WWI Causes, Major Battles, and Treaty of Versailles

Key Terms/Concepts

• M.A.I.N: Acronym for the main causes of WWI: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

• Trench Warfare: A type of combat where soldiers fight from deep trenches, characterized by a stalemate and harsh living conditions.

• Selective Services Act 1917: Legislation that authorized the draft of men aged 18-45 into military service during WWI.

• Espionage/Sedition Acts: Laws that imposed penalties for interfering with the war effort or expressing disloyalty, often violating First Amendment rights.

Key Events

• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The event that ignited WWI, carried out by Gavrilo Princip.

• Zimmerman Telegram: A secret communication from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the US, intercepted by the British.

• Treaty of Versailles: The peace treaty that ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Key People

• Gavrilo Princip: The Serbian nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

• Woodrow Wilson: President of the United States who proposed the Fourteen Points and played a key role in the Treaty of Versailles.

• Herbert Hoover: Head of the Food Administration during WWI, promoting food conservation.

Fundamental Theories

Key Dates

• 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, leading to the outbreak of WWI.

• 1917: The US enters WWI, influenced by events like the Zimmerman Telegram and unrestricted submarine warfare.

• 1919: Treaty of Versailles is signed, officially ending WWI.

Timeline of Central Powers

• Summer 1918: Ottoman Empire surrenders

• November 3rd 1918: Austria-Hungary surrenders

• November 9th 1918: Kaiser gives up the throne → Weimar Republic by Bolsheviks because… Democracy

• November 11th 1918: Germany ceasefire/armistice aka Veterans day

Facts to Memorize

• M.A.I.N causes of WWI: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

• Major alliances: Triple Entente (France, Great Britain, Russia), Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire), Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary)

• Zimmerman Telegram: Germany's proposal to Mexico to invade the US

• Selective Services Act 1917: Drafted males aged 18-45

• War Financing: US spent $35 billion on the war

• Treaty of Versailles: Germany to pay $33 billion in reparations

Reference Information

• 14 Points: Wilson's plan for peace, including the League of Nations

• Espionage/Sedition Acts: Fines and imprisonment for disloyalty during the war

• Great Migration: Movement of Black southerners to northern cities

• Flu Epidemic of 1918: Affected 20-40 year old’s, killed 25% of the population

Cause and Effect