Causes and Context
What event happened in 1914 in Sarajevo and is considered the immediate spark that started World War I
Assassination of Archduke
The term for a war that mobilizes all of a nation's resources, including civilians and industry.
Total War
This small, armored vehicle was developed to cross trenches and barbed wire; early models were called Mark I.
The tank (British Mark I).
On what date did Germany sign the armistice that ended fighting in WWI?
November 11, 1918.
The failed German plan for a quick victory on the Western Front was called the ___ Plan.
The Schlieffen Plan.
What are the four MAIN long-term causes represented by the acronym
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism
Name two jobs or roles women filled on the home front or battlefield during WWI.
.
Women worked in munitions and other war factories, served as nurses (including near front lines), worked as clerks/administrative staff, and labored in agriculture.
Identify two types of chemical gases used in WWI and one effect they had on soldiers.
Chlorine gas (caused choking and lung damage) and mustard gas (caused severe skin burns, blisters; could damage lungs and eyes); both caused long‑term health problems and high suffering.
Name the international organization created by the Treaty of Versailles intended to keep peace.
The League of Nations.
This 1914 battle stopped Germany’s advance into France and ended the Schlieffen Plan's immediate success.
The First Battle of the Marne.
This German policy of attacking ships without warning threatened U.S. trade and helped push America toward war.
Unrestricted submarine warfare.
List two ways governments influenced public opinion and suppressed dissent at home during the war.
Governments used propaganda campaigns (posters, films, speeches) and censored or controlled the press; they also prosecuted or silenced antiwar activists and enforced laws limiting dissent and free speech.
Explain why machine guns and artillery favored defense and increased casualty rates.
Machine guns could deliver sustained, rapid fire that mowed down attackers crossing open ground, while artillery barrages could decimate massed troops and fortifications. Together they made frontal assaults extremely costly and turned battlefields into static, high‑casualty environments.
List three major terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles.
In 1918 Germany launched a major offensive after Russia left the war; name the 1918 Allied counterattack that helped turn the tide (hint: it involved fresh U.S. troops).
The Second Battle of the Marne (Allied counteroffensive with significant American forces).
The secret 1917 diplomatic message proposing a German‑Mexican alliance that inflamed U.S. public opinion is known as the ___.
The Zimmerman Telegram.
Explain the Great Migration and one way it affected minorities' lives in the U.S. after WWI
Describe two ways air warfare evolved during WWI and its impact on the battlefield.
Aircraft progressed from reconnaissance planes to armed fighters engaging in dogfights and to bombers targeting supply lines and trenches. This added an aerial dimension to reconnaissance, close air support, and strategic bombing, forcing adaptation in ground tactics and air defense.
Explain two reasons why the Treaty of Versailles failed to create a lasting peace
First, the treaty punished Germany harshly with heavy reparations and blame, which created anger and a desire for revenge.
Second, the treaty redrew borders and created new nations, leading to tension and conflicts that Europe was not prepared to solve.
Identify two geographic or logistical reasons trenches produced stalemate on the Western Front.
(1) Extensive trench systems, barbed wire, and destroyed terrain made movement across "no man's land extremely difficult; (2) Rail and supply constraints plus powerful defensive fire (machine guns/artillery) prevented rapid maneuver and resupply for large offensives.
how did imperialism and nationalism combined to make the Balkans a "power keg"of Europe.
How did WWI mobilization change the American economy and the workforce? Use examples from the documents.
WWI mobilization changed the American economy by shifting factories to produce weapons, uniforms, and supplies for the war. This created many new jobs and made the economy grow quickly. Because so many men went to fight, women began working in factories and other jobs they hadn’t done before. African Americans also moved north during the Great Migration to fill labor shortages in war industries. These changes showed how the war transformed both the economy and who made up the American workforce.
Choose one WWI technology (tank, submarine, or chemical weapon). What was its short‑term effect in battle, and what long‑term impact did it have on future wars?
Tank
Short‑term effect: Tanks helped armies cross trenches and break through enemy lines, giving them a new way to attack.
Long‑term consequence: Tanks became a major part of modern warfare, leading to the creation of faster, stronger armored vehicles used in future wars.
Submarine (U‑boat)
Short‑term effect: Submarines allowed Germany to sink enemy ships secretly, disrupting supplies and causing fear at sea.
Long‑term consequence: Submarine warfare became a permanent part of naval strategy, leading countries to build better submarines and anti‑submarine defenses.
Chemical Weapons
Short‑term effect: Chemical weapons caused panic, injuries, and confusion on the battlefield, forcing soldiers to use gas masks.
Long‑term consequence: Because of their horrific effects, chemical weapons were banned in later treaties, but nations still prepared defenses in case they were used again.
How did WWI lead to new cultural or intellectual movements in the 1920s? Give three examples.
.
What was the Treaty of Brest‑Litovsk, and how did it affect the Western Front?
The Treaty of Brest‑Litovsk was the agreement where Russia left World War I.
Because Russia dropped out, Germany moved its soldiers from the Eastern Front to the Western Front, giving Germany more troops to fight France, Britain, and later the U.S.