Which country was blamed for starting World War I after Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated?
Serbia rejected the Ultimatum of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary --> Declared war on SerbiaWho was the Archduke of Austria-Hungary whose assassination triggered WWI?
Franz Ferdinand
What does the term militarism mean?
Building up armies and glorifying military strength.
What event started World War I?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo.
Name one new weapon used in WWI.
Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, airplanes.
Which country supported Austria-Hungary and declared war on Russia?
Germany
Who was the German Kaiser during WWI?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
What was the “powder keg of Europe”?
The Balkans
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
Germany’s plan to defeat France quickly, then fight Russia.
What was “no man’s land”?
The dangerous area between opposing trenches.
What two countries were fighting Germany on the Eastern Front?
Russia and Serbia
Who was Otto von Bismarck, and what was his goal after unifying Germany?
German Chancellor who wanted to keep peace and isolate France through alliances.
How did alliances contribute to the start of WWI?
Alliances caused a domino effect, pulling multiple countries into war.
Which battle stopped the German advance into France and ended the Schlieffen Plan?
The Battle of the Marne (1914).
How did new technology affect soldiers’ lives?
Increased casualties, made war deadlier, but didn’t break the stalemate.
Which neutral country did Germany invade to reach France, causing Britain to enter the war?
Belgium
Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Gavrilo Princip
A member of the Serbian nationalist group the black hand
Explain how imperialism increased tensions between European powers.
European countries competed for colonies in Africa and Asia, leading to rivalries and mistrust.
What were the major battles on the Western Front that caused massive casualties but little gain?
The Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme.
What medical advances helped soldiers survive their injuries?
X-rays, blood banks, ambulances, prosthetics, reconstructive surgery.
Explain why Germany’s geographic position was considered a major disadvantage during WWI.
Germany was surrounded by enemies and had to fight on two fronts — France and Britain in the West, Russia in the East.
Compare Bismarck’s and Wilhelm II’s foreign policies.
Bismarck sought to maintain peace through diplomacy and alliances; Wilhelm II was aggressive, dismissed Bismarck, and built up the navy, leading to tension with Britain.
Which two long-term causes do you think were most responsible for the outbreak of WWI? Explain.
Answers may vary: Students could choose alliances & nationalism, explaining how pride and commitments pulled nations into war.
How did the assassination lead to a chain reaction of war declarations?
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia → Russia mobilized → Germany declared war on Russia and France → Britain declared war on Germany.
Why didn’t new technologies lead to quick victories?
Because both sides had similar weapons and strong defenses, leading to stalemate instead of rapid success.