Road to World War I and the Treaty of Versailles

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to the lead-up to World War I, the war itself, and the Treaty of Versailles.

Nationalism

Extreme pride in one's nation, contributing to tensions before World War I.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization, leading to competition among European nations.

Militarism

Domination of a country's economy, culture, or political system by the military, necessitating a build-up of weapons and an arms race.

Second Industrial Revolution

Period from about 1870 to 1914 characterized by advancements in steel, electricity, and chemicals, leading to increased imperialism and competition.

Triple Alliance

A defensive military alliance formed in 1882 consisting of Germany, Italy, and Austria.

Triple Entente

A defensive military alliance formed in 1907 consisting of Britain, France, and Russia.

The Black Hand

Serbian nationalist organization responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Chemical Warfare

The use of chemical weapons in warfare, a new and devastating aspect of World War I due to advancements in chemistry.

Aerial Warfare

The use of planes to drop bombs on cities and people.

Trench Warfare

A type of warfare where opposing sides dug trenches, leading to disease, constant danger, and bloody, destructive battles.

League of Nations

An organization created by President Woodrow Wilson intended to prevent future wars through arbitration and communication between nations.

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty written by the "Big 4" (Britain, France, Italy, and the US) which forced Germany to accept blame for WWI, pay reparations, reduce military and lose land.

Hyper-Inflation

When a country prints more money which just causes the cost of everything to increase.

Totalitarian Government

A concept where a government presides over all aspects of public and private life.