World War I Flashcards
Causes of World War I: In the Acronym ‘MANIA’
Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, Assassination
Militarism (WWI Cause)
Countries building up militaries in an arms race. As they were building up their militaries, it was creating a climate of suspicion and potential conflict.
Alliances (WWI Cause)
A complex web of alliances, like the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Great Britain), meant that a conflict between two nations could quickly escalate into a wider war.
Nationalism (WWI Cause)
- Each country thought they were the best and others were evil.
- It was tied to militarism, and clashed with the interests of the imperial powers in Europe.
- Nationalism created new areas of interest over which nations could compete.
Imperialism (WWI Cause)
- European countries competed for territory through Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world for power and resources.
- This competition led to increased tensions and rivalries among European powers, as each nation sought to expand its influence and power.
- The competition for colonies also spurred a naval and military arms race, as nations sought to protect their colonial possessions and project their power.
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (WWI Cause)
- A Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip shot Austria-Hungary’s heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand in 1914.
- His murder by a Serbian nationalist was perceived as an attack on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, prompting Austria-Hungary to issue an ultimatum to Serbia.
- Despite Serbia’s agreement to all but a few demands, Austria-Hungary declared war, which activated the network of alliances.
Triple Alliance
*A military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
* Each country agreed to mutually defend each other against potential attacks, particularly from France and Russia.
* The alliance created a domino effect that drew multiple nations into conflict and escalate into larger confrontations as it fostered mistrust among nations and led to an arms race as countries prepared for potential conflict.
Why was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
His assasin was apart of Black Hand, a secret Serbian nationalist group, also known as “Unification or Death.” Their goal was to create the “Greater Serbia” by liberating Serbs living under Austrian-Hungarian or Ottoman rule through violent means, including political assassinations.
Triple Entente
*An informal alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia formed in 1907 primarily as a counterforce against the Triple Alliance.
* It fostered collaboration among the three countries, which not only strengthened their military capabilities but also heightened tensions with the Triple Alliance.
Balkan Crisis
*A series of conflicts and political upheavals in the Balkan Peninsula leading up to World War I.
* Marked by nationalistic tensions among various ethnic groups seeking independence from the weakened Ottoman Empire leading to territorial disputes and wars (The Balkan Wars [1912-1913]).
Wilhelm II
*The last German Emperor and King of Prussia, reigning from 1888 until his abdication in 1918.
*His aggressive foreign policy and desire for a ‘place in the sun’ led to significant diplomatic tensions in Europe, contributing to the complex web of alliances and rivalries leading up to WWI.
How did Wilhelm II’s foreign policy differ from Bismarck’s?
*Wilhelm II’s foreign policy significantly diverged from Bismarck’s approach by adopting a more aggressive and nationalistic stance.
*While Bismarck focused on maintaining stability through careful diplomacy and alliances, Wilhelm’s desire for a ‘place in the sun’ led to increased tensions and conflicts with other powers.
Allied Powers / Central Powers
The coalition of countries that fought against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire), primarily including Great Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States, who were united against the Central Powers through a series of alliances and treaties.
Schlieffen Plan
*Germany’s military strategy devised in the early 20th century to ensure a quick victory before getting involved in a two-front war against France and Russia.
*The plan aimed to quickly defeat France by rapidly invading Belgium to outmaneuver France, before turning to face the slower-mobilizing Russian forces.
Failure of Schlieffen Plan
*The failure of the Schlieffen Plan resulted in a prolonged stalemate on the Western Front, characterized by trench warfare leading to stalemates, prolonged battles, and significant casualties.
*The plan to invade Belgium also ultimately violated the country’s neutrality and dragged Great Britain into the war against the Central Powers.
Hague Convention
A series of international treaties and declarations that were established in 1899 and in 1907. The convention aimed to create laws of war that emphasized humanitarian treatment of individuals to limit unnecessary suffering and destruction during wars, promoting a more civilized approach to international conflicts.
Trench Warfare
A style of combat during World War I where opposing armies dug extensive networks of trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire, resulting in static front lines with little movement, characterized by a war of attrition where the goal was to wear down the enemy through prolonged fighting rather than quick victories.
Submarine Warfare- u-boat (Unterseeboote)
Military submarines used by Germany during World War I and World War II. They played a crucial role in naval warfare, particularly in disrupting Allied shipping routes without warning and enforcing a naval blockade against the United Kingdom to cripple its economy, as approximately 90% of British goods were transported by sea.
HMS Lusitania
*A luxurious British passenger liner that was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in 1915.
*This significantly escalating tensions between Germany and the United States, contributed to America’s entry into the war due to the high number of American civilian casualties on board.
*It exemplified the dangers of unrestricted submarine warfare.
Zimmermann Telegram
*A secret diplomatic communication sent by the German Empire to Mexico in January 1917, proposing a military alliance between Germany and Mexico in the event that the United States entered WWI.
*Mexico was encouraged in the telegram to join forces with Germany and promised the return of territories lost in previous conflicts.
*The telegram was intercepted and decoded by the British, who then shared it with the United States government, causing public outrage and greater support towards their involvement in WWI
Why did Germany make the Zimmermann Telegram
Germany’s proposal in the Zimmerman Telegram aimed to distract and weaken the United States by instigating conflict with Mexico, which would divert American resources and attention away from Europe.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points were a set of principles proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in January 1918 as a framework for peace negotiations to end World War I. These points emphasized self-determination, free trade, open diplomacy, and the establishment of the League of Nations to ensure lasting peace, addressing the causes of conflict and aiming to reshape international relations in the post-war world.
Treaty of Versailles
A peace treaty signed in 1919 that formally ended World War I, imposing harsh terms and conditions on Germany, including, the country taking the sole responsibility for WWI (War Guilt Clause), significant territorial losses, military restrictions, and the requirement to pay substantial reparations. The treaty contributed to severe economic instability, resentment, and extremism in Germany.
Impacts of WWI
*Changes in women’s roles and rights in society
*Changes in social divisions
* Increased male insecurity
*Severe economic damage
*Psychological trauma
