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42 Cards in this Set
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Allied Powers
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Definition: The Allies were the countries in opposition to the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) in World War One.
Significance: The major Allied Powers were the British Empire, France, and the Russian Empire (later joined by the U.S.), formally linked by the Treaty of London, September 5, 1914 |
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Armenian Genocide
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Definition: The Turkish government forced the Armenian's into death marches to the Syrian Desert where many were raped, murdered, dehydrated, starved, and kidnapped along the way where they then were all slaughtered.
Significance: With the rise of nationalism, the Ottoman Empire began to crumble; the Armenian and Turks began to have conflicting dreams of the future resulting in the Armenian Genocide. Showed the brutal side of the war, and human’s barbaric side. |
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Artillery
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Definition: The production of guns, amunition, tanks, and other weapons for use in times of war.
Significance: Artillery guns had a huge impact in World War I; along with machine guns and poison gas, artillery guns played a prominent role in trench warfare. Artillery played a significant role in mass production which led to industrial competition between European countries. |
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Archduke Francis Ferdinand
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Definition: the Archduke of Austria and heir to the throne
Significance: Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophia were assassinated in the streets of Bosnia; his death is seen as the "powder keg" that sparked World War I. |
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Balkans
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Definition: a Turkish word meaning “mountains” and has become known as the region where the Transylvanian Alps are located making up the countries: Romania, Albania, Slovenian Croatia, Bosnian Federation, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia.
Significance: An unstable region, and was the place that Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated. |
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Battle of the Falkland Islands
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Definition: a naval battle between British and German forces, shortly after the British defeat in the Battle of Colonel.
Significance: Four German cruisers were sunk resulting in 2,200 deaths of German sailors. This battle resulted in German commerce raiding on the high seas was brought to an end. |
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Battle of Marne
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Definition: September 6-12 German forces moved to take control of the French capital, Paris but they were beaten back by the French and British armies.
Significance: The Allied success crushed all hopes of the Germans bringing the war to the Western Front |
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Bismarck
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Definition: Prusso-German statesman, who was the architect of the German unification.
Significance: Through Bismarck’s efforts, Germany was transformed from a loose collection of small states into the German Empire, the strongest industrialized nation in continental Europe. A unified Germany permanently changed the European balance of power. |
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The Black Hand
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Definition: A Secret Society formed by 10 men of Serbia; the main objective of the society was to create, by means of violence, a greater Serbia.
Significance: three members of the Black Hand Society formed and carried out the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. |
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Bolshevik Revolution:
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Definition: The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 was initiated by millions of people who were dragged into World War I by Czar Nicholas II and the Russian people became discouraged with their injuries and the loss of life they sustained.
Significance: The Bolshevik Revolution resulted in Russia pulling out of the WWI, which was good news for the Axis Powers. |
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Central Powers
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Definition: German, Austro Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire
Importance: This was the enemy of the allies and was the losing side of the war. Germany bore the brunt of the loses. Austro-Hungary was broken up as was the Ottoman Empire. |
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Chemical warfare
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Definition: use of harmful or deadly chemical or biological agents as weapons of war. These agents can kill many people and are considered weapons of mass destruction.
Importance: Began to be heavily used in this war because of the ideals of total war. You could level an entire battle field with minimal ammunition usage. No easy way to defend against it. |
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Colonialism
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Definition: one country’s domination of another country or people—usually achieved through aggressive, often military, actions—and the territory acquired in this manner.
Importance: The race for widespread colonialism and empire status rose in the minds of nations across the globe. As more of the world becomes colonies, areas begin fighting territorial battles, and have increased diplomatic stress. |
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the Crimean War
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Definition: (1853-1856), military conflict between Russia and a coalition of Great Britain, France, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey); it was a major turning point in the political history of post-Napoleonic Europe.
Importance: Lead to heightened tensions both politically and militarily before the war even began and began the weakening of the Ottoman empire. |
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the Eastern Front
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Definition: where German and Austro-Hungarian armies faced the Russians, the fighting began in the frontier regions between Germany and Poland (then divided among the Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and German Empires) and between Austria-Hungary and Russia.
Importance: Fighting a two front war is very costly and leads to a strain on resources, both man power and supplies. When Russia got out of the war, it allowed Germany to focus its full military on the west, but it was already greatly weakened from the two front war. |
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First Balkan War
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Definition: a war of retaliation by the Balkan states against the Ottoman empire. Montenegro first country to declare war
Importance: Also lead to the weakening of the Ottoman empire because of the revolts both externally and internally. Also heightened tensions in that area of the globe. |
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Gallipoli
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Definition: major land and sea operation of World War I, in which Allied forces made up of British, French, Australian, and New Zealand troops unsuccessfully attempted an invasion of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
Importance: This was a major defeat of the allied troops and allowed for a morale gain by the Ottoman empire |
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Imperialism
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Definition: practice by which powerful nations or peoples seek to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples.
