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Trench Warefare
Home Front
MAIN causes of WWI
American Joins WWI
Weapons of WWI
100

What is Trench Warfare?

Trench warfare is a type of fighting where soldiers dig long, narrow ditches (called trenches) in the ground to protect themselves from enemy fire.

100

Who was the president during the war?

The American president during most of World War I was Woodrow Wilson.

  • He was president from 1913 to 1921
  • He first tried to keep the U.S. out of the war
  • In 1917, he asked Congress to declare war on Germany
100

What was the name of the Archduke who was murdered and who murdered him?

The Archduke who was assassinated was Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

He was killed by Gavrilo Princip.

  • Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne
  • Gavrilo Princip was part of a group that wanted Bosnia to be free from Austria-Hungary
  • The assassination happened in 1914 and helped start World War I
100

Describe the three reasons America joined the war.

1. Submarine attacks (Unrestricted warfare):
Germany used submarines to sink ships, including ones with American passengers and goods. This made Americans angry and feel unsafe.

2. The Zimmermann Telegram:
Germany sent a secret message to Mexico asking them to join the war against the U.S. This shocked and angered Americans.

3. Protecting democracy and trade:
The U.S. wanted to support countries like Britain and France, who were its trading partners, and help defend democracy.

100

What are five weapons used in WWI?

1. Machine guns

  • Fired many bullets very quickly and made attacks very deadly.

2. Rifles

  • Standard guns used by soldiers for fighting from trenches.

3. Artillery (big cannons)

  • Fired huge shells long distances to destroy enemy trenches and buildings.

4. Poison gas

  • Harmful gases like chlorine and mustard gas used to injure or kill soldiers.

5. Tanks

  • Armored vehicles introduced later in the war to cross “no man’s land” and break through trenches.
200

Why does trench warfare lead to longer wars?

It is hard to move forward, so battles often last a long time without much progress.

200

What are the three citizens helped at home during the war?

Conserving food and resources

  • People followed programs like “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays”
  • This helped send more food to soldiers and allies overseas

2. Buying Liberty Bonds

  • Americans bought war bonds to lend money to the government
  • This helped pay for weapons, supplies, and soldiers

3. Working in war industries

  • Many people worked in factories making weapons, uniforms, and supplies
  • Women especially took jobs that men had left to go fight in the war


200

What are the MAIN causes of the war?

M — Militarism:
Countries built up large armies and weapons and were ready to use them quickly.

A — Alliances:
Countries made agreements to help each other in war. If one country was attacked, others joined in.

I — Imperialism:
European countries competed to take over colonies and land around the world, causing tension.

N — Nationalism:
Strong pride in one’s country led to competition and conflict between nations and ethnic groups.

200

What was the Zimmerman Telegraph?


The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret message sent by Germany to Mexico during World War I.

In the message:

  • Germany asked Mexico to join the war against the United States
  • They promised Mexico land in return (like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona)

The message was intercepted and decoded by Britain, then shared with the U.S.


200

Identify two new weapons that were introduced in WWI.

. Machine guns

  • Could fire hundreds of bullets per minute
  • Made it very hard for soldiers to attack across open ground
  • Helped cause the deadly stalemate in trench warfare

2. Poison gas

  • Used to harm or kill soldiers in the trenches
  • Included gases like chlorine and mustard gas
  • Forced soldiers to wear gas masks for protection
300

What is "No Mans Land"?


No man’s land is the dangerous area of land between two enemy sides, especially in trench warfare.

  • It is not controlled by either side
  • It is often filled with barbed wire, craters, and debris
  • Soldiers risk being shot or injured if they cross it


300

How was Propaganda used on the home front?

1. Encouraging support for the war

  • Posters, newspapers, and speeches made people feel it was their duty to support soldiers
  • It encouraged patriotism and unity

2. Recruiting soldiers

  • Images and slogans urged men to join the army
  • Famous posters showed Uncle Sam saying “I Want YOU”

3. Promoting sacrifices at home

  • People were told to save food, buy Liberty Bonds, and avoid wasting supplies
  • It made these actions feel like patriotic duties

4. Shaping opinions about the enemy

  • Propaganda often portrayed Germany in a negative way to increase support for the war
300

How did MAIN effect the war?

M — Militarism

  • Countries had huge armies and lots of weapons ready
  • This made the war very large and very deadly
  • Nations were prepared to fight quickly instead of solving problems peacefully

A — Alliances

  • Countries were connected by agreements to help each other
  • When one country went to war, its allies joined too
  • This turned a small conflict into a world war

I — Imperialism

  • Countries competed for colonies and power around the world
  • This created tension and distrust before the war even started
  • It also made countries fight in many different regions

N — Nationalism

  • Strong pride in countries and ethnic groups led to anger and competition
  • Some groups wanted independence, like in the Balkans
  • This helped cause the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand


MAIN caused countries to be armed, divided into alliances, competing for land, and filled with national pride—all of which helped start and intensify the war.

300

What happened to The RMS Lusitania ?

