WWI Section 2 Quiz - Alliances + America

Stalemate

when one side cannot overpower the other ans there is an equilibrium. Leads to a war of attrition.

Propaganda

• one sided info

• ideas, facts, or rumors spread to deliberately damage an opposing cause

• newspapers and popular magazines showed the enemy as brutal and subhuman, while praising national aims and achievements

• used to get men to join the army

• GB used it alot

War of attrition

• a slow wearing-down process in which each side tries to outlast the other

• very bad, causes a large loss of life

• which country can bear the most and not give up?

Contraband

war materials supplied by a neutral to a belligerent nation

Atrocity

brutal crimes of war

Triple Alliance

• Created by Bismarck

• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

• Germany wants protection against France in case they want revenge after being defeated in the Franco-Prussian war

• Italy felt threatened by France, wanted protection just in case

• Austria-Hungary is scared of Russia because of conflicts with them in the Balkans region

• Pro’s:

• protection from major powers (Russia)

• neutrality for minor powers (France, ect.)

• Con’s:

• Italy stayed neutral, which was not helpful

Triple Entente (agreement, not really an alliance)

• Russia, France, and Britain

• were concerned about Germany’s growing power

• Russia was protective over the Balkans (which Austria-Hungary wanted)

• Britain saw Germany was competition because of their growing army (especially their navy)

Central Powers

• Came from the Triple Alliance

• Germany (strongest), Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire

• Advantages:

• Geographic location

  • easy communication, rapid troop movements

• Germany’s military + navy was growing and getting better (starting to rival GB’s)

  • well-trained, well-organized, well-equipped

Allied Powers

• came from the Triple Entente

• Britain, Russia, France + other smaller countries who made little contributions & America joins later on

• Main advantages:

  • controlled the seas

    • they could easily obtain food and raw materials + create blockades to try and “starve” the Central Powers

  • greater industrial potential

• Disadvantages:

  • not the best geographical locations

U.S claimed to be…

Neutral

• they believed it was a European affair and they weren’t involved

Telegram incident

Zimmerman (German) sends a secret telegram to Mexico saying that they need to join the war on Germany’s side (Central powers) if America joins the war. *Mexico and the U.S are not on good terms

In return, Germany promises Mexico back the land that they lost in a previous war.

Mexico never receives the telegram because the British intercept it, decode it, and send it to Washington. President Wilson gets the message and is mad at Germany for encouraging war on the U.S. The telegram is published everywhere and Wilson officially declares war on Germany.

Lusitania

A German submarine sank the British passenger boat Lusitania (British civilian luxury cruise ship which had Americans on it). It carried a cargo of war materials to England. Germany said if your ship comes into this part of the water we will use unrestricted submarine warfare (basically saying like don’t be surprised). Contraband was later found on the ship.

Germany atrocities

Graphic stories of German atrocities (brutal crime of war, often committed against defenseless citizens) angered the Americans. These stories were often not true, but the U.S believed them because they got most of their war news from British sources (who’s propaganda impressed Americans).

Could the U.S lend $$$ to help European nations during the war? Or aid them at all?

They could not lend $ to either side (neutrality). But, they made no effort to stop banks, corporations, or private citizens from buying bonds of foreign government or selling goods on credit.

U.S trading with European nations during the war

The U.S government said that the Americans must have the right to trade freely with either side. But, if an American ship carried contraband, the goods could be seized.