Vocabulary and Key Terms
What years did World War I take place?
1914-1918
How did the Industrial Revolution help cause World War I?
Answer: It allowed countries to make more weapons faster, increasing military power and competition.
Why is World War I called the “First Modern War”?
Answer: Because it used new technology and weapons never seen before in war.
How did Shell Shock affect soldiers after the war?
Answer: Many soldiers had trouble sleeping, working, and adjusting to normal life.
What was the purpose of the Paris Peace Conference?
Answer: To decide how to end the war and punish the losing countries.
Who were the Allied Powers (Triple Entente)
Answer: Great Britain, France, and Russia (later joined by the United States).
What was the Zimmerman Telegram?
Answer: A message from Germany asking Mexico to attack the U.S. in exchange for land.
Name two modern weapons used in WWI.
Answer: Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, airplanes, and submarines.
Why was it hard for soldiers to return to normal life after WWI?
Answer: They were traumatized by the violence and loss they experienced.
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
Answer: The peace treaty that officially ended World War I.
Who were the Central Powers?
Answer: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
Why did new weapons lead to more deaths in WWI?
Answer: Modern weapons like machine guns and artillery were more powerful and deadly.
Name one older weapon still used in WWI.
Answer: Rifles, bayonets, or horses.
How did World War I affect everyday life for civilians?
Answer: People faced shortages, rationing, and were expected to support the war effort.
What were two conditions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles? (Hint: BRAT)
Answer: Germany had to accept blame for the war and pay reparations.
What does stalemate mean?
Answer: A situation where neither side can win or move forward.
What was the "Spark" that lit the powder keg?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
How did modern weapons cause a stalemate?
Answer: Weapons like machine guns made it very hard to attack without heavy losses.
What is rationing?
Answer: Limiting the amount of food and supplies people could buy so soldiers had enough.
What problems did Germany face during the Weimar Republic?
Answer: High inflation, unemployment, and political unrest.
What does the acronym M.A.N.I.A. stand for?
M – Militarism: building up armies and weapons
A – Alliances: agreements between countries to help each other
N – Nationalism: strong pride in one’s country
I – Imperialism: competing for land and power
A – Assassination: the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
What events led the U.S. to enter World War I?
Answer: The sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman Telegram.
What were living conditions like in the trenches?
Answer: Dirty, wet, crowded, and dangerous, with rats and disease.
How did life at home change for women during the war?
Women joined the workforce in order to help the war effort.
What was life like in Europe after WWI?
Answer: Many countries faced destruction, poverty, and political instability.