Nithinram2006/squad huggingface dataset:
Seven Years' War

The War of the Austrian Succession had seen the belligerents aligned on a time-honoured basis. France’s traditional enemies, Great Britain and Austria, had coalesced just as they had done against Louis XIV. Prussia, the leading anti-Austrian state in Germany, had been supported by France. Neither group, however, found much reason to be satisfied with its partnership: British subsidies to Austria had produced nothing of much help to the British, while the British military effort had not saved Silesia for Austria. Prussia, having secured Silesia, had come to terms with Austria in disregard of French interests. Even so, France had concluded a defensive alliance with Prussia in 1747, and the maintenance of the Anglo-Austrian alignment after 1748 was deemed essential by the Duke of Newcastle, British secretary of state in the ministry of his brother Henry Pelham. The collapse of that system and the aligning of France with Austria and of Great Britain with Prussia constituted what is known as the “diplomatic revolution” or the “reversal of alliances.”

Question: Who was the traditional partner with Great Britain at the beginning of the conflict?
Answer: Great Britain and Austria, had coalesced

Question: What was gained or lost by Austria?
Answer: British military effort had not saved Silesia for Austria

Question: What was the major gain by Great Britain by having Austria as it ally?
Answer: British subsidies to Austria had produced nothing of much help to the British

Question: What alliances were formed in the "diplomatic reversal"?
Answer: The collapse of that system and the aligning of France with Austria and of Great Britain with Prussia constituted what is known as the “diplomatic revolution”

Question: Did the loss of Silesia by Austria intensify its battle with Prussia?
Answer: . Prussia, having secured Silesia, had come to terms with Austria
Seven Years' War

In 1756 Austria was making military preparations for war with Prussia and pursuing an alliance with Russia for this purpose. On June 2, 1746, Austria and Russia concluded a defensive alliance that covered their own territory and Poland against attack by Prussia or the Ottoman Empire. They also agreed to a secret clause that promised the restoration of Silesia and the countship of Glatz (now Kłodzko, Poland) to Austria in the event of hostilities with Prussia. Their real desire, however, was to destroy Frederick’s power altogether, reducing his sway to his electorate of Brandenburg and giving East Prussia to Poland, an exchange that would be accompanied by the cession of the Polish Duchy of Courland to Russia. Aleksey Petrovich, Graf (count) Bestuzhev-Ryumin, grand chancellor of Russia under Empress Elizabeth, was hostile to both France and Prussia, but he could not persuade Austrian statesman Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz to commit to offensive designs against Prussia so long as Prussia was able to rely on French support.

Question: What Russian-Austrian agreement preceded the Seven Years War that started in 1755-56?
Answer: June 2, 1746, Austria and Russia concluded a defensive alliance that covered their own territory and Poland against attack by Prussia or the Ottoman Empire

Question: According to the Russian-Austrian pact of 1746, what would happen to Silesia in the event of hostilities with Prussia?
Answer: They also agreed to a secret clause that promised the restoration of Silesia and the countship of Glatz (now Kłodzko, Poland) to Austria

Question: What other area was mentioned regarding Prussian dominion in the Russian-Austrian pact?
Answer: the countship of Glatz (now Kłodzko, Poland) to Austria

Question: What individual was the main target of the pact?
Answer: Their real desire, however, was to destroy Frederick’s power altogether

Question: Why couldn't Petrovich persuade Austria to invade Prussia?
Answer: he could not persuade Austrian statesman Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz to commit to offensive designs against Prussia
Seven Years' War

The Hanoverian king George II of Great Britain was passionately devoted to his family’s continental holdings, but his commitments in Germany were counterbalanced by the demands of the British colonies overseas. If war against France for colonial expansion was to be resumed, then Hanover had to be secured against Franco-Prussian attack. France was very much interested in colonial expansion and was willing to exploit the vulnerability of Hanover in war against Great Britain, but it had no desire to divert forces to central Europe for Prussia's interest.