Importance: Most of the major countries at this time have this mind set. They want to be more powerful so they can conquer more land and therefore better the mother country. There was little land left to conquer by these powers so tension heightened. |
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industrialized warfare
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Definition: Advances in biological weapons, rifles, smokeless powder, machine guns, quick loading mechanisms and air warfare changed the way wars are faught
Importance: Because of technological advancements, war took on a different shape. The ideals of total war could fully take place. There was a definite advantage to industrialized nations |
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Kaiser Wilhelm II
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Definition: emperor of Germany and king of Prussia (1888-1918), whose policies helped bring about World War I (1914-1918).
Importance: He was the leader of Germany during the war and many of his implementations lead to their defeat. Also, he was the strongest leader of the Central powers and it was he who was punished after the defeat |
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League of Nations
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Definition: League of Nations, an international organization formed after World War I to "promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security."
Importance: The creation of the League was the culmination of ideals expressed as early as the 14th century. The immediate impetus, however, was the cataclysm of World War I and the realization by a few leaders that some security must be provided against future wars. The League did not fulfill the hopes of its founders, but it played a significant role in world politics, did important work in the social and economic fields, and was a model in many respects for the United Nations. |
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Mechanized warfare
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Definition: tanks, airplanes, armored cars, zepplins, and even machine guns were used for the first time in a major war in WW1 also, mustard gas, poison gas and submarine guns.
Importance: These new weapons prolonged the expected time of war. Before now war was fast, quick and simple. Mechanized warfare made war much more complicated and increased death rates and created what’s known as “trench warfare” |
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Militarism
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Definition: In all of the Great powers, military spending increased greatly in the years prior to the war. The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914.
Importance: The rivalry between the powers led to a building up of weapons and an increase in distrust. The more the countries saw rivals build up armies, the more they felt distrust and the more they built up their own army. Everyone on edge, just waiting for war to happen. |
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Morroccan crisis
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Definition: France and Germany almost fight over Morroccan port, Germany backs down, French and British make friends, and they mock Germany
Importance: teaches Germany to not back down |
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Nationalism
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Definition: Extreme pride in one’s country. Weltpolitik or the desire for world power status was very popular in Germany. The French desire for revenge over Alsace and Lorraine was very strong. In Britain Imperialism and support for the Empire was very evident.
Importance: This nationalism meant that there was little resistance to war in these countries. Many welcomed what it was felt would be a short victorious war. |
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No Man’s Land and Trench Warfare
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Definition: The territory between the two front lines was considered no man’s land because neither side owned the land and anyone that went through there was unlikely to come back. The trenches were dug as an idea to let the enemy come to them.
Importance: Though Britain started doing this, the other side soon caught on. The advances in technology also made the survival in these trenches difficult because of mustard and poison gas bombings and the unsanitary conditions that resulted from living in trenches. |
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Ottoman Empire
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Definition: in the Middle East it was the Turks of the Ottoman Empire who fought the Allies.
Importance: The Ottoman Empire was called the “sick man of Europe.” Most people believed that it was only a matter of time before one of the European colonial powers took over the Ottoman Empire. |
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The Powder Keg of Europe
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Definition: refers to the Balkans in the early part of the Twentieth Century. In this time period there were a number of overlapping claims to territories and spheres of influence between the major European powers such as Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary and, to a lesser degree, Imperial Germany, Great Britain, and Italy.
Importance: the Balkans were not the major issue at stake in the war, but were merely the catalyst that lead to the conflagration. The "powder keg" "exploded" causing the First World War, which began with a spat between imperialist Austria-Hungary and Pan-Slavic Serbia. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, a member of the Austrian royal family, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist of the Black Hand movement. |
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The Race for Africa
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Definition: the proliferation of conflicting European claims to African territory during the New Imperialism period, between the 1880s and World War I in 1914.
Importance: Right before WWI the Balkans were fighting over the last unclaimed pieces of Africa. Also, some countries felt as if they had been unfairly gypped of their share of Africa |
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Reparation
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Definition: Germany was to pay for the damage caused by the war. The figure of £6,600 million was set some time after the signing of the treaty.
Importance: Germany was already economically devastated and they alone had not caused the war but were forced to accept the war guilt clause. The government that accepted this (Treaty of Versailles) was the Weimar Republic and became despised by the people. This set the stage for World War II. |
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Reinsurance Treaty
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Definition: Bismarck, having unified Germany in 1871, wanted to protect it from a possible breakup by a combined 2-front attack from France and Russia. his reinsurance treaty w/ Russia in 1887 was meant to avoid that possibility, though Russia wasn't bound to aid Germany if Germany attacked France (or if Russia declared war with Austria-Hungary, Germany’s close ally).
