Spark of WWI
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
What important person was assassinated in 1914, helping to start World War I?
What new weapon fired hundreds of bullets per minute and made it very difficult for soldiers to cross “no man’s land”?
The machine gun
Which three countries made up the Triple Alliance before World War I?
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Why did Germany create the Schlieffen Plan before World War I?
Germany feared having to fight both France in the west and Russia in the east at the same time.
What mysterious holy man became famous for influencing the Russian royal family before the Russian Revolution?
Rasputin
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Where was Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
What new type of weapon was first used in World War I to break through trenches and barbed wire?
The tank
Which three countries made up the Triple Entente before World War I?
Great Britain, France, and Russia
What was Germany’s plan for defeating France quickly?
Germany planned to invade France by marching through Belgium and surrounding Paris.
What was the name of the radical group led by Lenin that took control of Russia in 1917?
The Bolsheviks
Why did [the assassin] want to kill the Archduke?
Princip wanted Bosnia and other Slavic lands to break away from Austria-Hungary and join Serbia.
What poisonous substance, first used by Germany in 1915, caused choking and burning in soldiers’ lungs?
Chlorine gas, mustard gas, or phosgene gas.
Why did Germany support Austria-Hungary after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand?
Because Germany and Austria-Hungary were allies in the Triple Alliance, and Germany promised to back Austria-Hungary no matter what.
Why did the Schlieffen Plan cause Britain to enter World War I?
Because Germany invaded Belgium, and Britain had promised to protect Belgium’s neutrality.
What type of government and economy did Lenin and the Bolsheviks want to create?
They wanted communism—a system where the government owns businesses and property and wealth is supposed to be shared equally.
Gavrilo Princip
What was the name of the Serbian nationalist who assassinated Franz Ferdinand?
Manfred von Richthofen was nicknamed _______________.
Why did Russia support Serbia after Austria-Hungary declared war?
Because Russia saw itself as the protector of Slavic peoples like the Serbs and was allied with Serbia.
What was the difference between the Western Front and the Eastern Front during World War I?
The Western Front was mostly trench warfare and little movement, while the Eastern Front covered more land and armies moved around more.
What were small local councils of workers, soldiers, and peasants that formed around Russia that gained political power?
Soviets
Tell the Story: Why did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to World War I instead of just a small war between two countries?
Because the alliance system pulled many countries into the conflict. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia supported Serbia, Germany supported Austria-Hungary, and then France and Britain entered the war.
How did industrialization help turn World War I into a “total war”?
Why did Britain enter World War I even though Germany had not attacked Britain directly?
Because Germany invaded Belgium to attack France, and Britain had promised to protect Belgium.
What major consequence happened after the Schlieffen Plan failed?
Germany did not defeat France quickly, so it became stuck fighting a long two-front war against both France and Russia.
Why were many Russian soldiers unwilling or unable to continue fighting in World War I by 1917?
Because they had terrible equipment and shortages—some soldiers were even training with broomsticks instead of rifles.