World War I Exam Review

1. Causes of World War I

M.A.N.I.A.

  1. Militarism

  • Definition: The policy of building up strong armed forces to prepare for war.

  • Key Points:

  • European nations were investing heavily in new weaponry and battleships.

  • Germany’s naval build-up challenged Britain’s longstanding naval supremacy.

  • Significance: Heightened tensions and suspicions among European powers, contributing to an arms race.

  1. Alliances

  • Definition: Formal agreements between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes (often mutual defense).

  • Key Points:

  • Two major alliance systems before WWI:

  • Triple Entente (Allies): France, Russia, Great Britain

  • Triple Alliance (Central Powers): Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (though Italy later switched sides)

  • Significance: A regional conflict could easily escalate into a larger war due to these binding agreements.

  1. Nationalism

  • Definition: Strong pride and devotion to one’s nation or ethnic group.

  • Key Points:

  • Many ethnic groups under empires (e.g., Austro-Hungarian) demanded independence.

  • Serbian nationalism was particularly high in the Balkans.

  • Significance: Fueled tensions in multi-ethnic empires and motivated countries to assert power.

  1. Imperialism

  • Definition: The policy by which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories.

  • Key Points:

  • European powers competed for colonies in Africa and Asia, creating global rivalries.

  • Significance: Contributed to mistrust and competition among major powers, laying the groundwork for conflict.

  1. Assassination

  • Definition: The murder of Archduke Francis (Franz) Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo (June 28, 1914).

  • Key Points:

  • Archduke Ferdinand’s assassin was Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist.

  • Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination.

  • Significance: This event was the immediate spark that led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, triggering the alliance system and the outbreak of WWI.

2. Reasons for U.S. Intervention in World War I

  1. Sinking of the Lusitania (1915)

  • British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat (submarine).

  • Over 100 Americans were on board and died, which fueled anti-German sentiment in the U.S.

  • Significance: A pivotal event that turned American public opinion toward supporting the Allies.

  1. Zimmerman Telegraph (1917)

  • A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico, proposing a military alliance against the United States.

  • Germany promised Mexico territories (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona) if it attacked the U.S.

  • Significance: The telegram’s interception and publication outraged the American public and swayed many to support war against Germany.

  1. Freedom of the Seas

  • The principle that merchant ships should move freely in international waters without interference.

  • Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare violated this principle, as they attacked neutral and non-military ships.

  • Significance: This direct threat to neutral trade and U.S. maritime rights was a major factor in the U.S. decision to enter the war.

3. World War I Legislation

  1. Selective Service Act (1917)

  • Required men aged 21–30 (later expanded to 18–45) to register for military service.

  • Created a draft to build up the American Expeditionary Force.

  • Significance: Greatly increased the size of the U.S. military in a short period.

  1. Espionage Act (1917)

  • Made it a crime to interfere with military recruitment or to support enemies of the U.S. during wartime.

  • Targeted activities deemed subversive or treasonous.

  • Significance: Reflected the government’s desire to maintain loyalty and suppress dissent during the war.

  1. Sedition Act (1918)

  • An extension of the Espionage Act that further limited freedom of speech.

  • Criminalized “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the U.S. government, the Constitution, the flag, or the military.

  • Significance: Sparked major debates about civil liberties and the limits of free speech in wartime.

4. Schenck v. United States (1919)

  • Background: Charles Schenck was convicted under the Espionage Act for distributing flyers urging men to resist the draft.

  • Legal Issue: Whether the Espionage Act violated the First Amendment’s freedom of speech.

  • Supreme Court Ruling: Upheld Schenck’s conviction, declaring that in times of war, speech that poses a “clear and present danger” is not protected under the First Amendment.

  • Significance: Established the “clear and present danger” test, limiting free speech in specific wartime contexts.

5. World War I Combat

  1. Trench Warfare

  • Main style of fighting on the Western Front.

  • Opposing armies dug in, creating fortified lines of trenches with little territory gained.

  • Significance: Led to massive casualties, unsanitary conditions, and stalemate.

  1. Chemical Warfare

  • Introduction of poison gases (chlorine, mustard gas) to break stalemate on the front lines.

  • Significance: Caused horrific injuries and deaths; led to future international bans on chemical weapons.

  1. Machine Guns

  • Rapid-fire weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute.

  • Significance: Greatly increased the defensive power of entrenched troops, contributing to high casualty rates.

  1. Tanks

  • Armored combat vehicles introduced by the British to break through enemy lines and traverse “no man’s land.”

  • Significance: Began to change tactics away from entrenched stalemates, though early tanks were slow and mechanically unreliable.

