World War I

• Pope Benedict XV peace appeal

1 August 1917 - aimed to end war through negotiation. Its main ideas were to reduce weaponry, settling disputes through global courts, evacuating occupied territories and establish moral force of international law.

• World War I

July 28 1914 - 11 November 1918

• Treaty of Versailles

Significant peace treaty signed on 28 June 1918 that formally ended WW1. It implemented harsh penalties on Germany - territory loss, reduced military and allowed trial for German war criminals.

• Pope Benedict XV

known as a key religious figure and his efforts to negotiate peace during World War I and for his humanitarian work amidst the conflict.

• Archbishop Mannix

Most outspoken leader of anti-conscription movement by speaking at public rallies and known for gaining support of working class.

• Nationalism

belief that people who share a common identity—like language, culture, history, or ethnicity—should be loyal to their nation and prioritize its interests above others. It ignited the conflict further by creating tension and promoting the idea that one's country needed to dominate others.

• Conscription

compulsory enlistment into armed forces, ultimately defeated in two referendums by Australia (1916 & 1917)

• Pro-conscription

It was Australia's duty to help Britain as regular enlistment had failed and other countries had introduced conscription so Australia should too.

• Anti-conscription

No one had the right to send someone to die and that the working class would bear the burden.

• Referendum

Ballot where voters decide on political question.

• Role of the Catholic Church

Pope Leo XV advocated for peace, the Vatican organised humanitarian efforts and Catholics acted as spiritual guides.

• Central Powers

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

• Allied Powers

France, Great Britain, and Russia, with the United States joining later.