Unit 7 History

home front

The civilian population and industries that help support the armed forces of a nation at war.

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.

mobilize

Prepare and organize military resources to be ready for war.

reparations

Compensation payments after a war by one side to the other to pay for war damages.

self-determination

The idea that a people should be able to have their own nation and be able to form their own government through democratic processes.

stalemate

A point in war (or other contest) in which opposing sides reach a deadlock where neither side can get an advantage.

total war

A conflict in which countries focus all of their civilian and military resources on achieving victory.

trench warfare

A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches (open-top tunnels) facing each other.

Germany’s "blank check"

Germany's assurance of unconditional support to Austria-Hungary after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Central Powers

An alliance during WW1 primarily consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Allied Powers

The major alliance against the Central Powers during WW1, including France, Britain, Russia, Italy, and later the United States.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's military strategy for a quick victory in WW1 by invading France through Belgium, which ultimately failed.

Western front

The main theatre of war during WW1, characterized by trench warfare and a stalemate between the Allies and Central Powers.

Eastern front

The front in WW1 where Germany and Austria-Hungary fought against Russia, leading to significant territorial changes.

Imperialism

Powerful nations competing to build huge empires in Africa and Asia, creating international tensions.

Nationalism

A huge rise in national pride and competition, particularly strong in Germany leading up to WW1.

Dugout

A shelter dug into the ground, used by soldiers in the trench to protect themselves from enemy fire.

Stand-To

A procedure in trench warfare where soldiers would prepare for sudden attacks, especially during dawn.

Morning Hate

Morning artillery bombardments intended to instill fear in the enemy before battle.

No man’s land

The area between opposing trenches where many soldiers were killed trying to cross.

Shellshock

Psychological trauma experienced by soldiers during and after WW1, now known as PTSD.

Field Punishment Number 1

A punishment for AWOL soldiers during WW1 involving hard labor and exposure, often used in the trenches.

Blighty

A British term for home or a reference to being wounded in a way that would allow a soldier to return home.

Dealing with Total War

Governments mobilized all resources for the war effort, including regulating economies and society.

Death Marches

Forced marches of concentration camp prisoners to move them from one location to another, often resulting in many deaths.

U-Boat Warfare

Germany's use of submarines during WW1 to attack enemy ships without warning.

Lusitania

A British ocean liner sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915, influencing US public opinion against Germany.

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance, intercepted by the US.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, which marked the end of hostilities in WW1.

The Big Three

The leaders of the United States, Britain, and France during the peace negotiations following WW1.

League of Nations

An international organization established after WW1 aimed at maintaining world peace.

War Guilt Clause

A provision in the Versailles Treaty that blamed Germany for the war and required reparations.

Mandate System

A system established after WW1 wherein territories were administered by western powers, supposedly until they could stand alone.

Tsar Nicholas II

The last Emperor of Russia who was abdicated during the Russian Revolution.

Bloody Sunday, 1905

A massacre of peaceful protesters in St. Petersburg, leading to civil unrest and the eventual revolution.

Duma

The Russian legislative body created after the 1905 Revolution.

Rasputin

A mystic who held significant influence over the Russian royal family, particularly Tsarina Alexandra.

Petrograd Soviet

A council of soldiers and workers that played a key role in the Russian Revolution.

Bolsheviks

The political party led by Lenin that took control of Russia during the October Revolution.

Lenin

The leader of the Bolsheviks and key figure in the Russian Revolution.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

A policy that allowed some private enterprise in the Soviet economy to recover from the Civil War.

blank check

Literally- a bank check with the money amount left for the recipient to fill in. Symbolically- unlimited support.