World War 1 test

Lessons 1-2: Road to War

M.A.I.N. causes of World War I:

Militarism: The buildup of military forces and new weapons. (Example: Germany and Britain engaged in a naval arms race.)

Alliances: European nations formed defensive agreements. (Example: Triple Alliance—Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy; Triple Entente—Britain, France, Russia.)

Imperialism: Competition for overseas colonies created tension. (Example: France and Germany clashed over Morocco.)

Nationalism: Intense pride in one’s country led to conflicts. (Example: Slavic nationalism in the Balkans threatened Austria-Hungary.)

Comparison of Nations Leading Up to WWI:

Germany: Led by Kaiser William II, aggressively expanded its military and sought more influence in Europe.

Russia: Led by Czar Nicholas II, struggling with internal unrest and seeking to protect Slavic nations.

France: Led by Georges Clemenceau, determined to regain Alsace-Lorraine from Germany.

United States: Led by Woodrow Wilson, initially remained neutral but later entered the war in 1917.

Britain: Led by David Lloyd George, maintained a powerful navy and sought to balance European power.

Early Dates:

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand: June 28, 1914

Declaration of War (Austria-Serbia): July 28, 1914

Declaration of War (Germany-Russia): August 1, 1914

Declaration of War (Germany-France): August 3, 1914

The Balkans: Center of Nationalistic Revolutions

Known as the “powder keg” because ethnic tensions and rivalries made it unstable.

Assassination Details:

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian and member of the Black Hand.

Austria-Hungary’s “Full Support”:

Germany gave Austria-Hungary full support, known as the “blank check.”

Germany wanted to strengthen its ally and prevent Russian intervention.

Schlieffen Plan (and failure):

Germany’s plan to avoid a two-front war by quickly defeating France, then turning to Russia.

Failed due to Belgian resistance, British intervention, and Russian mobilization.

Declarations of War:

Germany declared war on Russia because Russia mobilized to support Serbia.

Britain declared war on Germany after Germany invaded Belgium.

Lessons 3-4: World War I

Why Europeans Thought the War Would End Quickly:

They underestimated modern weapons and believed armies could achieve quick victories.

Western Front:

Stretched from Belgium to France.

Trench warfare dominated, leading to a stalemate.

Eastern Front:

Located in Russia and Eastern Europe.

More mobile, but Russia suffered heavy losses.

Trench Warfare:

Soldiers lived in trenches, facing disease, mud, and constant shelling.

Psychological stress, trench foot, and massive casualties.

New Technologies in WWI:

Machine guns

Poison gas

Tanks

Airplanes

Submarines (U-boats)

Major Battles:

1st Marne (1914): Halted German advance into France.

Verdun (1916): Longest battle, heavy French casualties, German failure.

Somme (1916): One of the deadliest, first use of tanks.

1st Ypres (1914): Stopped German advance in Belgium.

Jutland (1916): Largest naval battle, inconclusive but Britain retained control of the seas.

3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) (1917): Symbolized the horrors of trench warfare.

Amiens (1918): Beginning of Allied push that led to victory.

2nd Marne (1918): Last major German offensive, repelled by Allies.

U.S. Stance at Beginning of WWI:

Neutral

Causes of U.S. Entry into WWI:

Unrestricted submarine warfare: Germany’s U-boats sank ships, including the Lusitania.

Zimmermann Telegram: Germany encouraged Mexico to attack the U.S.

Impact of WWI on the Home Front:

Rationing, women in workforce, war bonds, propaganda campaigns.

Propaganda in WWI:

Used to recruit soldiers, demonize enemies, encourage support.

Armenian Genocide:

Carried out by the Ottoman Empire, killing 1.5 million Armenians.

Lesson 5: Russian Revolution

Last Czar of Russia:

Czar Nicholas II of the Romanov family.

Reforms After 1905 Revolution:

Created Duma (parliament), allowed limited political freedoms.

Quickly ignored them, ruling as an absolute monarch.

Provisional Government:

Led by Alexander Kerensky, maintained war effort but lost support.

Bolsheviks:

Led by Vladimir Lenin.

Promoted Communism, overthrew provisional government in November 1917.

“Peace, Land, and Bread” promised withdrawal from war, land reforms, and food for people.

New Economic Policy (NEP):

Allowed some private business to restore economy.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918):

Signed by: Russia and Germany.

Goals: Russia exited WWI, Germany gained land.

Russian Civil War (1917-1922):

Whites: Anti-Bolsheviks (loyalists, moderates, foreign support).

Reds: Bolsheviks (Communists).

Why? Whites wanted to overthrow Communist rule.

Trotsky vs. Stalin After Lenin’s Death:

Trotsky: Wanted worldwide revolution, later exiled and assassinated.

Stalin: Took control, ruled with totalitarian policies.

Lesson 6: The End of the War

The “Big Four” Leaders:

Woodrow Wilson (U.S.)

David Lloyd George (Britain)

Georges Clemenceau (France)

Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

U.S. Entry into WWI:

1917

Impact of Russia’s Withdrawal:

Allies: Lost a major partner.

Central Powers: Focused forces on Western Front.

Friedrich Ebert in Germany:

Led the Weimar Republic, signed armistice.

Armistice:

Ceasefire agreement, signed November 11, 1918.

Communist Actions in Germany:

Attempted a revolution, but failed.

Post-WWI Changes:

New countries (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia).

Fourteen Points (by Wilson):

Goals: Prevent future wars, self-determination, League of Nations.

Not fully accepted—France and Britain wanted to punish Germany.

Germany’s Punishment:

Article 231 (War Guilt Clause): Blamed Germany for the war.

Reparations: Payments for war damages.

Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919):

Officially ended WWI.

Redrew European borders.