World War I: Causes, Major Events, and Outcomes

Alliances

Agreements between countries to defend each other

Imperialism

When a country gains power by taking land and resources from other places

Nationalism

Strong pride in one's country and desire to protect or prove it is the best

Militarism

Building up armies and focusing on military strength to prepare for war

Militarism (tension)

Countries built stronger armies, making war more likely

Alliances (tension)

Countries defending each other caused small conflicts to spread

Imperialism (tension)

Competition for land and resources increased rivalry

Nationalism (tension)

Pride and desire for power caused competition and conflict

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The event that sparked World War I

Bosnian Crisis

Conflict over Bosnia that increased tension in Europe

Balkan Wars

Wars in Southeast Europe that made the region unstable

Moroccan Crises

Conflicts over control in North Africa between European powers

Triple Entente

Alliance between Britain, France, and Russia

Triple Alliance

Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

Bismarck System

Alliance system created to maintain balance of power in Europe

The Great War

Another name for World War I

Alfred Nobel

Invented dynamite and created the Nobel Peace Prize

Henry Dunant

Founded the Red Cross

Political causes

Conflicts caused by disagreements between governments

Economic causes

Conflicts caused by competition for resources and power

Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria

Allied Powers

Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States

Trench Warfare

Fighting from deep trenches with little movement

No Man's Land

Dangerous area between opposing trenches

Stalemate

A situation where neither side can win

Western Front

Battle area in France and Belgium

Eastern Front

Battle area in Eastern Europe

Total War

Using all a country's resources for the war effort

Propaganda

Information used to influence people's opinions

U-boat

German submarine used to attack ships

Lusitania

British ship sunk by Germany, angering Americans

Zimmermann Telegram

Message from Germany asking Mexico to attack the United States

Selective Service Act

Law requiring men to register for the military draft

Armistice

Agreement to stop fighting

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty that ended World War I and punished Germany

League of Nations

Organization formed to keep peace after the war