The War Begins
What are historically cited long-term causes of the First World War?
Nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the formation of a system of alliances.
What forced Germany to declare war on Russia?
A treaty obliged them to support Austria-Hungry
What was the result of the Selective Service Act?
Military grew from 200,000 to 24 million
What is shellshock?
A term to describe the complete emotional collapse brought on by the horrific hazards of war.
What change did wartime bring in relation to women in the workforce?
The need for labor brought over a million more women into the work force.
What is militarism?
The development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy
What action brought Britain into the war?
Germany invaded Belgium so Britain declared war on Germany
What was the convoy system?
Heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships
What is a conscientious objector?
A person who opposes warfare on moral grounds.
What was the result of the War Industries Board regulations?
Increased production by 20 percent—retail prices soared, corporate profits soared
What European nations were members of the Allied forces (previously known as the Triple Entente)?
France, Britain, and Russia
Woodrow Wilson
What is cited as one of the main contributions of the American troops to the Allied war effort?
Freshness and enthusiasm
What was trench foot and how was it remedied?
Trench foot was a disease caused by standing in wet trenches for long periods of time. Toes would turn red/blue and then begin to rot off. Only solution was amputation.
What measure was introduced by the Fuel Administration as a means of conservation?
Daylight savings time
What European nations were members of the Triple Alliance (later known as the Central Powers)?
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
What was the Zimmerman Telegram and what message did it contain?
It was an intercepted telegram from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance that would react if the U.S. entered the war promising Germany would help Mexico regain TX. NM, and AZ
What were the two most innovative weapons used in WWI?
Tank and the airplane
What soldier achieved the “greatest things accomplished by any private soldier of all armies of Europe”?
Alvin York—first a conscientious objector, later decided to fight if you had just cause. With only a rifle and revolver killed 25 other Germans (aided by 6 others) captured 132 prisoners.
What affect did wartime have on American wages?
Hourly wages rose about 20 percent but costs rose to meet the increase
What prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war against Serbia?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
What took place in Russia that ultimately ushered the U.S. into WWI?
Russian monarchy was replaced with a representative government making the war a war of democracies against monarchies.
How did Germans solve the problem of planes’ propellers getting in the way of bullets?
Introduced an interrupter gear that permitted the stream of bullets to avoid the blades.
What is an armistice?
A truce to end a war.
How did Wilson respond to the disputes between labor and management?
Established the National War Labor Board in 1918