U.S Midterm Part

Here are the answers to all the questions from your WWI study guide:

Causes and Start of WWI

1. What were the M.A.I.N. causes of WWI? Explain each one.

   • Militarism: European nations built up large armies and stockpiled weapons, increasing tensions.

   • Alliances: Rival alliances (Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente) pulled multiple countries into war.

   • Imperialism: Nations competed for overseas colonies, leading to conflicts.

   • Nationalism: Strong pride in one’s nation led to aggressive actions and conflicts, especially in the Balkans.

2. How did the Balkans impact the beginning of WWI?

   • The Balkans were a region of intense nationalism and political unrest. Serbia sought to unite Slavic people, angering Austria-Hungary, which led to tensions and ultimately war.

3. What event started WWI?

   • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, on June 28, 1914.

Sides in WWI

4. List the countries involved with each side:

   • Allied Powers: France, Britain, Russia, Italy (1915), United States (1917), Japan, and others.

   • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Early War and Strategy

5. Before the U.S. entered the war, why was the U.S. only getting info from Britain?

   • Britain controlled transatlantic communication cables, filtering war news to favor the Allies.

6. Why did Germany use the Schlieffen Plan?

   • Germany planned to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium, then shift focus to Russia, avoiding a two-front war.

7. Why does Italy eventually join the Allied Powers?

   • Italy was promised land from Austria-Hungary in the Treaty of London (1915) if it joined the Allies.

8. Why were the Central Powers at a disadvantage when the war began?

   • They were surrounded by enemies and had fewer resources compared to the Allies, making it difficult to sustain a prolonged war.

9. Why was the Great War in a stalemate for the first few years?

   • Trench warfare prevented significant advances, leading to a long and drawn-out conflict with heavy casualties.

10. What was the result when troops did fight offensively? Why?

• Massive casualties occurred due to outdated tactics against new military technology, such as machine guns and artillery.

Western Front and Technology

11. List the new technology used in the Great War:

• Machine guns

• Poison gas

• Tanks

• Airplanes

• Submarines (U-boats)

• Barbed wire

• Flamethrowers

U.S. Entry into WWI

12. Why did Wilson change his slogan from “America is too proud to fight” to “Keep the world safe for democracy”?

• Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram made neutrality impossible, and Wilson justified U.S. involvement as a fight for democratic values.

13. After a year into the war, why was the U.S. upset at Germany?

• Germany continued unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking American ships, including the Lusitania.

14. How did the Zimmerman Telegram bring the U.S. into the war?

• Germany proposed that Mexico attack the U.S. in exchange for lost territories (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico), angering Americans and pushing the U.S. toward war.

15. How did the economy influence Woodrow Wilson’s decision to join the Great War?

• The U.S. had strong trade ties with the Allies and had loaned them significant amounts of money. A German victory threatened U.S. economic interests.

16. How did Wilson’s war slogan contradict American society?

• While the U.S. fought for democracy abroad, racial discrimination and suppression of civil liberties (Espionage and Sedition Acts) occurred at home.

WWI on the Homefront

17. Why did the U.S. maintain a separate military once they joined WWI?

• The U.S. wanted to have an independent role in the war rather than being absorbed into British and French forces.

18. How did the U.S. government produce military goods?

• The War Industries Board coordinated production, converted factories for war supplies, and regulated industries.

19. Why were many Americans against going to war?

• Many opposed involvement due to isolationism, pacifism, or ethnic ties (German and Irish Americans opposed war against Germany and Britain, respectively).

20. What did the government do to change U.S. opinion in favor of the war?

• Propaganda campaigns, speeches, and censorship were used to promote patriotism and support for the war effort.

21. Why did the government pass the Espionage and Sedition Acts?

• To silence criticism of the war and prevent anti-war activism.

22. How did the U.S. fund the war?

• Through war bonds, increased taxes, and loans.

23. Why did Du Bois want African Americans to fight in the Great War?

• He believed that demonstrating loyalty would help African Americans gain civil rights.

Post-War Issues

24. Why did the U.S. exclude Italy from the rewards (German colonies) of the Great War?

• Italy’s contributions were seen as less significant, and Britain and France did not want to share colonies.

25. Why was the Soviet Union excluded from the Paris Peace Conference?

• Western powers distrusted the communist government after the Russian Revolution.

26. Why was Germany punished the most out of all the Central Powers?

• Germany was blamed for the war and forced to accept responsibility, pay reparations, and lose territory.

27. What was the purpose of the Paris Peace Conference?

• To negotiate post-war settlements and establish peace terms.

28. What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

• Germany had to accept blame for the war, pay reparations, lose territory, and limit its military.

League of Nations and Aftermath

29. What were the goals of the League of Nations?

• To prevent future wars through collective security and diplomacy.

30. Why did Congress vote against joining the League of Nations?

• Fear of being dragged into future conflicts without Congressional approval.

31. What were the social problems after WWI?

• Economic struggles, racial tensions, and labor strikes.

32. What caused the Red Scare?

• Fear of communism following the Russian Revolution and labor unrest in the U.S.

33. Causes of the Palmer Raids:

• Fear of communists, anarchists, and radicals after bombings in the U.S.

34. Result of the Palmer Raids:

• Hundreds of suspected radicals were arrested and deported, often without proper evidence.

35. Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?

• Two Italian anarchists convicted of murder in a controversial trial reflecting anti-immigrant bias.

36. What is a Creditor Nation?

• A country that lends more money to other nations than it borrows. The U.S. became a creditor nation after WWI.

37. Which country became the strongest after WWI?

• The United States emerged as the world’s leading economic and military power.

That’s the full study guide answered! Let me know if you need clarification on anything. 😊