WORLD WAR I TEST

Unit 4: World War I and Russian Revolution Study Guide

General Information

  • Name: _

  • Directions: Complete this guide for 10 points to prepare for the test on _

  • Materials: Bring your 1914 and 1918 World War I Maps to the test. Sharing maps is not allowed.

Key Concepts

MANIAC Acronym

  • M: Militarism

  • A: Alliances

  • N: Nationalism

  • I: Imperialism

  • A: Assassination

  • C: Convictions

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

  • Identity: Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

  • Significance: His assassination in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914, is considered the spark that ignited World War I.

Alliance System

  • Role in WWI Escalation: The complex network of alliances among European powers turned a local conflict into a global war. Once Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, allied nations were drawn in due to pre-existing treaties.

Major Countries in WWI

  • Allies:

    • United Kingdom

    • France

    • Russia

    • Italy (joined in 1915)

    • United States (joined in 1917)

  • Central Powers:

    • Germany

    • Austria-Hungary

    • Ottoman Empire

    • Bulgaria

New Weapons Used in WWI

  • Examples:

    • Machine guns

    • Tanks

    • Poison gas

    • Airplanes

    • Artillery

Trench Warfare

  • Description: A form of warfare where soldiers fought from deep trenches dug into the ground; characterized by grim living conditions, stalemate, and high casualties.

Stalemate

  • Definition: A situation in warfare where neither side is able to gain a decisive advantage or victory, resulting in prolonged conflict.

  • Relation to WWI: Stalemate was prevalent on the Western Front, mainly due to trench warfare leading to minimal territorial gains by either side.

Schlieffen Plan

  • Overview: A German military strategy to quickly defeat France before turning to fight Russia, aiming to avoid a two-front war.

  • Outcome: The plan failed due to strong resistance by Belgium, British intervention, and the rapid mobilization of Russian forces.

Neutral Country Invaded

  • Country: Belgium was invaded by Germany in 1914, which in turn drew Great Britain into the war, as Britain had a treaty obligation to defend Belgian neutrality.

Total War

  • Definition: A type of war in which all of a nation's resources (military and civilian) are mobilized for the conflict.

Propaganda in War

  • Definition: Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view; utilized extensively to rally public support for the war and demonize the enemy.

  • Use: In WWI, propaganda was used to enlist soldiers, conserve resources, and maintain morale on the home front.

Locations of Fighting

  • Western Front: Primarily located in France and Belgium, marked by trench warfare.

  • Eastern Front: Stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, involving larger movements of troops and battles across vast territories.

Casualties

  • Most Affected Country: Russia suffered the highest number of military and civilian casualties during WWI.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

  • Definition: A military strategy where submarines sink vessels without warning in enemy waters.

  • Country Using It: Germany employed unrestricted submarine warfare as a tactic to blockade Britain.

Sinking of the Lusitania

  • Context: The British ocean liner was sunk by a German U-boat in May 1915.

  • Atrocity: Over 1,100 passengers were killed, including Americans, which stirred outrage and was pivotal in shifting U.S. public opinion towards entering the war.

Rationing on the Home Front

  • Purpose: Rationing was implemented to conserve resources for the military, ensuring that essential supplies were available for use in the war effort.

Modern War Characteristics

  • Reason for WWI as Modern War: It was marked by technological advancements in weaponry, total war strategies, and the significant mobilization of entire nations.

Zimmerman Note

  • Description: A secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the United States in exchange for the territories of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

  • Impact: Its interception and publication by British intelligence swayed U.S. public opinion towards joining the war.

Treaty Ending War with Germany

  • Name: Treaty of Versailles.

BIG FOUR Leaders

  • Countries Represented:

    • United States: Woodrow Wilson

    • United Kingdom: David Lloyd George

    • France: Georges Clemenceau

    • Italy: Vittorio Orlando

War Guilt Clause

  • Definition: A provision in the Treaty of Versailles which placed full responsibility for the war on Germany, leading to significant reparations and territorial losses.

  • Cause of Resentment: This clause generated deep resentment in Germany and contributed to the political climate that led to WWII.

Fourteen Points

  • Author: President Woodrow Wilson.

  • Purpose: Proposed as a framework for peace negotiations to end WWI; emphasized self-determination, freedom of the seas, and the establishment of the League of Nations.

League of Nations

  • Definition: An intergovernmental organization founded after WWI aimed at maintaining world peace, although it lacked enforcement power.

War Reparations

  • Definition: Payments made by a defeated nation to compensate for damages caused during the war.

  • Country Most Burdened: Germany faced extensive reparations as part of the Treaty of Versailles.

New Countries Formed from Empires

  • Examples:

    • Poland

    • Czechoslovakia

    • Yugoslavia

    • Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia)

Peace Concepts

  • “Peace of Justice” vs. “Peace of Vengeance”:

    • Peace of Justice: A fair and just peace that considers the interests of all nations.

    • Peace of Vengeance: A punitive peace primarily aimed at punishing the defeated powers, leading to future resentment.

Self-Determination

  • Definition: The principle that nations should have the right to determine their own statehood and governance, a key point in Wilson's Fourteen Points.

The “Lost Generation”

  • Definition: Refers to the group of American writers and artists who were deeply affected by the disillusionment of World War I, often exploring themes of alienation and loss in their works.

Russian Revolution of 1917

  • Overview: A series of revolutions in Russia, leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of the Bolsheviks.

  • Leader of Russia at the Time: Tsar Nicholas II, from the Romanov family.

Next Leader of Russia

  • Leader: Vladimir Lenin.

  • Government Type Supported: Supported a Marxist, Bolshevik government aiming for a proletarian revolution.

Support for Lenin and the Bolsheviks

  • Reasons: Many Russians supported Lenin because of his promises to end the war, redistribute land, and provide peace, bread, and land to the war-weary populace.

Fate of Nicholas II and Family

  • Outcome: Nicholas II and his family were executed by Bolshevik supporters in July 1918, marking the end of the Romanov dynasty.

Russian Civil War

  • Winner: The Reds (Bolsheviks) won the war.

  • Support:

    • Reds: Supported by the Bolsheviks, who aimed to establish a socialist state.

    • Whites: Consisted of various anti-Bolshevik groups, including monarchists and moderate socialists.

Name Change of Russia in 1922

  • New Name: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Epidemic during the Great War

  • Disease: The Spanish Flu epidemic broke out during WWI, resulting in more deaths than the war itself due to its global spread and the movement of troops.

Armenia during the Great War

  • Event: The Armenian Genocide occurred, where the Ottoman Empire systematically exterminated its Armenian population, exacerbated by nationalistic and wartime pressures.

Empires that Fell due to WWI

  • Examples:

    • Austro-Hungarian Empire

    • Ottoman Empire

    • Russian Empire

    • German Empire

Changes for Women on the Home Front

  • Impact: Women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, taking on roles traditionally held by men, due to the labor shortages caused by the war.

Casualties from WWI

  • Estimated Total: Approximately 16 million people died as a result of the war, including military personnel and civilians.

Lasting Legacy of World War I

  • Effects: World War I reshaped international relations and set the stage for World War II; it also led to social changes, including movements for independence in various colonies.

Reflection

  • Most Interesting Part of the Unit: [Personal Response Required]

  • Reason for Interest: [Personal Response Required]