Question: What was the house of king George II?
Answer: Hanover

Question: Name two diverse geographies that king George II had to protect.
Answer: his commitments in Germany were counterbalanced by the demands of the British colonies overseas

Question: How anxious was France to assist Prussia to take over Hanover?
Answer: it had no desire to divert forces to central Europe for Prussia's interest.

Question: Why would France want to invade Hanover?
Answer: France was very much interested in colonial expansion and was willing to exploit the vulnerability of Hanover in war against Great Britain

Question: What was Britain's obligation to Hanover if colonial expansion via war with France was to be resumed?
Answer: Hanover had to be secured against Franco-Prussian attack
Seven Years' War

French policy was, moreover, complicated by the existence of the le Secret du roi—a system of private diplomacy conducted by King Louis XV. Unbeknownst to his foreign minister, Louis had established a network of agents throughout Europe with the goal of pursuing personal political objectives that were often at odds with France’s publicly stated policies. Louis’s goals for le Secret du roi included an attempt to win the Polish crown for his kinsman Louis François de Bourbon, prince de Conti, and the maintenance of Poland, Sweden, and Turkey as French client states in opposition to Russian and Austrian interests.

Question: What was the objective of le Secret du roi?
Answer: goal of pursuing personal political objectives that were often at odds with France’s publicly stated policies

Question: Who did King Louis XV want on the Polish throne?
Answer: his kinsman Louis François de Bourbon, prince de Conti,

Question: What was King Louis XV's secret ambition for Sweden and Turkey?
Answer: Sweden, and Turkey as French client states in opposition to Russian and Austrian interests

Question: What French official was kept in the dark about le Secret du roi?
Answer: Unbeknownst to his foreign minister,

Question: What countries did King Louis XV want keep in his sphere of influence to thwart the interests of Russia?
Answer: Poland, Sweden, and Turkey as French client states in opposition to Russian
Seven Years' War

Frederick saw Saxony and Polish west Prussia as potential fields for expansion but could not expect French support if he started an aggressive war for them. If he joined the French against the British in the hope of annexing Hanover, he might fall victim to an Austro-Russian attack. The hereditary elector of Saxony, Augustus III, was also elective King of Poland as Augustus III, but the two territories were physically separated by Brandenburg and Silesia. Neither state could pose as a great power. Saxony was merely a buffer between Prussia and Austrian Bohemia, whereas Poland, despite its union with the ancient lands of Lithuania, was prey to pro-French and pro-Russian factions. A Prussian scheme for compensating Frederick Augustus with Bohemia in exchange for Saxony obviously presupposed further spoliation of Austria.

Question: What two geographies did Frederick want for Prussia?
Answer: Saxony and Polish west Prussia

Question: What country would refuse support if Frederick wen to war for Saxony and west Prussia?
Answer: could not expect French support

Question: What was his concern about trying take Hanover from the British?
Answer: he might fall victim to an Austro-Russian attack

Question: What kept Augustus III from consolidating Saxony and Poland?
Answer: the two territories were physically separated by Brandenburg and Silesia

Question: Who was Poland's ancient ally?
Answer: Poland, despite its union with the ancient lands of Lithuania,
Seven Years' War

In the attempt to satisfy Austria at the time, Britain gave their electoral vote in Hanover for the candidacy of Maria Theresa's son, Joseph, as the Holy Roman Emperor, much to the dismay of Frederick and Prussia. Not only that, Britain would soon join the Austro-Russian alliance, but complications arose. Britain's basic framework for the alliance itself was to protect Hanover's interests against France. While at the same time, Kaunitz kept approaching the French in the hope of establishing such alliance with Austria. Not only that, France had no intention to ally with Russia, who meddled with their affairs in Austria's succession war, years earlier, and saw the complete dismemberment of Prussia as unacceptable to the stability of Central Europe.

Question: What country was pleased that Britain used its Hanover vote to elect Joseph as Te Holy Roman Emperor?
Answer: Austria

Question: What country and person were displeased that Britain used it Hanover vote to elect Joseph as the Holy Roman Emporer?
Answer: Frederick and Prussia

Question: What was the French view about the dismemberment of Prussia?
Answer: saw the complete dismemberment of Prussia as unacceptable to the stability of Central Europe.

