End Of The WWI Flashcards
What is American neutrality in WWI?
The USA stayed neutral since WWI was declared in 1914
How did the USA benefit from WWI? /4
Saw war as a business opportunity to increase USA’s economy
Offered supplies and loans
Shipped produce/goods/war materials to Europe
Offered their services to both sides (Triple + Central)
|-> most servies went to the Allies
What was a consequence of USA conducting business in WWI?
USA’s exports increased by 200% between 1914-1918
Who was president of the USA during WWI? /2
Woodrow Wilson
Did not want to be in involved in WWI
What was War on the Seas in WWI? /4
Central and Allies restrict their enemy’s access to supplies
1914 naval blockade on Germany by Britain
|->British boats and sea minefields block German ports
Germans establish a submarine campaign to attack and sink enemy ships filled with supplies
German submarine patrol the Atlantic Ocean
|-> sinking British supply ships and sometimes American ships
What would happen if either the Central or Allies were to attack an American ship?
Sinking US ships is seen as a threat/ act of war
Remember the MONROE DOCTRINE
Why can’t German naval blockade Great Britain? What is the alternative? /2
Since the United Kingdom is completely surrounded by water
Alternative:
Germans place their submarines in the Atlantic and sink British supply ships
What is the Lusitania? /3
A USA passenger ship (not part of any military)
Traveling from New York to Liverpool, Britain
Was shot down by a German submarine
|-> violates the Monroe Doctrine
Why did the USA believe the Lusitania would go through warfare waters unharmed?
Since the Unitarian was flying an American flag
|
|-> proved the Lusitania is not an enemy ship
Why were woman and children used to enlist soldiers in Britain? /2
They represent innocence
Germans killed innocent people
Why was ENLIST written in red on a conscription poster in Britain?
Red represents anger/blood/passion to fight for revenge
What consequences came after Germany sank the Lusitania? /3
USA warns Germany that is they were to attack another American ship they will become a threat to the US= USA joins the WWI
Germany restricts submarine warfare
Germany loosens naval blockade to avoid conflict with the USA
Why does Germany resume submarine warfare in 1917? /4
CAUSE
Germany is struggling because of the decrease in food and soldiers
Germany is very malnourished by this point in the WWI
Germany kills 1/3 of their pork stock
Germany must enlist children of 12+ y/o
What is Germany’s goal in resuming submarine warfare in 1917? /2
EFFECT
Stop Britain’s supplies ships and giving Germany the advantage = Britain will surrender
Advantage: bring back submarine warfare
What is the risk if Germany were to resume the submarine warfare in WWI? /2
Sinking another ship will have the USA join WWI
HOWEVER….
It will take the USA a while to mobilize their army, so Britain will surrender during the waiting period
Germany resuming submarine warfare in 1917, is similar to which previous plan?
Schlieffen plan
What was America’s first reason in joining WWI? /6
1) Germany sinks Lusitania
2) US warns Germany
3) Germany restricts submarine warfare in the Atlantic
4) Germany is decreasing in soldiers and food
5) Germany plans to resume submarine warfare to make Britain suffer by cutting off supply ships including USA ships
6) Plans fails (like the Schlieffen plan did)
What was America’s second reason for joining WWI? /3
Germany sends a telegram to Mexico proposing an alliance
Germany proposes that Mexico invade New Mexico/Texas/Arizona to distract the USA and increase the mobilization time
Germans would fund German army
What was the purpose of the German-Mexican alliance in WWI? /2
US will be distracted by the fights on the South American border
US will not be able to send support to the allies across the Atlantic Ocean since they will be busy with Mexico
How come the German-Mexican alliance fails in WWI?
Britain intercepted the telegram and warns the USA
Why does Britain intercept the German telegram to Mexico?
To have the USA join the allies and support them in war
What is attrition?
Who will give up first
How did Woodrow Wilson choose to go into war or not? /2
Woodrow Wilson asks the government to vote for declaration of war
“The world must be made safe for democracy”
When does the USA join WWI?
