Causes
What are the four M.A.I.N. causes of World War I?
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism
What was the Schlieffen Plan meant to accomplish for Germany?
Germany wanted to avoid a two-front war with France and Russia. The plan: invade France through Belgium, defeat them, and then turn around to fight Russia.
What was no man's land?
The land between opposing trenches: filled with mud, barbwire, traps, bodies, craters. Machine guns, artillery, and other dangers made it almost impossible to pass through alive.
Which country was originally involved with the Central Powers, but changed sides to the Allied Powers during WWI?
Italy
Why did Russia leave the war in the year 1917?
They had a communist revolution back home
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip
Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?
Belgium fought harder, Russia mobilized faster than Germany expected
What is trench foot?
Disease of the legs caused by constant walking in water-filled trenches
What was the Eastern Front?
Russia battled Germany and Austria-Hungary in the East of Europe along with the Balkans, where there were large gains in territory back and forth. Russia suffered severe conditions and had to leave the war in 1917.
Why did the United States join WWI in the year 1917?
Germany sent the Zimmerman Note, trying to convince Mexico to attack the United States
How did Militarism contribute to World War I?
Which alliance was created between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before the war?
Central Powers (also called Triple Alliance)
What was shell shock?
How did European colonies participate in World War I?
They battled in the colonies or joined their imperial leaders in fighting in Europe
What were some of the main ideas of President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points?
Goals: create a world without war. Freedom of the seas, self-determination (anti-imperialism), and creating a League of Nations
How did Alliances contribute to World War I?
Alliances drew in several countries that otherwise would not have been involved in war
Which alliance was created between Britain, France, and Russia (and later joined by the U.S. and Italy)?
Allied Powers (or Triple Entente)
What is total war?
A war in which each side is willing to make any sacrifices in lives or resources to win; all society is involved in the war and all targets are valid.
What role did World War I play in domestic life back home?
Women worked men's jobs, propaganda glorified the war, food was rationed, raised taxes.
What is an armistice, and when did it end World War I?
Armistice = a ceasefire. November 11, 1918.
How did Imperialism and Nationalism contribute to World War I?
Imperialism spread war to Europe's colonies, making it a true "world war." Nationalism made many people want their own nation-states, which led to tension in Europe.
What was the "Race to the Sea"?
Germany and Britain/France created a stalemate on the Western Front, and they dug 500 miles of trenches across France as they tried to outflank each other
Describe the conditions of trench warfare.
What role did the Ottoman Empire have in World War I?
They were on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary (Central Powers), and stopped the Allied Powers from transporting supplies to Russia by sea, but they suffered loss of territory from Arab nationalists led by the British Lawrence of Arabia
Describe the problems of the Treaty of Versailles.
It blamed Germany for WWI and harshly punished it by forcing them to pay reparations, lose territory, and lose most of their military. Furthermore, it continued the problems of imperialism and nationalism, and it created a weak League of Nations that could not do much. These led directly to World War II almost 20 years later.