Importance: Germany essentially paid for Russia's generosity by recognizing Russia's influence in Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia and by agreeing to support any Russian action to retain control of the Black Sea. The treaty itself ran for three years, after which it was allowed to lapse. Later Russia allied with Britain and France in the Triple Entente. |
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RMS Lusitania
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Definition: a British Cunard Line transatlantic passenger ship that was sunk on May 7, 1915, by a torpedo fired by the German U-boat (submarine) U-20, killing over 1,000 people.
Importance: The incident provoked indignation and controversy on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. President Woodrow Wilson reacted strongly to an excusatory note presented by the German ambassador in Washington, D.C., on May 10. The sinking created a wave of resentment against Germany and greatly influenced the later entry of the United States into World War I. |
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Rhineland
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Definition: France and Germany constantly fight over this land, Germany forced to give it up when they couldn't pay the reparations- valuable land to Germany
Importance: sets the stage for World War 2 Hitler makes France surrender at this spot and disavowed the terms of the treaty of Versailles here. |
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Schleiffen Plan
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Definition: Its aim was to knock France instantly out of contention, before Russia had time to mobilize its gigantic human reserves. It aimed to accomplish this task within 6 weeks. Germany could then turn her full resources to meeting the Russian threat.
Importance: it forced German military planners to prepare for a pre-emptive strike at the first sign of war; otherwise Russia would have time to mobilize, and Germany would be crushed by Russia's massive army. No war planners in any country had considered Germany's options, prepared for anything like the Schlieffen Plan, or advised politicians accordingly. |
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submarine warfare
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Definition: Sinking ships without any warning. (unrestricted submarine warfare)
Importance: In 1914, Germany began using submarines to disrupt Allied seaborne traffic and prevent supplies from reaching Britain. In 1915 Germany instituted a submarine blockade around Britain. From February 1915 to September 1915 and again in 1917, Germany used unrestricted submarine warfare angering the Allies and resulted in the United States entering the war |
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Three Emperor’s League
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Definition: an 1873 alliance among the emperors of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, the three largest powers in Eastern and Central Europe at the time.
Importance: It is widely considered to be a long-term cause of World War and was intended to stand in opposition to increasingly liberal forms of government to the west. |
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Treaty of Versailles
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Definition: the major treaty ending World War I, signed at Versailles, France, on June 28, 1919, and in force on Jan. 10, 1920, following ratification by Germany and four of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan.
Importance: The Treaty of Versailles was based on the pre-armistice agreement among the Allies of Nov. 5, 1918, and the armistice with Germany of Nov. 11, 1918, accepting President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points as the basis for peace, with modification by the Allies of the points dealing with freedom of the seas, reparations, and the status of the Habsburg empire which had, in fact, broken up. |
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Triple Alliance
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Definition: Negotiated and signed in May 1881, it brought Italy into the alliance previously agreed between Germany and Austria-Hungary (in 1879) as a counterweight to France and Russia.
Importance: One of the principal aims of the Triple Alliance was to prevent Italy from declaring war against Austria-Hungary, towards whom the Italians were in constant dispute over territorial matters. It was essentially ineffective with regard to Italy’s participation, for in 1902 (just five months after the latest renewal of the Alliance) Italy reached an understanding with France that each would remain neutral in the event of an attack upon the other. |
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Triple Entente
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Definition: the alliance formed in 1907 among Great Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente.
Importance: Though not a military alliance, the alliance of these three major powers created a powerful counterweight to the triple alliance. with the addition of Italy in 1915, the Triple Antete was the force that opposed the central powers in WWI. |
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Verdum
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Definition: a city in northeastern France, and the site of one of the greatest battles of World War I.
Importance: The World War I Battle of Verdun (Feb. 21–Dec. 18, 1916), an unsuccessful German effort to take the offensive in the west, was one of the longest and bloodiest encounters of the war. Total casualties have been estimated at about 542,000 French and some 434,000 Germans. |
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Wilson’s 14 Points
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Definition: us President Woodrow Wilson’s blueprint for lasting peace in Europe after WWI, delivered in a speech Jan. 8, 1918. The idealism displayed in the speech gave Wilson a position of moral leadership among the Allies and encouraged the Central Powers to surrender.
Importance: though delivered over 10 months before the armistice with Germany ended WWI, the 14 points became the basis for the terms of the German surrender, even though only 4 points were completely adopted after the war. |
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Zimmerman Telegram
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Definition: a coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmerman on January 16, 1917 to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt at the height of WWI.
Importance: the telegram instructed the ambassador to go approach the Mexican Government with a proposal to form a military alliance against the USA. It was intercepted and decoded by British--its contents hastened US entry into WWI. |
