world war 1 unit 4

Militarism

The buildup of military power and arms, contributing to tensions in Europe.

Imperialism

The competition for colonies and global influence which increased tensions between European powers.

Nationalism

The belief that nations or ethnic groups should govern themselves, leading to strong rivalries.

Alliances

Military agreements that divided Europe into hostile camps, escalating local conflicts into a global war.

Triple Alliance

Military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed in 1882.

Triple Entente

The informal alliance of Great Britain, France, and Russia established to counter the Triple Alliance.

The Balkans

A region in Europe known as the 'powder keg,' characterized by strong nationalist sentiments and tensions.

Gavrilo Princip

The Serbian nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, triggering the war.

The Black Hand

A terrorist group linked to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

The July Crisis

The series of diplomatic failures that led to the escalation of conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia.

American Neutrality

The stance taken by the U.S. before entering WWI, influenced by various factors including pacifism and ethnic ties.

The Preparedness Movement

A movement advocating for a stronger U.S. military led by figures like Theodore Roosevelt.

Belgian Atrocities

The killing of thousands of civilians when Germany invaded Belgium, which stirred American sympathy for the Allies.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany's naval strategy that involved sinking all ships, including neutral ones, threatening American trade.

The Lusitania

A British passenger ship sunk by Germany in 1915, resulting in significant American casualties and public outrage.

Holtzendorff Memo

A German admiral's proposal for unrestricted submarine warfare, acknowledging the risk of U.S. involvement.

Zimmermann Telegram

A secret offer from Germany to Mexico to regain U.S. territory if Mexico joined the war on Germany's side.

U.S. Entry into WWI

The official entry of the United States into World War I on April 6, 1917, following repeated provocations by Germany.