WWI Notes Flashcards
What was the “Powder Keg” of Europe?
The Balkan region was referred to as a “powder keg” because it was ready to explode due to the tension caused by new countries trying to gain power.
Why did Serbia and A-H not get along?
Serbia wanted their Slavic population to grow and invited all Slavs to come to Serbia (AH ticked because they did not want to lose that portion of their population) AH annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina ( large Slavic population; ticked Serbs) Serbian man killed the future leader of AH.
How did the alliance system kick in following A-H’s declaration of war on Serbia?
A-H declares war on Serbia, Russia sent troops to the border, Germany declares war after the first declaration of war from AH, Russia, Germany, France, and Great Britain got involved due to the alliance system.
What years were WWI fought?
1914-1918
When did the Schlieffen Plan fail?
At the first battle of the Marne and forced Germans to fight on two fronts
What were some of the deadliest battles on the Western Front?
Battles of Verdun, Somme, and Ypres showed the human cost of the war was very high
What did the battle of Tannenburg show?
The Russians had a weak military
What struggles did Russia face in WWI?
Cut off from allies, lack of industrialization, shortage of food, guns, and ammunition.
What were Russia’s strengths in WWI?
large population
How were colonies and colonized people involved in WWI?
Recruited to fight and supple the front lines
What were Japan’s actions in WWI?
Japan attacked Germany’s Pacific Island colonies and German outposts in China.
What were two German actions that brought the U.S. into WWI?
Unrestricted submarine warfare-Germans were sinking cargo and passenger ships that had Americans on board or belonged to Americans.
Zimmerman Note- Germany offered an alliance to Mexico where Germans said they lost to the U.S. if Mexico became an allie of Germany
How long was the U.S. involved in WWI?
a year and a half
What was the impact of mass production?
Increasing the number of available weapons and ammunition, therefore increased the number of casualties.
Identify new/improved weapons of WWI and how they changed warfare.
Airplanes and Submarines both allowed for sneak attacks by either taking warfare in the sky or underwater.
Describe what made trench terrible and ineffective.
Trench foot, disease, exposure to weather, rats, and surrounded by death
WWI effects on civilians.
- Women filled jobs in fields, factories, and offices
- rationing of food, fuel, leather, and rubber
- Govt. took over factories to produce war materials/ shortage in goods
Purposes of propaganda.
Motivate their own side to keep fighting- produced posters and radio ads to encourage volunteers for the army.
To convince the enemy to stop fighting.
Series of events that ended WWI.
- Russia left the war 1st due to internal problems/ they could no longer afford war
- Bulgaria surrenders, then Ottoman Empire surrenders,
- Revolution takes place in A-H in October-they form seperate governments-leave the war
Define the Armistice.
The fighting of WWI stopped on Nov 11, 1918 at 11:00am
Define the War of Attrition.
No clear winner. The first country to run out of resources had to give up first.
Describe how the Treaty of Versailles was so harsh on Germany.
- reduce army to 100,000
- no conscription
- no air force
- lost territory and colonies
- no making/purchasing weapons or war goods
- no making/ buying submarines
- War-Guilt Clause: Germany accepts full blame for the ar
- must pay $33 billion in reparations to allies
What was the League of Nations and what were its weaknesses?
An international association with the goal of keeping peace among nations. The U.S. never joined, so congress would not approve it. Had no way of enforcing peace so world peace was short-lived.
Outcomes of WWI.
- New countries created in Europe from territory lost by Germany, Russia, A-H, and Ottoman Empire
