Chapter 10 The First World War Flashcards
MAIN causes of WWI
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.
Austria-Hungary
Country in alliance with Germany and Italy. First to declare war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914.
Serbia
Independent nation located in Balkan. Russia and Austria-Hungary rivals for influence over Serbia. Serbian extremist assassinated Archduke Ferdinand and sparked the war.
Alsace-Lorraine
Territory in Germany after it was annexed following the Franco-Prussian War.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country where the Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to the Austrian throne. Visited the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo and was shot by Princip. Sparked WWI.
Gavrilo Princip
Member of the Black Hand; an organization promoting Serbian nationalism. He shot Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo and started WWI.
Mobilize
To gather an armed force and to ready for invasion.
Declarations of War
Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia for assassination of Ferdinand. Germany then declared war on Russia and France. Britain declares war on Germany & Austria-Hungary after the invasion of Belgium.
Triple Alliance
Consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Also known as Central Powers
Triple Entente
consisted of France, Britain, and Russia. Also known as Allied Powers
The Great War
Other name for World War I
The First Battle of Marne
Germany invades Belgium and Allies retreat to the Marne River in France. They halt the Germany advance in Sept. 1914 and dug in for long siege.
Stalemate
A situation where both sides are at an impasse. Neither sides can do anything and they can only wait.
Verdun
One of the longest and most costly battles in history. Caused over 900,000 casualties. German offensive tried to take several hills in northeastern France. Offensive eventually failed and French troops took back much of the gained land.
Somme River
A river in Picardy, northern France. Site of several battles in WWI.
British naval blockade
Britain blockaded the German coastline to prevent weapons and military supplies from getting through. Also prevented food to get through. Most ships carrying goods for Germany did not reach their destination. Germany uses U-Boats to counteract blockade.
Mines
Britain mined the entire North Sea to prevent naval ships and cargo ships from entering or leaving the German coastline.
U-Boats
German submarines that prowled the Atlantic and sank any Allied ships around Britain.
Bolsheviks
Political party in Russia that ultimately became the Communist Party of Soviet Union.
Communists
Members of the Communist Party, who believed in total government control. Communism includes Soviet Union and China.
Vladimir Lenin
Politician that was a Russian Communist Revolutionary. Served as leader of Russian SFSR.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty that ended Russia’s participation in WWI. Forced upon government upon threat of further advancement of German armed forces.
Czar
Russian ruler title.