WWI Flashcards
Alliances?
An agreement between two countries that is created for their mutual benefit.
Armistice?
An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time.
Arms race?
A competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons.
Front?
The line of contact between two opposing forces.
Great power?
A nation or country that has considerable international influence and military strength.
Imperialism?
A policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, often through the use of military force.
Industrialization?
The widespread development of industries in a country. The industrialization of Europe and America allowed weapons and other war machinery to be produced on mass scale.
Militarism?
The belief that a country should maintain a strong milieus and be prepared to use it aggressively to promote its national interests.
Propaganda?
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature to promote a political cause or point of view.
Total war?
A war that mobilizes all resources of a country. In total war, civilians are regarded as an important part of the war-effort and are therefor also targeted by the enemy.
(Civilians, colonies-how broad it was, gender roles.)
War of attrition?
A conflict in which each side tries to wear the other down by killing as many men as possible.
World war?
A war involving many large nations in all different parts of the world.
What were the causes of World War One?
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
What is nationalism?
It’s based on the idea that people belong to a group who share a common culture, heritage, language and place of origin or homeland.
It includes the belief that an individuals loyalty to the nation is more important than self interest.
What was Germany before 1871?
A collection of 39 kingdoms, principalities and city states.
Which was the most powerful German state?
Prussia.
How was Germany United?
Using a dispute with Frances Prussia managed to unite the other German states to fight the war that resulted (Franco-Prussian War).
Why was Prussia so powerful?
Prussia practised a culture of strict discipline and militarism.
Who was crowned Kaiser of Unified Germany after France was defeated?
Wihlem I
Where did the ceremony of crowning Wihlem I take place and why?
The palace of Versailles which was the traditional home of the French monarchy.
The ceremony was intended to humiliate the French.
How did newly unified Germany contribute to imperialism?
- Claimed colonies in Africa
- Expanded the size and power of its navy
What did Germany strengthening its navy result in?
A naval arms race between Germany and Britain.
What did Britain do to counter Germanys growing navy?
Britain embarked on a project to increase the size of its fleet and the speed and power of its capital ships-the battleship.
What did Britain’s efforts to modernize its navy result in?
The creation of HMS (His/Her Majesty’s Ship) Dreadnought.
What did Britain and Germany’s increase in the size of their armed forces result in for other countries?
An increased threat of war, and in an effort for other countries to protect themselves, nations began to create military alliances with other nations.
What did fear of Germany lead to?
Britain, France and Russia forming an alliance with each other- become known as the Triple Entente.
What did the fear of being encircled by France and Russia lead Germany to do?
Form an alliance with its closest neighbors:
Austria-Hungary and Italy.
Became known as Triple Alliance
Who was assassinated in 1914?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
Who was AFFA killed by?
Serbian nationalists.
Explain how the alliances pull Europe into war. (5)
- Austria-Hungary was determined to avenge its honor following the assassination and threatened Serbia with war.
- Serbia appealed to Russia for assistance which mobilized its army.
- Austria’s ally, Germany, demanded Russia demobilize and when this didn’t occur, declared war on Russia.
- Aware that Russia would call on its ally, France for assistance, Germany declared war on France which it attacked through the neutral country of Belgium.
- The German attack through Belgium convinced Britain to declare war on Germany.
Who did the central powers consist of?
Germany Austria Ottoman Empire Bulgaria (Italy until 1915)
Who did the Allies consist of?
Russia France Britain Japan Italy (from 1915) USA (joined 1917)
Describe what happened in the western front.
The Germans attacked France through Belgium, until a combined French and British force stopped their offensive.
Describe what happened in the eastern front.
While Germany focused most of its army attacking France, a combined German-Austrian force fought the Russians in the east.
What did the British, French and German armies do when they met and found themselves evening matched?
Each side began to dig trenches to protect themselves.
What did areas between trenches become known as?
No-man’s land.
Why were weapons more destructive in WWI?
WWI was the first major war since the industrial revolution. As a result weapons and inventions were different and more destructive.
Name three new inventions.
Submarines, machine guns, aeroplanes.
What did engineers begin to work on as the war in the trenches dragged on?
An armoured vehicle that could drive straight over trenches. (Called tanks)
What did Fritz Haber (German) develop?
The use of poison gas.
What did they use aeroplanes for in WWI?
Gathering information about the enemy troop movements.
To use machine guns and bombs to attack from above.
What would the Germans use submarines for?
To block supplies from reaching Britain by sinking ships carrying resources vital to the war effort.
When did the armistice made by Germany with the Allies come into effect?
At 11:00 on 11 November 1918.
What was the armistice followed by?
The signing of the treaty of Versailles.
When and where was the peace treaty signed?
Palace of Versailles in 1919.
