World War One Study Guide 2025

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts and terms related to World War One.

Alliance

A formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.

Imperialism

A policy or practice in which a country increases its power by acquiring territories or dominating other nations.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often in opposition to foreign influence.

Militarism

The belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

Western Front

The main theater of war during World War One, located primarily in France and Belgium.

Eastern Front

The theater of war in World War One located in Eastern Europe, primarily between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.

The spark

The immediate event that triggered the outbreak of World War One, often identified as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Lusitania

A British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, significant because it contributed to the United States entering World War One.

Guilt Clause

The clause in the Treaty of Versailles that forced Germany to accept full responsibility for causing World War One.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War One, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Balance of Power

The distribution of power among nations that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong.

Entente Powers

The coalition of nations that opposed the Central Powers in World War One, including France, Britain, and Russia.

Central Powers

The alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria during World War One.

Reparations

Compensation imposed during the Treaty of Versailles that required Germany to pay reparations for war damages.

World War One duration

The war took place from 1914 to 1918.

Post-war territories

The territories of the Central Powers were divided among the victorious nations, leading to significant geopolitical changes.

Military reductions

One of the major conditions placed on Germany post-World War One, limiting the size of its military forces.

War guilt acceptance

Germany was required to accept responsibility for the war's damages and destruction as part of the Treaty of Versailles.