The RMS Lusitania was a British passenger ship that was sunk during World War I.

  • In 1915, a German submarine (U-boat) fired a torpedo at the ship
  • The ship sank quickly off the coast of Ireland
  • About 1,200 people died, including 128 Americans


300

What was one of Wilson’s 14 points that was NOT included in the Treaty of Versailles?

A League of Nations with full membership and equal power for all nations

  • Wilson wanted a global organization where countries would work together to keep peace
  • This became the League of Nations, but it was weakened in the treaty
  • Most importantly, the United States never joined, even though Wilson helped create it
400

What was life like for the soldiers in the trench?

  • Dirty and wet conditions: Trenches were often filled with mud and water. Soldiers could stand in wet boots for days, causing a painful condition called trench foot.
  • Rats and bugs: Large rats lived in the trenches and ate leftover food—and sometimes even dead bodies. Lice (tiny bugs) made soldiers very itchy.
  • Little sleep: Soldiers were always on alert for attacks, so they didn’t get much rest.
  • Danger all the time: Enemy guns, bombs, and poison gas could strike at any moment.
  • Bad smells: The trenches smelled terrible because of mud, waste, and dead bodies nearby.
  • Boredom and fear: Long periods of waiting were mixed with sudden, terrifying attacks.
400

How were children asked to help on the home front?

1. Saving resources

  • Children were encouraged to save food and not waste things like bread and meat
  • Some schools had “clean plate clubs” to avoid wasting food

2. Buying war stamps

  • Kids saved money to buy War Savings Stamps (like small versions of war bonds)
  • This helped the government raise money for the war

3. Supporting soldiers

  • Children wrote letters to soldiers and sent care packages
  • They also made bandages and helped with Red Cross activities

4. Growing food

  • Some children helped plant “victory gardens” to grow fruits and vegetables
400

What is Militarism?

M — Militarism

  • Countries had huge armies and lots of weapons ready
  • This made the war very large and very deadly
  • Nations were prepared to fight quickly instead of solving problems peacefully
400

Why didn't American want to enter the war right away?


1. Isolationism (staying out of other countries’ problems):
People believed the U.S. should focus on its own issues and not get involved in a European war.

2. The war didn’t start in the U.S.:
Since the fighting was happening far away in Europe, many Americans felt it wasn’t their responsibility.

3. Diverse population:
The U.S. had many immigrants from countries on both sides of the war, so people had different opinions and didn’t want to fight against their homelands.

4. Fear of death and destruction:
War was known to be dangerous and costly, and people wanted to avoid losing lives and money.


400

What was included in the Treaty of Versailles but NOT one of Wilson’s 14 points?

One major thing included in the Treaty of Versailles but NOT part of President **Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points was:

War Guilt Clause (Article 231)

  • It said Germany was completely responsible for starting World War I
  • This forced Germany to accept blame for the war

Why this was important:

  • It led to Germany having to pay heavy reparations (money for war damage)
  • Wilson wanted a fair peace, not punishment—but this clause was very harsh on Germany
500

What is Trench Foot?

Trench foot is a painful foot condition caused by having wet and cold feet for a long time.

Symptoms include:

  • Swollen, numb feet
  • Pain or tingling
  • Blisters or sores
  • Skin turning pale or dark


500

How did women help on the home front?

1. Working in factories

  • Women took jobs that men left to fight in the war
  • They built weapons, ammunition, uniforms, and other supplies

2. Joining the workforce

  • Women worked as nurses, drivers, clerks, and telephone operators
  • They helped keep the country running while men were away

3. Supporting the war effort

  • Women joined organizations like the Red Cross
  • They made bandages, packed supplies, and helped soldiers

4. Growing food

  • Many women helped grow food in “victory gardens” to feed soldiers and families
500

What is Alliances? Who were our allies?

A — Alliances

  • Countries were connected by agreements to help each other
  • When one country went to war, its allies joined too
  • This turned a small conflict into a world war

American allies:

  • United Kingdom (Britain)
  • France
  • Russia (until 1917, when it left the war)
  • Italy (joined in 1915)
500

Why do some people think The RMS Lusitania was NOT a war crime?

1. It was considered a valid target:
Germany claimed the ship was carrying war supplies (like ammunition) to Britain. If true, that could make it a military target, not just a civilian ship.

2. Britain warned ships about danger:
Germany had announced that it would attack ships in the waters around Britain, so they argued that ships entering that area were taking a risk.

3. Rules of war at sea were unclear:
At the time, the laws about submarine warfare and attacking ships were not as clearly defined or agreed upon as they are today.



500

 WHEN and WHY did the War end?

WHEN did it end?

  • November 11, 1918
  • This is known as Armistice Day (now called Veterans Day in the U.S.)

WHY did it end?

The war ended because:

  • Germany was losing badly on the battlefield
  • Its army was exhausted, low on supplies, and retreating
  • The German people were struggling with hunger and hardship
  • Germany’s allies were also collapsing and surrendering
  • Germany agreed to sign an armistice (a ceasefire agreement) with the Allies