World War I & The 1920s Study Guide

for 8th graders

Who were the people who opposed the war?

Pacifists, socialists, and isolationists opposed the war.

What do you call people who don’t fight?

Conscientious objectors.

What were the 14 Points?

A peace proposal by President Woodrow Wilson to prevent future wars, including ideas like self-determination and the League of Nations.

What is unrestricted submarine warfare?

A German military tactic where submarines (U-boats) would sink any ship without warning, including civilian and neutral ships.

Who was Zimmerman, and why was he passing notes?

Arthur Zimmerman was a German official who sent the Zimmerman Telegram, urging Mexico to join the war against the U.S. in exchange for lost territory.

Who was the U.S. president during World War I?

Woodrow Wilson.

How did the U.S. prepare for war on the homefront?

By implementing the draft (Selective Service Act), conserving food, rationing, selling war bonds, and increasing factory production for military supplies.

What event was the "spark that set off the powder keg" of WWI?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914.

Which countries were in the major alliances during WWI?

Allies: Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and later the U.S.

Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

What were the MAIN causes of WWI?

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

What were some new technologies used in WWI?

Machine guns, tanks, poison gas, airplanes, and submarines (U-boats).

What were the main types of warfare in WWI?

Trench warfare, chemical warfare, and naval warfare.

What role did nationalism and propaganda play in WWI?

Nationalism fueled rivalries and tensions, while propaganda was used to encourage enlistment, support for the war, and hatred of the enemy.

What happens if there is a fire in a crowded theater?

This refers to the Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States (1919), which ruled that free speech can be limited if it creates a "clear and present danger."

Who were the Doughboys?

Nickname for American soldiers in WWI, particularly those who served in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).

What were the major amendments of the 1920s?

18th Amendment: Prohibition of alcohol.

19th Amendment: Women’s suffrage (right to vote).

What were some scandals of the 1920s?

The Teapot Dome Scandal, in which government officials accepted bribes to lease oil-rich land to private companies.

What new consumer goods became popular in the 1920s?

Radios, automobiles, washing machines, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaners.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

A cultural movement celebrating African American art, music, literature, and intellectual achievements, centered in Harlem, New York.

What were the results of Prohibition?

The rise of organized crime (like Al Capone), illegal speakeasies, bootlegging, and a lack of public support, leading to its repeal by the 21st Amendment.

If a monkey has bad breath in the 1920s, does he have to go to court?

This refers to the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, a famous case in which a teacher, John Scopes, was tried for teaching evolution in Tennessee.

What was a Flapper?

A young woman in the 1920s known for her bold fashion, short hair, dancing, and rejection of traditional societal norms.

What was "Normalcy" in the 1920s?

President Warren G. Harding’s idea of returning to a pre-war way of life after WWI, focusing on economic growth and isolationism.

What was the economy like in the 1920s?

The U.S. experienced a booming economy, mass production, a rise in consumerism, and stock market speculation.

what were some popular fads of the 1920s?

Flagpole sitting, dance marathons, jazz music, crossword puzzles, and the Charleston dance