The Great War Unit Test Review

Vocabulary

100

What is an alliance?

A partnership between countries to help each other in war.

200

What is a casualty?

A person killed, wounded, or missing in war.

300

Define what it means to be neutral.

Not taking sides in a conflict.

400

Define assassination.

The murder of an important person for political reasons.

500

What is a civilian?

A person not in the military.

Vocabulary 2

100

What is a trench?

A deep, narrow line of defense dug in the ground.

200

What is a front?

The area where fighting takes place.

300

What is trench warfare?

Fighting from defensive trenches over long periods.

400

Describe reconnaissance.

The act of surveying or mapping enemy territory.

500

What is a blockade?

Using ships to prevent an enemy from receiving supplies.

War Trivia

100

What event sparked the start of World War I?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

200

Why did trench warfare lead to so many casualties?

Soldiers were exposed to machine guns and attacks

300

What was the Treaty of Versailles and its result?

It was a peace treaty made by the winning countries (like Britain and France) to decide what would happen after the war—especially what would happen to Germany.

What it did:

• Blamed Germany for causing the war (called the “war guilt” clause)
• Forced Germany to pay large amounts of money (reparations)
• Took away some of Germany’s land and colonies
• Limited Germany’s military (army and weapons)

400

What was armistice used for?

Ending the actual fighting in World War I

Led to peace talks, which later created the Treaty of Versailles

 

500

What was the purpose of reconnaissance?

• Soldiers, planes, and even balloons were used to spy on enemy positions
• It helped locate trenches, weapons, and troop movements
• Commanders used this information to plan attacks and avoid danger

Why it mattered:

Without reconnaissance, armies would be fighting “blind” and making much riskier decisions.

Descriptions & Explanations

100

Describe what life was like for soldiers in the trenches.

• Muddy, dirty, dangerous

• Rats, disease, constant fear

• Machine gun attacks

200

Explain two causes of World War I.

• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Alliances pulling countries into war

300

Describe how new weapons made World War I more deadly.

• Machine guns caused mass casualties

• Tanks, gas, submarines increased destruction

400

Explain how the war affected civilians on the home front.

• Propaganda influenced people

• Women worked in factories

• Food shortages and rationing

500

Why did the peace after World War I not last?

• Flu pandemic

• Economic hardship

• Unfair peace terms (Treaty of Versailles)

Your Opinion

100

Do you think World War I could have been prevented? Why?

Why it could have been prevented

• The war was sparked by the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
  → If that event hadn’t happened, the war may not have started when it did.
• Leaders could have chosen negotiation instead of fighting.
• Countries could have avoided quickly declaring war on each other.

Why it could not have been prevented

• Europe had many disagreements over land, power, and influence.
• Everyone was prepared for war. Countries had built huge armies and weapons.
• People had intense pride in their countries. Backing down from a conflict felt like weakness, so leaders felt pressure to fight. 

200

Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

Why it was not fair

• Germany was blamed for the war (the “war guilt” clause), even though many countries contributed to the conflict.
• Germany had to pay huge amounts of money (reparations), which hurt its economy.
• It lost land and had to give up its colonies.
• Its military was severely limited, making it feel weak and humiliated.

Why some thought it was fair

• Countries like France and Britain had suffered greatly during World War I.
• They wanted to punish Germany and prevent another war.
• Leaders believed strong penalties would keep Germany from becoming a threat again.

300

Should Germany have been punished as harshly as it was?

YES:

• Germany caused a lot of damage during World War I.
• Other countries wanted to make sure Germany would not start another war.
• Punishing Germany was seen as a way to protect future peace.

NO:

• The punishment was too harsh and hurt Germany’s economy and people.
• It created anger and resentment in Germany.
• This may have helped lead to another war later.

400

Would you have supported going to war if you lived at that time?

YES:

• Many people felt proud of their country and wanted to defend it.
• People believed the war would be short and honorable.
• Propaganda made war seem exciting and necessary.

NO:

• War leads to death, destruction, and suffering.
• Many people did not fully understand how deadly modern war would be.
• Peaceful solutions could have been tried instead.

500

Do you see any similarities between World War I and conflicts today?

YES:

• Countries still form alliances and take sides.
• Conflicts can still start from smaller events and grow quickly.
• National pride and competition still play a role in conflicts.

NO:

• Today there are more global organizations that try to prevent war.
• Countries often use diplomacy more than immediate war.
• Technology and communication allow leaders to respond differently.