WW1 20th century
20th Century History
Unit 1: WWI
Study Guide
Study your WWI Map Assignment:
Battles:
Ypres – Series of battles in Belgium; first time poison gas was used.
Somme – One of the deadliest battles; lots of soldiers died, little land gained.
Jutland – Huge naval battle between Britain and Germany; no clear winner.
Marne – Battle near Paris where Allies stopped Germany from winning early.
Verdun – Longest battle of WWI; France vs. Germany, many casualties.
Tannenberg – Germany crushed Russia in this early battle.
Gallipoli – Failed Allied attempt to control a sea route; many soldiers died.
Meuse-Argonne – Big U.S.-led offensive that helped end the war. Biggest battle in US history
Key Events & Terms:
Race to the Sea – Both sides tried to outflank each other, ending in trench warfare along the coast.
Otto Von Bismarck – German leader who united Germany before WWI but was gone by the time the war started.
Tsar Nicholas II – Russian king during WWI; overthrown in the Russian Revolution.
Kaiser Wilhelm II – German emperor during WWI; aggressive policies helped cause the war.
Queen Victoria – British queen before WWI; many leaders in WWI were her grandchildren.
Woodrow Wilson – U.S. president during WWI; wanted peace with his 14 Points.
David Lloyd George – British prime minister during WWI; wanted to punish Germany after the war.
Georges Clemenceau – French leader who wanted revenge on Germany after WWI.
Causes of WWI:
(Remember MAIN – Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism)
Countries built big armies (Militarism), made secret pacts (Alliances), fought over colonies (Imperialism), and had extreme pride (Nationalism).
The Big Four:
The four leaders who decided the peace terms after WWI:
Woodrow Wilson (USA)
David Lloyd George (UK)
Georges Clemenceau (France)
Vittorio Orlando (Italy)
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand:
The event that started WWI—Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was killed by a Serbian, leading to a chain reaction of alliances declaring war.
U.S. Involvement in WWI (Arguments):
For: German attacks on ships, Zimmerman Note (Germany asked Mexico to attack the U.S.), and to make the world “safe for democracy.”
Against: Many Americans wanted to stay neutral and avoid foreign wars.
Zimmerman Note:
Secret message from Germany to Mexico, asking them to fight the U.S. if the U.S. entered WWI. It made Americans angry and pushed the U.S. into the war.
American Expeditionary Force (AEF):
The name for U.S. troops sent to fight in Europe during WWI, led by General John J. Pershing.
Schlieffen Plan:
Germany's plan to quickly defeat France and then fight Russia, to avoid a two-front war. It failed, leading to trench warfare.
Communist Revolution:
In 1917, Russians overthrew Tsar Nicholas II. The new Communist government, led by Vladimir Lenin, pulled Russia out of WWI.
Trench Warfare:
Fighting from long, dug-out trenches. Soldiers faced mud, rats, and constant danger from enemy fire.
Weapons/Tactics of WWI:
Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, submarines (U-boats), and airplanes were new.
Battles were slow and deadly because of trenches and new tech.
Central Powers (Countries):
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire (Turkey), and Bulgaria.
Allies (Countries):
France, Britain, Russia (until 1917), Italy (switched sides), USA (joined in 1917), and others.
Treaty of Versailles:
The peace treaty that ended WWI. It punished Germany by taking land, limiting their military, and forcing them to pay reparations.
Condition of the Key Players Before the War:
Germany: Powerful and growing fast, wanted more colonies.
Austria-Hungary: Weak, dealing with many ethnic groups wanting independence.
Russia: Big but poorly organized and struggling.
Britain & France: Old powers trying to keep control of their empires.
Propaganda Posters (Elements/Purpose):
Used to convince people to support the war. Common themes:
Patriotism, demonizing the enemy, recruiting soldiers, and saving resources.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare:
Germany’s policy of sinking any ship (even civilian ones) without warning. This made neutral countries like the U.S. angry and helped push them into WWI.