Causes & Timeline
Which cause means countries were building bigger armies and more weapons?
Militarism
What was the dangerous open area between enemy trenches called?
No Man's Land
Which battle stopped the German plan to quickly win the war in the west?
The First Battle of the Marne.
Which country sent the Zimmerman Telegram?
Germany
What is the name of the treaty that ended World War I?
Treaty of Versailles
In what year was Archduke Franz Ferdinand killed, starting World War I?
1915
Name one new weapon used on land in World War I.
Machine gun; Tank; Poison gas; Heavy artillery; Flamethrower.
Which long battle became a symbol of French determination and bravery because they kept holding the city?
Verdun
Which country was the Zimmerman Telegram sent to, asking for help against the United States?
Mexico
Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to admit blame for starting the war. What short phrase describes this?
War-guilt clause
What was the name of the alliance that included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy?
The Triple Alliance
What part of a trench did soldiers use to rest when they were not fighting?
Dugout
How did American soldiers help the Allies when they arrived? (1 sentence)
American soldiers brought fresh troops, supplies, and morale, helping the Allies push back against exhausted Central Powers.
Name two leaders from the "Big Four" who met at the Paris Peace Conference.
Any two of: Woodrow Wilson (United States), Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (Britain), Vittorio Orlando (Italy).
Give one result for Germany under the Treaty.
Example consequences for Germany (any one is correct): Had to pay reparations (money); lost territory and colonies; faced limits on its military.
How did strong pride in one’s country (nationalism) make countries more likely to fight? (1 sentence)
Nationalism made countries proud and competitive, which caused fights and anger between nations.
How did weapons like machine guns and artillery make battles more deadly? (1 sentence)
New weapons killed many more soldiers and made it much harder for attackers to succeed, causing long stalemates and high casualty numbers.
Was the Battle of the Somme a big success for the Allies? Give one reason.
No — the Battle of the Somme caused huge Allied casualties and only small gains in territory.
Give one main goal from Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points.
One main Wilson goal: Create a League of Nations to keep peace (also: self-determination, no secret treaties, free seas).
Say one way Wilson’s 14 Points was different from the Treaty of Versailles. (1 sentence)
One difference: Wilson’s 14 Points aimed for fair, lasting peace and self-determination; the Treaty of Versailles imposed penalties and reparations on Germany.
Put these events in order from first to last: Germany takes Alsace-Lorraine; Austria annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina; the Triple Entente forms.
Why was the use of poison gas at Ypres important? (1 sentence)
Poison gas at Ypres was important because it was one of the first large-scale uses of chemical weapons; it caused many injuries and fear and changed how soldiers fought and protected themselves.
Name two big reasons Russia left the war in 1917.
Two major reasons Russia left the war in 1917: heavy military losses (many casualties) and severe food shortages plus political unrest that led to revolution.
Why did France’s leader, Georges Clemenceau, want to punish Germany? (1 sentence)
Georges Clemenceau wanted to punish Germany because France had been invaded, suffered heavy damage, and lost many lives; he wanted to make sure Germany could not attack again.
How was the League of Nations supposed to help stop future wars? (1–2 sentences)
The League of Nations was meant to be an international group where countries would meet, discuss disputes, and use diplomacy to prevent future wars.