WW1 Test - Main Ideas

Overall Causes of WWI

• Militarism – European countries built up massive armies and navies.

• Alliances – Secret treaties led to a tangled web of alliances.

• Imperialism – Competition for colonies increased tensions.

• Nationalism – Extreme pride in one’s country created rivalries

Slogans used in WW1

'“We want you” ; “We can do it”

Names for WW1

•  “Family Feud”

•   “Fall of the Eagles”

•   “The War to End All Wars”

•   “Make the World Safe for Democracy”

Steps leading to war

1. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914).

2. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

3. Russia supported Serbia.

4. Germany supported Austria-Hungary.

5. France and Britain joined, leading to a full-scale war.

Who were the Allies

• Britain

• France

• Russia (left in 1917)

• Italy (joined later)

• United States (joined in 1917)

• Japan

Who were the central powers

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Ottoman Empire

• Bulgaria

Importance of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• He was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

• His assassination by a Serbian nationalist (Gavrilo Princip) triggered WWI.

• Austria-Hungary used it as an excuse to declare war on Serbia.

The Schlieffen Plan

• Germany’s strategy to avoid a two-front war.

• Plan: Attack France first (through Belgium), then focus on Russia.

• It failed because:

  • Belgium resisted.

  • Britain entered the war.

  • Russia mobilized faster than expected.

Brinkmanship

Pushing a conflict to the edge of war to force the enemy to back down.

Attrition

Wearing down the enemy through continuous losses (WWI was a war of attrition).

Importance of the Balkans

• Called the "Powder Keg of Europe" because of ethnic tensions.

• Serbia wanted independence, Austria-Hungary wanted control.

• Many nationalist movements led to conflicts.

Misconceptions Going into WWI

• The war would be short (expected to end by Christmas).

• Cavalry and old tactics would still work (new weapons made them useless).

• Glory and heroism would define the war (it was brutal and deadly).

New Weapons Used in WWI

• Machine guns – Rapid fire, deadly in trench warfare.

• Poison gas – Mustard gas, chlorine gas.

• Tanks – First used by the British.

• Airplanes – Used for reconnaissance and bombing.

• Submarines (U-boats) – Used by Germany to attack ships.

• Flamethrowers – Used in trench attacks.

Trench Warfare

• Soldiers fought in deep trenches to avoid machine guns and artillery.

• Led to stalemates because neither side could advance.

• Conditions:

  • Trench foot from waterlogged trenches.

  • Rats and lice spread disease.

  • No Man’s Land – The deadly area between trenches.

The Western Front

• Located in France and Belgium.

• Most of the war’s major battles took place here (e.g., Battle of the Somme, Verdun).

• Important because it was the main front between Germany and the Allies.

The Eastern Front

• Located in Russia, Poland, and Eastern Europe.

• More mobile than the Western Front (not as many trenches).

• Russia struggled due to lack of industrialization.

Why America Entered WWI

• Unrestricted submarine warfare – Germany sank U.S. ships (e.g., Lusitania).

• Zimmerman Telegram – Germany tried to get Mexico to attack the U.S.

• Economic ties – The U.S. traded more with Britain and France.

• “Make the world safe for democracy” – Wilson’s reason for joining the war.

Examples of WWI Propaganda

• Posters – "Uncle Sam Wants You!" recruitment posters.

• Films and speeches – Encouraged war bonds and enlistment.

• Demonization of the enemy – Germans called "Huns" to make them seem barbaric.

Three Goals of Propaganda

• Recruitment – Convince men to join the military.

• Funding the war – Get people to buy war bonds.

• Boost morale and demonize the enemy – Make people support the war effort.

Leader of Russia

Nicholas II

Leader of Britain

George V

Leader of France

Pres. Poincare

Leader of Italy

Victor Emmanuel II

Leader of Germany

Wilhem II

Leader of the Ottoman Empire

Enver Pasha

Leader of Austria-Hungary

Franz Josef