M.A.I.N Causes of WWI
This M.A.I.N cause of World War I refers to the buildup of armies and navies and an increased focus on military strength?
What is Militarism?
This type of warfare, used heavily on the Western Front, involved soldiers fighting from long, dug-out defensive positions.
What is Trench Warfare?
This assassination in 1914 helped trigger World War I.
What is Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
This 1919 agreement officially ended World War I.
What is the Treaty of Versailles
This 1917 revolution led to the overthrow of the Russian monarchy.
What is the Russian Revolution?
This cause of World War I led countries to form agreements that pulled multiple nations into the conflict after the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
What is Alliances?
This new weapon made it extremely dangerous for soldiers to charge across “no man’s land,” contributing to the stalemate.
What is Machine guns?
This term describes the area between opposing trenches where most of the fighting and deaths occurred.
What is No Man's Land?
This country was forced to accept full responsibility for World War I under the Treaty of Versailles.
What is Germany?
This Russian leader and his Bolshevik party led the communist takeover in 1917.
What is Vladimir Lenin / Bolsheviks / The Red Army
European competition for colonies in Africa and Asia increased tension between nations. Which M.A.I.N cause does this describe, and why did it create conflict? (Must explain why)
Imperialism, because countries competed for land, resources, and power, increasing rivalry and distrust.
Explain how new technologies like machine guns and barbed wire changed the way wars were fought compared to earlier wars.
They made defense much stronger than offense, causing high casualties and making it difficult to advance, leading to stalemates.
This strategy was used by countries during World War I to convince civilians to support the war effort through posters, speeches, and media.
What is Propaganda?
List one major punishment placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles and explain its intended purpose.
Examples include reparations, military limits, or loss of territory; purpose was to weaken Germany and prevent future wars.
List one major problem in Russia before the revolution and explain how it contributed to unrest.
Examples include WWI losses, food shortages, poverty, or poor leadership; students should explain how it increased anger toward the government.
How did nationalism contribute both to the start of World War I and to the rapid spread of the conflict after it began?
Nationalism caused tensions and made people strongly support their country, leading nations to defend allies and escalate the war quickly.
How did trench warfare contribute to the prolonged stalemate on the Western Front during World War I?
Trenches protected soldiers from new deadly weapons, making it hard for either side to advance; attacks led to heavy losses with little gain, keeping both sides stuck.
Explain why World War I is often called a “total war.”
should explain that total war involved entire societies—soldiers and civilians—through industry, economy, propaganda, and rationing, not just fighting armies.
How did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles contribute to political and economic instability in Germany after World War I?
Reparations and territorial losses weakened the economy, caused anger and humiliation, and contributed to unrest and political instability in Germany.
How did Russia’s involvement in World War I contribute to the success of the Bolshevik Revolution?
WWI caused heavy casualties, food shortages, and economic collapse, weakening the government and increasing support for the Bolsheviks.
Which M.A.I.N cause was the most significant in causing World War I? Defend your answer using at least one specific example from before the war.
(militarism, alliances, imperialism, or nationalism), but must include a clear claim + specific evidence + explanation.
Did technological advancements in World War I make warfare more “efficient,” or did they mainly make it more deadly without achieving faster results? Defend your answer using specific examples.
Answer should use evidence such as machine guns, artillery, poison gas, tanks, or trench warfare. Strong responses will argue that while technology increased killing power, it often led to stalemates rather than quick victories (especially on the Western Front during World War I).
To what extent did the way World War I ended contribute to the start of World War II? Defend your answer using specific historical evidence.
Students should argue that the end of World War I—especially the Treaty of Versailles—helped create conditions for future conflict. Strong answers may include harsh reparations, German resentment, economic instability, and political instability that contributed to the rise of extremist leaders and eventually the outbreak of World War II.
Was the Treaty of Versailles a fair peace settlement or a punishment that created future problems? Defend your answer using specific evidence.
Answers vary, students must argue with evidence (e.g., harsh reparations, blame clause, or attempts at peace like the League of Nations) and explain whether it promoted long-term stability or instability.
How effective was the Bolshevik slogan “Peace, Land, and Bread” in helping the Bolsheviks gain support during the Russian Revolution? Defend your answer using specific historical evidence.
Explain that the slogan appealed to key struggles in Russia: “Peace” addressed war-weariness from World War I, “Land” appealed to peasants wanting land redistribution, and “Bread” addressed food shortages and economic hardship. Strong responses will evaluate how far these promises attracted widespread support and whether they were fulfilled after the Bolsheviks took power.