Question: What was a major objective of Britain in joining the Austro-Russian alliance?
Answer: to protect Hanover's interests against France.

Question: What was Kaunitz's objective with the French?
Answer: Kaunitz kept approaching the French in the hope of establishing such alliance with Austria
Seven Years' War

Years later, Kaunitz kept trying to establish France's alliance with Austria. He tried as hard as he could for Austria to not get entangled in Hanover's political affairs, and was even willing to trade Austrian Netherlands for France's aid in recapturing Silesia. Frustrated by this decision and by the Dutch Republic's insistence on neutrality, Britain soon turned to Russia. On September 30, 1755, Britain pledged financial aid to Russia in order to station 50,000 troops on the Livonian-Lithunian border, so they could defend Britain's interests in Hanover immediately. Besthuzev, assuming the preparation was directed against Prussia, was more than happy to obey the request of the British. Unbeknownst to the other powers, King George II also made overtures to the Prussian king; Frederick, who began fearing the Austro-Russian intentions, and was excited to welcome a rapprochement with Britain. On January 16, 1756, the Convention of Westminster was signed wherein Britain and Prussia promised to aid one another in order to achieve lasting peace and stability in Europe.

Question: What was Kaunitz of Austria willing to trade for French help in capturing Silesia?
Answer: willing to trade Austrian Netherlands for France's aid

Question: What did Russia use Britain's money for?
Answer: to station 50,000 troops on the Livonian-Lithunian border, so they could defend Britain's interests in Hanover

Question: What countries teamed together at the Convention of Westminster?
Answer: Britain and Prussia

Question: When was the Convention of Westminster signed?
Answer: January 16, 1756

Question: Why was Beshuzev happy to put the troops on the Livonian-Lithunian border?
Answer: Besthuzev, assuming the preparation was directed against Prussia,
Seven Years' War

The carefully coded word in the agreement proved no less catalytic for the other European powers. The results were absolute chaos. Empress Elizabeth of Russia was outraged at the duplicity of Britain's position. Not only that France was so enraged, and terrified, by the sudden betrayal of its only ally. Austria, particularly Kaunitz, used this situation to their utmost advantage. The now-isolated France was forced to accede to the Austro-Russian alliance or face ruin. Thereafter, on May 1, 1756, the First Treaty of Versailles was signed, in which both nations pledged 24.000 troops to defend each other in the case of an attack. This diplomatic revolution proved to be an important cause of the war; although both treaties were self-defensive in nature, the actions of both coalitions made the war virtually inevitable.

Question: What was the response of Empress Elizabeth of Russia to the English-Prussian agreement?
Answer: Empress Elizabeth of Russia was outraged

Question: Why was France mad at the British-Prussian agreement?
Answer: France was so enraged, and terrified, by the sudden betrayal of its only ally. Austria,

Question: France was now in a desperate position, what did they do?
Answer: France was forced to accede to the Austro-Russian alliance

Question: Who were the parties to the treaty of Versailles?
Answer: Austria, particularly Kaunitz, used this situation to their utmost advantage. The now-isolated France

Question: How many troops did Austria and France pledge to defend each other?
Answer: 24.000 troops
Seven Years' War

The most important French fort planned was intended to occupy a position at "the Forks" where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River (present day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Peaceful British attempts to halt this fort construction were unsuccessful, and the French proceeded to build the fort they named Fort Duquesne. British colonial militia from Virginia were then sent to drive them out. Led by George Washington, they ambushed a small French force at Jumonville Glen on 28 May 1754 killing ten, including commander Jumonville. The French retaliated by attacking Washington's army at Fort Necessity on 3 July 1754 and forced Washington to surrender.