April 6th, 1917
Why was America interested in having the Allies win WWI? /2(3)
Since the USA is now supporting the Triple Entente
Send American navy to protect supply
|-> depth charges protected by American navy
Did racism play a part in WWI, regarding American troops? /3
Yes.
Black and white soldiers fight SEPARATELY
Black soldiers never actually fight on the front lines
What was a consequence of Black American soldiers joining WWI?
America considers giving them rights did risk their lives just like everyone else
What was the purpose of the convoy system on the Atlantic in WWI? /2
Protect supply ships with circling military ships
Fewer ships are sunk thanks to this process
What major decision in 1918 gave the Central powers an advantage?
Russia is pulled out of the war
Why was Russia pulled out of WWI in 1918? /3(4)
Russia Tsar is overthrown in 1917
New Russian government pulls Russia out of WWI: Polsheviks
Russia had horrid conditions during WWI
|-> soldiers decrease fast
Why is it an advantage to Germany that Russia is pulled out of WWI? /2
Germans only have to fight on ONE FRONT now!
Germany gains a BIG piece of Russia land
What is a consequence of America joining WWI? /3
Gives an advantage to the Allies
250 000/month American soldiers arrive
Allies are able to push Germany back into its own borders by late October
Why did American soldiers often used hand grenades in WWI?
Since baseball was a popular sport back in America
What is the German retreat in WWI? /5
July-October 1918
Allies push Germans back into German territory
Germany’s allies surrender one by one -> AH being the last one
Kaiser Wilhelm gives up the throne on November 9th
Germany asks US president to broker a peace treaty based on his 14 points
What is a broker?
The one providing the deal
What is a armistice?
Laying down of weapons = fighting stops
What is the WWI Armistice? /5
Signed on November 11th
Takes affect at 11am
Germans must evacuate all German occupied territories on Western Front within 2 weeks (Ukraine + Western fronts)
Fighting stops
Demilitarization of German army: must give the allies all their weapons
Where was the WWI Armistice signed? Why is it important for WWII? /2
Signed in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiègne
WWII:
Adolf Hitler brings back the same railway carriage
Why did Germany lose WWI? /4
Germany:
Had no more reserves
Troops were exhausted and ill-equipped
Severe food shortage
Morale of soldiers and civilians at an all-time low
Why did the Allies win WWI? /4
Allies:
Strong physically and mentally
Fresh troops from USA provide moral boost
Supplies from USA (food and ammunitions) leave Allies civilians in good shape
Britain was better supplies due to its colonies
What were the final casualties of WWI? /6(9)
9 million soldiers killed
|-> 2 million of 9 died from disease/malnutrition/other causes
13 million civilians killed
21 million wounded
|-> 6.5 million of 21 severely wounded
Millions of civilians in bad health due to blockades
Thousands of square km of terrain destroyed/scarred permanently
Nations (Germany) indebted for huge costs of war
|-> one of the reason of WWII
What were Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points? /14
No secret treaties (Germany and Mexico)
Free access to the seas in peacetime or wartime (no blockade or submarine warfare)
Free trade between countries (no tarifs, ⬆️ international cooperation)
All countries work towards disarmament (no arms/dreadnought race)
|-> Militarism
Colonies have a say in their own future (Imperialism)
German troops leave Eussia
Independence for Belgium
Alsace-Lorraine to be returned to France (French agree fully)
Border between Austria and Italy to be adjusted
Self-determination for the peoples of Europe (decide which countries they want to be part of)
Serbia to have access to the sea
Self-determination for the peoples of the Turkish Empire (Ottoman Empire falls apart)
Poland to become an independent state w/access to the sea
League of Nations to be set up
Who were the 3 main powers who negotiated the peace terms of WWI? /3
USA
France
Britain
Who was not present to negotiate the peace terms of WWI?
Members of Central powers are absent
