Causes of WWI
What year did WWI begin?
1914
Who was assassinated in June 1914?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Name a country that fought for the Central Powers.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, or Bulgaria
What type of warfare involved soldiers fighting from long ditches dug into the ground?
Trench warfare
What rapid-firing weapon made crossing open battlefields extremely dangerous?
Machine gun
Who was president of the United States during WWI?
Woodrow Wilson
In what year did WWI end?
1918
What treaty established the formal peace terms between Germany and the Allied Powers after WWI?
Treaty of Versailles
What nickname is commonly given to the 1920s in America?
The roaring 20's
What four major causes of WWI are represented by the acronym MAIN?
Militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism
What country did Franz Ferdinand represent?
Austria Hungary
Name 2 major Allied Powers.
Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, or the United States
What was the area between opposing trenches called?
No man's land
What armored vehicle was developed to cross trenches and obstacles?
tank
What was America's official position when WWI began in 1914?
neutral
On what exact date did the armistice take effect on the Western Front?
November 11, 1918 (veteran's day)
Who proposed the Fourteen Points?
Woodrow Wilson
Which president promised a "return to normalcy" after WWI?
Warren G Harding
What is nationalism?
strong loyalty and devotion to one's country
In what city was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
Sarajevo (serbian capital)
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
Germany's plan to defeat France quickly by advancing through Belgium before concentrating on Russia.
What was one major danger soldiers faced while living in trenches?
Disease, rats, flooding, lice, artillery fire, or enemy attacks
What was the German submarine called?
U-boat
What British passenger ship was sunk by a German submarine in 1915, killing Americans?
RMS Lusitania
What is an armistice?
agreement to stop fighting
What international organization did Wilson hope would prevent future wars?
League of Nations
Which constitutional amendment guaranteed women the right to vote regardless of gender?
19th
What is militarism?
The buildup of military forces and the belief that military strength is essential to a nation's power.
What country did Austria-Hungary declare war on following the assassination?
Serbia
Why was Germany concerned about fighting a two-front war?
Germany faced France to the west and Russia to the east, requiring it to divide its military resources.
why did trench warfare often result in a military stalemate?
Defensive weapons such as machine guns and artillery made it extremely difficult for either side to advance.
What chemical weapon caused breathing problems, blindness, and sometimes death?
Poison gas
What was the Zimmermann Telegram?
A German proposal encouraging Mexico to join a war against the United States in exchange for support in recovering lost territory.
What country withdrew from WWI following the Bolshevik Revolution?
Russia
What were reparations?
Payments required from Germany for war-related damages.
What was Prohibition?
The nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
What is imperialism, and how did it contribute to WWI?
When powerful nations extend control over other territories. European countries competed for colonies, resources, and influence, increasing tensions.
Why did Russia become involved in the conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia?
Russia supported Serbia and mobilized its military as the crisis escalated.
Which European country joined the Allies in 1915 despite previously belonging to the Triple Alliance?
Italy
What 1916 battle resulted in enormous British casualties, especially on its first day?
battle of somme
How were airplanes originally used during WWI?
spying
In what year did the United States officially enter WWI?
1917
What happened to Kaiser Wilhelm II shortly before Germany signed the armistice?
he gave up the throne and ran away
What was the War Guilt Clause?
Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, which assigned responsibility to Germany and its allies for war-related losses and damage.
18th
How did the alliance system contribute to the spread of WWI?
Countries had agreements to support one another, causing additional nations to become involved as the conflict escalated.
Explain how the assassination of one man led to a war involving Germany, Russia, France, and Great Britain.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia; Russia mobilized; Germany declared war on Russia and France; Germany invaded Belgium, bringing Great Britain into the war.
Which empire joined the Central Powers and controlled territories in the Middle East?
Ottoman
What 1916 battle became famous for French resistance against German attacks?
battle of Verdun
What was the purpose of Britain's naval blockade of Germany?
To prevent supplies, food, and other materials from reaching Germany.
What was the Selective Service Act of 1917
Created the military draft
Who was the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution?
Vladimir Lenin
Why did the United States refuse to join the League of Nations? (It was Wilson's idea in the first place)
The Senate rejected joining the League, partly because opponents feared League obligations could involve the United States in future foreign conflicts.
What was the Red Scare?
Widespread fear of communism, radicalism, and revolution following WWI.
Why is it incorrect to say that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the sole cause of WWI?
It was the immediate trigger, but decades of militarism, nationalism, imperial competition, and alliances had already created tensions.
Who assassinated Franz Ferdinand?
Gavrilo Princip
Who was the emperor of Germany during WWI?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Explain how the development of modern weapons changed battlefield tactics during WWI.
Machine guns, artillery, barbed wire, and other technologies made traditional infantry assaults extremely deadly and encouraged defensive trench systems.
Why is World War I often described as the first modern industrial war?
Industrial production allowed armies to use enormous quantities of modern weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and equipment, creating destruction on an unprecedented scale.
Identify and explain two major reasons the United States entered WWI.
Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare threatened American lives and shipping, and the Zimmermann Telegram revealed Germany's proposal for an alliance with Mexico against the United States.
Why did the arrival of American soldiers help change the outcome of WWI?
Fresh American troops and resources strengthened the exhausted Allies and helped them resist German offensives and push toward victory.
Name three things listed in the Treaty of Versailles c
It imposed reparations, restricted Germany's military, removed German territory, guilt clause, ...
Why did the United States pass laws restricting immigration during the 1920s?
Nativism, prejudice, fears of radicalism, and concerns about immigration contributed to support for stricter quotas.
How did WWI change America's position in the world, and why did many Americans favor isolationism afterward?
America emerged with greater economic and international influence, but many Americans wanted to avoid future European wars and foreign political commitments.