’s
content and your own knowledge
This cartoon - 'A Chain of Friendship' - appeared in the American newspaper the Brooklyn Eagle in July 1914. The caption read: “If
Austria attacks Serbia, Russia will fall upon Austria, Germany upon Russia, and France and England upon Germany.”
c. Which was the more important cause of the First World War?


The murder of Franz Ferdinand
The Schlieffen plan
Explain your answer and give a reasoned judgement.
12. The Schlieffen plan
a. Describe the importance of the Schlieffen Plan
b. Study Source A. The source suggests Britain became involved in WW1 because Belgium was
being unjustly attacked by a stronger, aggressive power. Do you agree?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using its content and
your own knowledge
A British Cartoon from Punch magazine in 1914
d) Which of the following is the more important reason why Britain became involved in the war?
 The Schlieffen Plan
 Kaiser Wilhelm’s actions prior to 1914
Explain you answer and give a reasoned judgement. (10 marks)
Other 6 mark questions
1.Study the source below. The source suggests the Schlieffen Plan failed because of the successful
British counterattack. Do you agree?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source as well as using it’s content and your own
knowledge
On Tuesday, October 20, a determined but unsuccessful attack was made on virtually the whole British line,
and at one point where one of our brigades made a counter-attack 1,100 Germans were found dead in a
trench and 40 prisoners were taken. Everywhere the British troops have fought with the most splendid
courage. For five days at Ypres they held in check, although overwhelmingly outnumbered, 250,000
Germans who fought recklessly to break a way through.
From an article in the Manchester Guardian (28th October 1914)
2. Study the source below. The source suggests that all nations were responsible for the war which
broke out in 1914. How far do you agree?
‘We muddled into war...The nations slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of war
without any trace of apprehension or dismay...not one of them wanted war; certainly not on
this scale’
A statement by David Lloyd George’s War Memoirs written in 1934. He was a British government
minister in 1914 and became Prime Minister during the war.
Study Source A.
Source A suggests a reason why Austria-Hungary should declare war on Serbia in 1914.
Do you agree that this was the main reason Austria-Hungary went to war against Serbia in 1914?
Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source, as well as using its content and your knowledge
Source A
Advice of Conrad von Hötzendorf to the Austro-Hungarian government after the assassination of Franz
Ferdinand in 1914. Von Hötzendorf was a senior military officer and leader of the war party in AustriaHungary.
This is not the crime of a single extremist: the assassination represents Serbia’s declaration of war on AustriaHungary. Austria-Hungary must go to war against Serbia.