WWI Flashcards
The Beautiful Age (peaceful time before WWI), everything ahead looks beautiful
Belle Epoque
What is the symbol of the Beautiful Age?
Titanic
What are the 4 causes of WWI?
Militarism, imperialism, nationalism, and alliances
belief or desire of a gov’t or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests
militarism
the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies
imperialism
spirit or aspirations common to the whole of a nation; excessive patriotism
nationalism
3 members of the Triple Alliance
Austria-HungaryGermanyThe Ottoman Empire
3 members of the Triple Entente
RussiaFranceBritain
What happened in June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo that sparked WWI? (capital of Bosnia)
Archduke Ferdinand (heir to A-H throne) and Sophie were assasinated by Gavrilo Princip who was a Serbian nationalist and member of the Black Hand who wanted the A-H throne
What happened on July 28, 1914?
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia b/c of Ferdinand’s assassination
What happened on July 30, 1914?
Russia mobilizes in defense of Serbia
Who was a part of the Triple Alliance (Central Powers) and their leaders?
1) Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm I2) Austria-Hungary: Emperor Franz Joseph3) Ottoman Empire: Sultan Mehmed V4) Italy was a part of the Triple Alliance but didn’t join at the beginning of the war
Who was a part of the Triple Entente (Allies) and their leaders?
1) Great Britain: Prime minister David Lloyd George and King George V2) France: Georges Clemenceau3) Russia: Tsar Nicholas II4) Serbia, Belgium, Japan5) 1915- Italy joins, 1917- USA joins
Planned in 1891. Carried out by German Commander __ __. Requires a strict timeline, knock out France before Russia can mobilize
Schlieffen PlanVon Moltke
Describe the Schlieffen Plan
Attack France through Belgium, capture Paris, France surrenders, 6 weeks later the German army moves to take on Russia, requires harsh treatment of civilians
__ __ leads Belgium and fights. Describe what Belgium did
King Albertputs up a defense & throws off timetable of the Schlieffen Plan
Germans capture and execute her for helping the Allies in Belgium
Nurse Sister Edith Cavell
__ lost to Germany in 1871. France attacks to get __ __ back while Germans head to Paris
Napoleon IIIAlsace-Lorraine
Describe the trenches
Stretch from English channel to Swiss border. By 1916, so long they could circle earth 2 times. Flanks disappear (sides). Barbed wire
Area in between trenches where there were no survivors
No Man’s Land
Describe soldier’s experience in trenches
Lots of downtime, boredom, tension, lice, disease, rats, bad weather, cold wet winter, trench foot, frostbite, gangrene, pools of water people drowned in, self inflicted wound
Life in trenches was an __ __ so close to the __ __
unreal nightmarereal world
used heavily, help the defense more
machine guns
burn everything in their path
flame throwers
Air battles planes went into
Dog Fights
Who was known as the Red Baron for having many kills in war?
Manfred von Richthofen
father of American Air Force
Billy Mitchelll
German submarines (unterseeboot)
U-boats
Describe German submarines
1st effective use of submarines; sinking enemy ships around British isles increasing; no warning or chance of surrender
NY to London, sank in 22 minutes; 1198 people died, 128 were American
May 7, 1915: Sinking of the Lusitania
Germans would stop such attacks if Britain would lift blockade; kindermood-killing of children
Sussex Pledge
Describe the defensive strategy: Elan Vital- Cult of Offense
Offense is preferred because you are in charge; You can justify loses when you are on offense; politician meddle and want offense; modern weapons give advantage to defense
Describe gas attacks
April 1915: Poison gas used; cause overproduction of fluid in the lungs that cause you to drown; known as “Blistering Mustard”; very dependent on wind; rapid development of effective respirators
Describe election of 1916
Republican: Charles Evan HughesDemocrat: Woodrow Wilson, “He kept us out of the war”
Describe Wilson’s idea for a Peace Movement
Wants US to commit national prestige to the cause of international peace rather than conquest; Secretary of State Bryan will resign
Why does US enter WWI?
Russian RevolutionRenewed Submarine attacksUS exportsZimmerman Letter
Describe Tsar Nicholas II Regime Collapse
Wilson couldn’t morally say to fight for democracy with an autocratic nation as an all; Russia had a fledgling democracy (not for long); if defeating Germany helped totalitarianism in Russia, Wilson wouldn’t fight; Wilson can say he is fighting for democracy
Why did Germany choose to resume submarine attacks?Germans realize that the renewed __ __ would likely lead to US involvement; Germany feels it is worth the gamble if it keeps ___ from receiving food and munitions; war could be over before the __ gets involved; US merchant ship sunk in February 1917, US expels __ __; More __ merchant ships are __
u-boat attacksBritainUSGerman Ambassadorunarmedsunk
Why did the US declare war?
Zimmerman Letter
Describe Wilson’s saying “The world must be made safer for democracy”
Fight for what we always carried nearest to our hearts, to have a voice in gov’t, to have rights and liberties
What does the US do when entering the war?
mobilizes
What can we as Americans do to help war effort?
Eat less meat and less breadFood will win the war
What can industries do to help the war effort?
create several centralized federal agencies