Vocabulary
A spirit of loyalty and devotion to one's country is known by this term.
What is nationalism? (Note: This intense pride often led to aggressive competition between European nations before the war as each country tried to prove its dominance.)
The "M" in the M.A.I.N. causes of World War I stands for this.
What is Militarism? (Note: The other letters stand for Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism. Together, these are considered the long-term causes of the war.)
He was the President of the United States during World War I and the creator of the "Fourteen Points."
Who is Woodrow Wilson? (Note: He originally kept the U.S. neutral with the reelection slogan "He kept us out of war," but later asked Congress to declare war to make the world "safe for democracy.")
This heavy, armored vehicle was first built by the British to safely cross "No Man's Land" and break the trench stalemate.
What is the tank? (Note: Early tanks were very slow and broke down often, but they provided crucial cover from enemy machine-gun fire.)
During World War I, many American women helped gain support for the suffrage movement by doing which of the following? A) Protesting against the military draft B) Working in wartime industries and factories C) Fighting in combat roles on the Western Front D) Refusing to purchase government war bonds
What is B) Working in wartime industries and factories? (Note: By taking over heavy industrial jobs traditionally held by men, women proved their vital role in society, which directly helped them earn the right to vote with the 19th Amendment.)
An agreement between two or more countries to defend and help one another.
What is an alliance? (Note: The secret and public alliances meant that if a conflict started between two countries, all of Europe would eventually be dragged into it.)
World War I officially began in Europe during this year.
What is 1914? (Note: The war lasted from 1914 until the armistice—the agreement to stop fighting—was signed on November 11, 1918.)
This alliance group was made up of the USA, Great Britain, France, Russia, and Italy.
What are the Allied Powers? (Note: Russia actually left the Allies in 1917 due to the Russian Revolution, which happened to be the exact same year the United States joined the fight.)
This new, deadly biological weapon was used in the trenches and caused blinding, severe blisters, and choking.
What is poison gas? (Note: To combat this terrifying new weapon, troops on both sides were eventually issued gas masks to increase their chances of survival.)
The "Great Migration" of African Americans to the North during and following World War I was mainly a result of the: A) Availability of new factory jobs B) Success of military desegregation C) Destruction of southern farms by enemy attacks D) Passage of federal civil rights laws
What is A) Availability of new factory jobs? (Note: African Americans moved from the rural South to Northern cities to escape racist Jim Crow laws and to find better economic opportunities in factories producing war supplies.)
This term refers to information, such as posters and pamphlets, used to whip up support for the war effort on all sides.
What is propaganda? (Note: The U.S. government created the Committee on Public Information to design posters encouraging citizens to buy war bonds, enlist, and conserve food.)
The assassination of this Austrian-Hungarian royal figure is considered the "spark" that ignited World War I.
Who is Archduke Franz Ferdinand? (Note: He was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination by a Serbian nationalist triggered the alliance system to activate.)
Nicknamed "Black Jack," this general served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), leading millions of U.S. troops on the Western Front
Who is John J. Pershing
These German submarines were used to sink enemy and neutral merchant ships, deeply angering the United States.
What are U-boats? (Note: "U-boat" is short for the German word "Unterseeboot," which literally translates to undersea boat.)
One major goal for a lasting peace that President Woodrow Wilson included in his Fourteen Points was: A) Forcing Germany to pay massive financial reparations B) Expanding American imperial territories in the Pacific C) Establishing a League of Nations D) Dividing the Austro-Hungarian Empire into military zones
What is C) Establishing a League of Nations (Note: Although the League of Nations was Wilson's idea, the U.S. Senate ultimately refused to join it because they feared it would legally drag America into future foreign wars.)
A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war.
What is militarism? (Note: This caused a massive arms race in Europe, with countries constantly building up their armies and navies to intimidate their rivals.)
This secret message proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico, promising to return lost territories to Mexico if they attacked the United States.
What is the Zimmermann Telegram? (Note: British intelligence intercepted this telegram. When it was published in U.S. newspapers, it outraged the American public and helped push the U.S. into the war.)
During the Great War, the alliance made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria was known by this collective name
What are the Central Powers? (Note: They were called the Central Powers because of their geographical location right in the heart of Europe.)
This defensive style of fighting resulted in a massive stalemate, as opposing armies fought from heavily fortified networks of ditches.
What is trench warfare? (Note: The horrific, wet conditions in the trenches led to diseases like "trench foot," and the deadly, bombed-out space between enemy lines was known as "No Man's Land.")
Which generalization is consistent with the ruling of the United States Supreme Court in Schenck v. United States (1919)? A) The military draft is an unconstitutional violation of human rights. B) Citizens have the absolute right to ignore laws they disagree with. C) The government cannot restrict freedom of the press during wartime. D) Individual rights can be limited in the national interest if they present a "clear and present danger."
What is D) Individual rights can be limited in the national interest if they present a "clear and present danger." (Note: The court ruled that during wartime, the government can legally limit free speech if that speech harms the war effort—such as Charles Schenck passing out pamphlets encouraging men to dodge the draft.)
This 1919 document officially ended World War I and placed immense penalties and reparations on Germany.
What is the Treaty of Versailles? (Note: This treaty forced Germany to take full blame for the war and pay massive fines, which ruined their economy and ultimately helped cause World War II.)
Which situation was the immediate cause of the United States' entry into World War I in 1917? A) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand B) German submarines sinking United States merchant ships and the Lusitania C) A direct military attack on U.S. soil D) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
What is B) German submarines sinking United States merchant ships and the Lusitania (Note: Germany's refusal to respect the "freedom of the seas" and their unrestricted attacks on neutral passenger and trade ships made it impossible for the U.S. to stay out of the conflict.)
True or False? The "Big Four" leaders at the Paris Peace Conference included Woodrow Wilson (USA), David Lloyd George (UK), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy).
What is True? (Note: These four men made the major decisions regarding the peace treaty, though Wilson's goal of a lenient peace heavily clashed with the European leaders' desire to punish Germany.)
True or False? The convoy system was a strategy used by Germany to launch surprise attacks on American passenger ships.
What is False? (Note: It was used by the Allies to protect merchant and supply ships from U-boat attacks by having them travel in large groups escorted by heavily armed warships.)
After World War I, what did the U.S. government hope to achieve by lending money to Germany?
Answer: What is B) Political and economic stability in Europe? (Note: The U.S. wanted to help rebuild Europe's ruined economy so that those countries could pay back their war debts and resist radical political uprisings.)