  1. Airplanes

  • Used initially for reconnaissance (scouting enemy positions).

  • Later adapted for aerial combat (“dogfights”) and bombing raids.

  • Significance: Marked the beginning of aerial warfare, although still primitive compared to later conflicts.

  1. U-boats

  • German submarines used for unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied and neutral shipping.

  • Significance: One of the main reasons the U.S. joined the war; threatened trade routes and passenger ships alike.

  1. Stalemate at the Western Front

  • From the North Sea to the Swiss Frontier, trench lines barely moved.

  • Significance: Demonstrated how defensive technologies outpaced offensive strategies early in the war.

6. World War I Battles

  1. Western Front

  • The main theater of war, stretching across Belgium and France.

  • Characterized by trench warfare and huge casualties on both sides with minimal territorial gains.

  1. Battle of the Argonne Forest (September–November 1918)

  • One of the major offensives of the war involving American Expeditionary Forces.

  • Located in northeastern France, near the Meuse River.

  • Significance: Over a million American troops participated, successfully breaking through German defenses. It was crucial in forcing Germany to seek an armistice.

7. World War I Significant Figures

  1. Alvin York

  • American soldier who became a celebrated war hero.

  • Known for single-handedly capturing many German soldiers during the Argonne Offensive.

  • Significance: Symbol of American bravery and moral integrity.

  1. Woodrow Wilson

  • 28th President of the United States.

  • Led the U.S. during WWI; key architect of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations proposal (Fourteen Points).

  • Significance: Tried to shape the post-war world with ideals of self-determination and lasting peace.

  1. Francis (Franz) Ferdinand

  • Archduke of Austria-Hungary; heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

  • Assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914, sparking the immediate outbreak of WWI.

  • Significance: His death set off the chain reaction leading to widespread conflict due to the alliance system.

  1. John J. Pershing

  • Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front.

  • Insisted that American troops fight under American command rather than be integrated into British or French forces.

  • Significance: Played a critical role in major offensives in 1918, including the Argonne Forest.

8. Post-War U.S. Policy

  1. Fourteen Points (1918)

  • Woodrow Wilson’s blueprint for peace after WWI.

  • Key points included self-determination for nations, free trade, open diplomacy, reduction of armaments, and the formation of a League of Nations.

  • Significance: Reflected an idealistic vision to prevent future conflicts.

  1. Treaty of Versailles (1919)

  • Officially ended WWI.

  • Main Provisions:

  • Germany had to accept blame (War Guilt Clause).

  • Germany had to pay massive reparations and reduce its military.

  • New national boundaries were drawn in Europe.

  • Significance: Fueled German resentment, which would later contribute to WWII.

  1. War Guilt Clause

  • Known as Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles.

  • Placed sole responsibility for the war on Germany, requiring reparations.

  • Significance: Created economic and political instability in Germany.

  1. League of Nations

  • An international organization proposed in Wilson’s Fourteen Points, aimed at maintaining peace.

  • US Opposition:

  • The U.S. Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, fearing entanglement in future foreign conflicts.

  • Significance: Although created, the absence of the U.S. weakened its effectiveness.

  1. Isolationism

  • A foreign policy characterized by non-involvement in international alliances or conflicts.

  • After WWI, many Americans favored returning to isolationism, focusing on domestic issues.

  • Significance: Influenced U.S. foreign policy decisions in the interwar period.

  1. Self-Determination

  • The idea that nations have the right to choose their own sovereignty and international political status.

  • Promoted by Woodrow Wilson, leading to the redrawing of Europe’s map.

  • Significance: Changed borders and created new nation-states post-war (e.g., Poland, Czechoslovakia).

9. The Home Front

  1. Victory Gardens

  • Homegrown gardens planted by civilians to supplement their food supply.

  • A way to support the war effort by reducing demand on the public food supply.

  • Significance: Symbolized patriotic contributions by everyday citizens.

  1. War Bonds

  • Also known as Liberty Bonds.

  • Government debt securities to finance military operations.

  • Significance: Provided a crucial source of funding for the war and allowed civilians to invest in the country’s victory.

10. Geography – Identify the Location of:

  1. France

  • Western Europe; borders Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and the Atlantic coast.

  • Western Front primarily on French territory.

  1. Germany

  • Central Europe; borders France (west), Poland (east), and other nations.

  • Main member of the Central Powers.

  1. United States

  • Located in North America, between Canada (north) and Mexico (south).

  • Entered WWI in 1917, though geographically distant from the European battlefields.

  1. Atlantic Ocean

  • Separates North America from Europe.

  • A vital route for shipping supplies and troops during WWI; site of U-boat warfare.