Question: Where did the French build Fort Duquesne?
Answer: the Forks" where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River

Question: What city is now located where Fort Duquesne was built?
Answer: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Question: Were the British successful in stopping the building of Fort Duquesne?
Answer: British attempts to halt this fort construction were unsuccessful

Question: Who led the British militia to drive the French out of Fort Duquesne?
Answer: Led by George Washington

Question: Where did the French for General George Washington's surrender?
Answer: Fort Necessity
Seven Years' War

News of this arrived in Europe, where Britain and France unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate a solution. The two nations eventually dispatched regular troops to North America to enforce their claims. The first British action was the assault on Acadia on 16 June 1755 in the Battle of Fort Beauséjour, which was immediately followed by their expulsion of the Acadians. In July British Major General Edward Braddock led about 2,000 army troops and provincial militia on an expedition to retake Fort Duquesne, but the expedition ended in disastrous defeat. In further action, Admiral Edward Boscawen fired on the French ship Alcide on 8 June 1755, capturing it and two troop ships. In September 1755, French and British troops met in the inconclusive Battle of Lake George.

Question: Which country dispatched regular troops to North America?
Answer: Britain and France

Question: What was the result of the British attack on Ft Duquesne?
Answer: the expedition ended in disastrous defeat

Question: Who led the British assault on Ft. Duquesne?
Answer: British Major General Edward Braddock

Question: What was the result of the naval encounter between Britain and France?
Answer: Admiral Edward Boscawen fired on the French ship Alcide on 8 June 1755, capturing it and two troop ships

Question: Who won the Battle of Lake George?
Answer: inconclusive
Seven Years' War

For much of the eighteenth century, France approached its wars in the same way. It would let colonies defend themselves or would offer only minimal help (sending them limited numbers of troops or inexperienced soldiers), anticipating that fights for the colonies would most likely be lost anyway. This strategy was to a degree forced upon France: geography, coupled with the superiority of the British navy, made it difficult for the French navy to provide significant supplies and support to French colonies. Similarly, several long land borders made an effective domestic army imperative for any French ruler. Given these military necessities, the French government, unsurprisingly, based its strategy overwhelmingly on the army in Europe: it would keep most of its army on the continent, hoping for victories closer to home. The plan was to fight to the end of hostilities and then, in treaty negotiations, to trade territorial acquisitions in Europe to regain lost overseas possessions. This approach did not serve France well in the war, as the colonies were indeed lost, but although much of the European war went well, by its end France had few counterbalancing European successes.

Question: How much effort did France put into wars to defend its colonies?
Answer: It would let colonies defend themselves or would offer only minimal help

Question: Identify a major factor in this feckless strategy by France of not defending its colonies with enthusiasm?
Answer: geography, coupled with the superiority of the British navy, made it difficult

Question: Why did the French rulers need a large domestic army?
Answer: several long land borders made an effective domestic army imperative

Question: How much success did France have in adding European territory with this approach?
Answer: France had few counterbalancing European successes.

Question: In treaty negotiations, what trades did France hope to make.
Answer: in treaty negotiations, to trade territorial acquisitions in Europe to regain lost overseas possessions.
Seven Years' War

The British—by inclination as well as for practical reasons—had tended to avoid large-scale commitments of troops on the Continent. They sought to offset the disadvantage of this in Europe by allying themselves with one or more Continental powers whose interests were antithetical to those of their enemies, particularly France.:15–16 By subsidising the armies of continental allies, Britain could turn London's enormous financial power to military advantage. In the Seven Years' War, the British chose as their principal partner the greatest general of the day, Frederick the Great of Prussia, then the rising power in central Europe, and paid Frederick substantial subsidies for his campaigns.:106 This was accomplished in the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, in which Britain ended its long-standing alliance with Austria in favor of Prussia, leaving Austria to side with France. In marked contrast to France, Britain strove to prosecute the war actively in the colonies, taking full advantage of its naval power. :64–66 The British pursued a dual strategy – naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports, and rapid movement of troops by sea. They harassed enemy shipping and attacked enemy colonies, frequently using colonists from nearby British colonies in the effort.

