World War I

Gavrilo Princep

A member of the “Black Hand,” assassinated Archduke Ferdinand, beginning World War I

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

The heir to the Austria-Hungarian empire, was assassinated by Gavrilo Princep, which ultimately let to the beginning of WWI

Woodrow Wilson

28th President of The United States, most notably known for his involvement in WWI and his advocacy for the League of Nations

David Lloyd George

British Prime Minister that in the later efforts in WWI, was a key figure in the Paris Peace Conference and was focused on modernizing the military.

Georges Clemenceau

French Prime Minister and a member of the triple entente, led the French efforts in WW1. Played a crucial role in the Treaty of Versailles after the war, demanding harsh treatment to Germany.

Vittorio Orlando

Prime minister of Italy during WWI, did not manage to receive the territorial gains he had dreamt of at the beginning of the war.

Triple Entente

Unofficial alliance between France, Great Britain and Russia during WWI.

Triple Alliance

Unofficial alliance between Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany during WWI.

Allies

An alliance consisting of France, Great Britain, Russia and Italy (which switched sides and joined later on) to counteract the effects of the Central Powers.

Central Powers

An alliance consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

Hague Conventions

A series of international treaties and declaration established before WWI to regulate wartime efforts to make them more humanitarian.

League of Nations

Established after the end of WWI at the Paris Peace Conference, was made to ensure long-lasting peace between the European Nations and the United States.

Weimar Government (Republic)

Democratic government established after Germany’s defeat in WWI. Riddled with economic instability and political radicalism, creating the precedent for WWII.

Pan-Arabism

A political movement to unite all Arab countries and individuals based on cultural, religious, and linguistic ties in an attempt to fight off foreign nations.

Pan-Slavism

A political attempt to unite all Slavic peoples across Europe based on shared culture and language that was triggered after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

Serbs

A South Slavic ethnic group in Serbia that (allegedly) triggered the beginning of WWI after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

July Ultimatum

A set of harsh demands established by Austria-Hungary to Serbia which they could not fully accomplish that was the final trigger for WWI.

Zionism

Jewish nationalistic movement focused on returning all Jewish individuals back to the homeland, Palestine.

The Great War

Global conflict between European countries and their colonies.

Nationalism

Extreme pride and loyalty in one’s country of origin.

Militarism

Belief that a nation should have a strong military and be ready to use it aggressively.

Imperialism

Practice of a country extending its power through military force, colonialism, or economic control

Diplomacy

The management and resolution of international conflict through negotiation, dialogue, and compromise.

Self-determination

A group of people (most often that share common culture or goals) have the right to chose their own government.

Stalemate

Situation during war in which neither side is gaining an advantage nor making progress.

Lusitania

A British civilian ship that was shot down by a German u-boat because it was smuggling American weapons.

Zimmerman telegram

A telegram sent by the Germans to Mexico to attempt to create an alliance and gain back land (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona) from the United States.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Treaty signed by the Central Powers and Russia retiring Russia from the war.

All Quiet on the Western Front

A novel written by Erich Maria Remarque about a young German soldier At war, showcasing the harsh brutality of wartime and serving as an anti-war movement.

16th Amendment

An amendment in the United States that allowed congress to directly tax individual income.

Total War

Type of warfare in which a country invests and prioritizes all its resources into military gain instead of its own people.

Poison Gas (Mustard Gas)

A toxic chemical used in WWI to harm or kill opposing forces through inhalation.

Machine guns

A fully automatic firearm capable of firing in rapid succession.

Tanks

Heavily armored combat vehicles used during war that are equipped with weapons (cannons).

U-boats

German submarines used to disrupt enemy ships by shooting torpedoes. We’re most famously known for not differentiating between civilian and military ships.

Airplane

A powered flying vehicle most commonly used during war to relay information and combat.

Trench warfare

Military strategy in which soldiers dug and constructed deep drenches to defend their land. Often resulted in stalemate situations and high casualties.

Conscription

Citizens are legally required to serve in the military.

Western Front

Located primarily in Belgium and France, became the decisive front for the end of WWI.

No-Man’s-Land

Area of land between opposing armies in which none of them held the territory, making it extremely dangerous.

Eastern front

Major theatre of combat between the alliances during the war.

ANZAC

Australian and New Zealand Army corps sent by the British to help Russia drive Turkey out of the war.

Battle of Gallipoli

Unsuccessful attempt by Allied Powers (Central Powers) to control the sea from Europe to Russia.

Paris Peace Conference

International meeting held in France that brought the European powers (+U.S.) together to discuss the end of the war.

Fourteen Points

An outline and set of guidelines written by Woodrow Wilson to establish the regulations for the end of the war.

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty that officially ended WWI that attempted to establish long-lasting peace.

Reparations

Compensation, often in the form of money or land, paid by the defeated nation to the victors.

War Guilt Clause

A specific provision in the Treaty of Versailles placing all the blame of WWI on Germany, being the first precedent to WWII

Mandate system

Victors of the war were given the responsibility over former a German and Ottoman territory until they could rule themselves. An excuse for more imperialism.

Balfour declaration

A public statement by the British Government supporting the Zionist movement.

Armenian Genocide

The first official genocide, a campaign of mass deportation and mass killings committed by the Ottomans towards the Armenian people.

Influenza pandemic

A pandemic that was spread because of WWI and the movement of troops, killing one third of the world’s population.

Lost Generation

A group of artists and writers that felt detached to reality (or lost) because of the atrocities and devastation of the war.