Terms for World War 1

Total war

A war encompassing entire populations and resources, blurring the lines between civilians and combatants, and utilizing new military technologies on an unprecedented scale.

Imperialism

The pursuit of overseas colonies for economic and military power and prestige.

Nationalism

Devotion to the interests and culture of one's nation, often leading to the belief in national superiority.

Militarism

The glorification of military strength and the policy of maintaining a strong military, leading to an arms race.

Arms race

A competition between nations to build up the largest and most powerful military forces.

Triple Entente

An alliance between France, Britain, and Russia.

Triple Alliance

An alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

July Days

The period of diplomatic crisis in July 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's military plan to quickly defeat France before turning to face Russia.

Trench warfare

A form of warfare characterized by elaborate trench systems, no-man's land, and prolonged stalemates.

War of attrition

A military strategy of wearing down the enemy through mass casualties and resource depletion.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty imposed on Germany after the First World War.

German War Guilt Clause

The clause in the Treaty of Versailles that forced Germany to accept responsibility for causing the war.

Fourteen Points

US President Woodrow Wilson's proposals for a lasting peace after the First World War.

League of Nations

An international organization established after the First World War to resolve conflicts between nations to prevent war.

Neutrality

The policy adopted by the USA at the onset of the First World War, aiming to remain impartial.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of remaining apart from the political affairs of other countries.

Kemmerer Plans

Plans drawn up by US economist Edwin Kemmerer to help stabilize and develop the economies of Latin American countries.

Dominion

A country with its own autonomy but recognizing the sovereignty of a monarch from overseas, as Canada was within the British Empire.

Conscription

Compulsory enlistment for military service.

Pan-Slavism

A movement advocating the political and cultural union of Slavic nations and peoples.

Slavic

An ethnic and linguistic grouping of eastern European peoples.

Coup

An illegal takeover of power, often through force.

Balkan Wars

Two wars fought in 1912 and 1913 for possession of the European territories of the Ottoman Empire.

Kaiser

The German emperor.

Weltpolitik

Literally world policy. Kaiser Wilhelm II's foreign policy objectives to make Germany a world power.

Entente Cordiale

The agreement signed between Britain and France in 1904 settling their imperial rivalries.

Blockade

To prevent enemy ships from reaching or leaving their ports, usually to prevent the movement of supplies.

League of Nations

International organization established after the First World War to resolve conflicts between nations to prevent war.

Appeasement

A policy of giving concessions to avoid a more immediate confrontation.

Allies

In the First World War, the alliance between Britain, France, the USA, Japan, China, and others, including Russia until 1917.

Hurricane barrage

A short, intensive artillery bombardment.

Stormtroopers

German specialist infantry used in the First World War.

U-boats

German submarines.

Convoy system

The practice of ships sailing in large groups protected by naval destroyers.

Bolshevik Party

The Russian Communist Party that seized power in October 1917.

Central Powers

The First World War alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.

Alsace-Lorraine

Territory historically disputed between France and Germany.

Reparations

Payments made by a defeated nation to compensate for war damages.

The Good Neighbor policy

A US policy aimed at improving relations with Latin American countries.

Dawes Plan

A plan of 1923 that offered Germany scaled-down reparations and provided it with a loan.

Young Plan

A plan of 1929 offering to further scale down German reparations.

Liberal Party (Canada)

The political party less inclined to support Britain and more assertive of Canadian independence.

Anti-imperialists (Canada)

Canadians opposed to close ties with Britain.

Conservatives (Canada)

Canadian political party favoring the maintenance of ties with Britain.

Canadian Corps

Canadian troops in the First World War.

Armistice

The ceasefire at the end of the war on 11 November 1918.

Canadian Patriotic Fund

A fund set up to support the families of Canadian volunteers.

Demilitarized zone

Area where no troops or military installations are allowed.

Pan-Americanism

A movement to organize relationships between Latin American countries.