Question: How did the British avoid having large contingents of troops in continental Europe?
Answer: allying themselves with one or more Continental powers whose interests were antithetical to those of their enemies,

Question: Identify an advantage that Britain had during the Seven Year's War.
Answer: Britain could turn London's enormous financial power to military advantage

Question: Who led the armies supporting British interests in central Europe?
Answer: Frederick the Great of Prussia

Question: What country was driven into an alliance with France by the British pairing with Prussia?
Answer: leaving Austria to side with France

Question: How did the British behave in defending their colonies compared to the French approach?
Answer: In marked contrast to France, Britain strove to prosecute the war actively in the colonies
Seven Years' War

William Pitt, who entered the cabinet in 1756, had a grand vision for the war that made it entirely different from previous wars with France. As prime minister Pitt committed Britain to a grand strategy of seizing the entire French Empire, especially its possessions in North America and India. Britain's main weapon was the Royal Navy, which could control the seas and bring as many invasion troops as were needed. He also planned to use colonial forces from the Thirteen American colonies, working under the command of British regulars, to invade new France. In order to tie the French army down he subsidized his European allies. Pitt Head of the government from 1756 to 1761, and even after that the British continued his strategy. It proved completely successful. Pitt had a clear appreciation of the enormous value of imperial possessions, and realized how vulnerable was the French Empire.

Question: What was the grand strategy of prime minister William Pitt?
Answer: a grand strategy of seizing the entire French Empire

Question: What was Pitt's primary military advantage?
Answer: Britain's main weapon was the Royal Navy

Question: What locations did Pitt want from France?
Answer: North America and India

Question: How did Pitt plan to augment the British regular troops?
Answer: He also planned to use colonial forces from the Thirteen American colonies

Question: How did Pitt's strategy affect Britain's future plans?
Answer: even after that the British continued his strategy
Seven Years' War

The British Prime Minister, the Duke of Newcastle, was optimistic that the new series of alliances could prevent war from breaking out in Europe. However, a large French force was assembled at Toulon, and the French opened the campaign against the British by an attack on Minorca in the Mediterranean. A British attempt at relief was foiled at the Battle of Minorca, and the island was captured on 28 June (for which Admiral Byng was court-martialed and executed). War between Britain and France had been formally declared on 18 May nearly two years after fighting had broken out in the Ohio Country.

Question: What was the reason that the British Prime Minister thought that ware in Europe could be prevented?
Answer: the new series of alliances could prevent war from breaking out in Europe

Question: What country initiated conflict?
Answer: the French opened the campaign against the British by an attack on Minorca

Question: What was the result for Admiral Byng?
Answer: Admiral Byng was court-martialed and executed

Question: When was war declared between Britain and France?
Answer: War between Britain and France had been formally declared on 18 May

Question: How did the timing of the declaration of war compare to the conflicts in North America between Britain and France?
Answer: nearly two years after fighting had broken out in the Ohio Country.
Seven Years' War

Frederick II of Prussia had received reports of the clashes in North America and had formed an alliance with Great Britain. On 29 August 1756, he led Prussian troops across the border of Saxony, one of the small German states in league with Austria. He intended this as a bold pre-emption of an anticipated Austro-French invasion of Silesia. He had three goals in his new war on Austria. First, he would seize Saxony and eliminate it as a threat to Prussia, then using the Saxon army and treasury to aid the Prussian war effort. His second goal was to advance into Bohemia where he might set up winter quarters at Austria's expense. Thirdly, he wanted to invade Moravia from Silesia, seize the fortress at Olmütz, and advance on Vienna to force an end to the war.

Question: How did Frederick II of Prussia respond to news of British and French clashes in North America?
Answer: he led Prussian troops across the border of Saxony

Question: What country was Saxony aligned with?
Answer: Saxony, one of the small German states in league with Austria

Question: Fpr what possession of Prussia was the Saxony invasion a distraction?
Answer: pre-emption of an anticipated Austro-French invasion of Silesia

Question: What was one goal of the invasion of Saxony?
Answer: he would seize Saxony and eliminate it as a threat to Prussia

Question: What was another goal of the invasion of Saxony?
Answer: to advance into Bohemia where he might set up winter quarters at Austria's expense