Download World War I Study Guide

World History
Eastridge
World War I Study Guide
Unit 5
Answer Key
1. Why did European countries form alliances in the early 20th Century?
Military alliances were made to keep peace in Europe.
However, these alliances led to war.
2. What were the long term causes of Word War I?
Nationalism
Imperialism
(Industrialization)
Militarism
Entangling Alliances
3. Just prior to World War I, the nations in Europe believed a balance of power
could be best maintained by what?
Defensive military alliances
4. What region in Europe was considered a “power keg”?
Southeastern Europe
(the Balkans)
5. Why did most of the combat on the Western Front in WWI take place in relatively
small areas?
Trench warfare
6. How did Russia’s participation in WWI affect its empire?
As a result of fighting WWI, Russia lost its empire.
7. Why was World War I considered a “total war”?
Because countries devoted all their resources to fight the war.
8. What was the system of rationing designed to limit?
Domestic consumption
(Use of resources at home)
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9. What was the purpose of propaganda during World War I?
Gain public support for the war.
Draft soldiers.
Raise money to pay for the war.
Encourage conservation.
10. Describe the Schlieffen plan. Was it effective?
Germany could not win a two-front war.
Schieffen developed a strategy to quickly defeat France 1st.
Then, fight Russia 2nd.
11.Why was allied victory at the First Battle of the Marne if critical importance?
Because the Allies were able to stop the German offensive into France.
12. What was the purpose of the Gallipoli Campaign?
Create an Allied supply line from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
This would allow the other Allies to send supplies to the Russians.
13. What was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Separate peace treaty between Russia and Germany.
Bolsheviks (communists, led by Lenin) had overthrown the Russian
government.
They wanted out of the war.
14. Why did the U.S. enter World War I?
Unrestricted submarine warfare
attacked US ships
Lusitania
British ship sunk by German U-boat
killed 1,000 civilians (including over 100 Americans)
Zimmerman Note
Secret message to try and get Mexico to declare
War against the US and join Germany
15. What were some of the results of the Battle of Verdun and the Somme?
Over 1 million casualties in each battle.
Very little territory or tactical advantage gained by either side.
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16. What part did Great Britain’s empire play in World War I?
Help fight the war. They were promised self-rule in return.
However, after the war colonial peoples…
Became mandates
Were denied self-determination
Motivated to fight for independence
17. Define genocide. Which nation attempted genocide in World War I?
Systematic killing of an entire race of people.
Ottoman Empire (Turks) carried out a genocide of Armenian people
within the Ottoman Empire
see page 410
18. What was the main goal of the League of Nations?
Prevent another World War.
19. What were the goals of France and Great Britain at the Versailles conference?
Weaken, punish, and take revenge on Germany.
20. Which nation refused to join the League of Nations? Why?
United States
The US Senate refused to ratify (approve) the treaty because they
did not want to get into entangling alliances with other countries.
They wanted the US to be isolated.
21. How was the Middle East immediately affected by World War I?
Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Former territories became mandates of European powers.
22. Describe post-war disillusionment? Who was feeling this?
Feelings that the war was a waste of time and was not worth the cost.
Industrialization and modernization were not as amazing as before.
They had contributed to the death and destruction of WWI.
Americans, especially young people, and others around the world.
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23. What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points?
US President Woodrow Wilson’s proposal for the Paris Peace Conference.
Included the idea for the League of Nations.
See page 424
24. What was the Lost Generation? Who were some notable writers from the Lost
Generation?
It was a group American writers, poets, and artists who were disillusioned
by modern society and the destruction caused by WWI.
Hemingway and Faulkner are famous Lost Generation writers.
Many of them left the US in protest and lived abroad in Europe.