HIST 1302 WWI

What were the main causes of World War I?

Nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and alliances.

What countries formed the Triple Alliance?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (formed 1882).

What countries formed the Triple Entente?

Britain, France, and Russia (formalized 1907).

Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist from 'Young Bosnia'.

What was the 'blank check'?

Germany’s unconditional support to Austria-Hungary against Serbia.

When did WWI begin?

July 28, 1914, with Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia.

Who were the Central Powers?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Who were the Allied Powers?

Britain, France, Russia, and later the U.S., Italy, and Japan.

What was 'Total War'?

A war fought using all available resources and targeting both military and civilian infrastructure.

How did President Wilson respond when WWI began?

He proclaimed U.S. neutrality and urged Americans to be 'impartial in thought and action.'

What was the Lusitania incident?

A German U-boat sank the British ship Lusitania in 1915, killing 1,200 people (128 Americans).

What was the Sussex Pledge?

Germany’s 1916 promise to stop unrestricted submarine warfare on passenger ships.

What was the Zimmerman Telegram?

A German message proposing an alliance with Mexico if the U.S. entered WWI; intercepted in 1917.

When did the U.S. enter WWI?

April 6, 1917.

What was the Selective Service Act?

1917 law drafting men aged 21–30 (later 18–45) for military service.

What new technologies were used in WWI?

Tanks, machine guns, flamethrowers, poison gas, airplanes, submarines, and modern battleships.

What was trench warfare?

A defensive tactic used on the Western Front involving deep trenches; caused stalemates and disease.

What roles did women play in WWI?

Worked in factories, as nurses, clerks, and telephone operators; 25,000 nurses served.

How were African Americans affected by WWI?

Served in segregated units; often in labor roles; faced discrimination in and out of military.

What was the Espionage Act of 1917?

Law punishing aid to the enemy or interference with the draft.

What was the Sedition Act of 1918?

Made it illegal to criticize the U.S. government, flag, or military.

What Supreme Court case upheld these acts?

Schenck v. United States (1919) — limited speech during wartime if it posed a 'clear and present danger.'

When did the Armistice occur?

November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.

What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

Plan for peace: open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, self-determination, and League of Nations.

Who were the 'Big Four' at the Paris Peace Conference?

Wilson (U.S.), Lloyd George (Britain), Clemenceau (France), and Orlando (Italy).

What was decided in the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany accepted war guilt, paid reparations, lost territory and colonies, and was disarmed.

What is the War Guilt Clause?

Article 231: Germany accepted full responsibility for WWI damages.

What nations were created after WWI?

Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia.

What was the League of Nations?

An international organization to maintain peace, proposed by Wilson.

Did the U.S. join the League of Nations?

No, the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles.

What were the Irreconcilables and Reservationists?

Senators who opposed the Treaty of Versailles—Irreconcilables rejected it; Reservationists wanted revisions.

What happened to Wilson after the treaty debate?

He suffered a stroke during a national speaking tour promoting the League of Nations.