The Road to WWI

Question 1

When did the US get involved in WWI?

Answer 1

1917

Question 2

Why did the US wait three years before entering WWI?

Answer 2

The US proclaimed neutrality. Americans thought it wasn’t their problem and that Europe should solve the problem.

Question 3

What were some of the long-term causes of WWI?

Answer 3

1. an arms race- European nations competed to build the largest and most powerful military (militarism)
2. Nationalism-Ethnic groups like the Slavs living in Austria and Hungary wanted an independent country, so to protect themselves, European countries formed an alliance.

Question 4

Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire formed an alliance called

Answer 4

the Central Powers

Question 5

Great Britain, France and Russia formed an alliance called:

Answer 5

the Allied Powers

Question 6

What were the short-term causes of the war?

Answer 6

1. assassination of Austrian- Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 by a Serbian nationalist supporting independence for the Slavs. War was declared on Serbia.
2. The Central Powers’ alliance thus also declared war (Italy joined later)
3. ) Serbia’s allies- The Allied Powers declared war against the Central Powers

Question 7

How did the US respond to the war?

Answer 7

President Wilson declared neutrality. Upholding a policy not to form permanent alliances.

Question 8

What were some of the steps to war?

Answer 8

May 7, 1915: Germans torpedo the Lusitania, killing 123 Americans and 1200 Europeans; Germany fears US war involvement and promised not to hit civilian ships again. (One year later they attacked again)

Question 9

What was the Zimmerman Telegram?

Answer 9

In January, 1917 British agents deciphered a code that asked the German ambassador to Mexico to declare war on Mexico. In return, Mexico would get New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.

Question 10

After the Zimmerman document what else did the Germans do that led to the declaration of war on on April 2, 1917?

Answer 10

They began submarine warfare against passenger ships, killing passengers and crew.

Question 11

What changes happened on the homefront after the declaration of war?

Answer 11

1. Almost 3 million men were drafted or called to active duty.
2. Factories had to switch from consumer goods like cars to making tanks, and uniforms.
3. In factories women took the job of men going to war (over 1 million)
4. African Americans were also hired for factory jobs in the North

Question 12

The Germans had to fight the war on two fronts, making them weaker, until something happened that allowed them to fight the battle on only one front in 1917? What happened?

Answer 12

Russia had suffered for three years fighting the war. The people revolted against their Czar, leavening Lenin in power. Lenin signed a treaty with Germany. Germany no longer had to fight on the Eastern front in Russia. They only had to focus on the Western Front.

Question 13

What treaty ended the war?

Answer 13

the Treaty of Versailles

Question 14

What was Wilson’s peace plan called?

Answer 14

the Fourteen Points

Question 15

What did the “Fourteen Points” emphasize?

Answer 15

1) freedom of trade
2) freedom of the seas
3) arms reduction

Question 16

What was Wilson’s “League of Nations” supposed to do?

Answer 16

Settle peace disputes between nations

Question 17

What was a first time for Americans at the Paris Peace Conference?

Answer 17

It was the first time a president had left the country while in office.

Question 18

Why did Wilson go to the Paris Peace Conference?

Answer 18

To promote his “Fourteen Points”

Question 19

What did France, England and other European countries think of Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

Answer 19

They were interested because they wanted to punish Germany for their actions in the war. Wilson wanted a new world order that didn’t punish the countries involved.

Question 20

Based on the Treaty of Versailles, what did Germany have to do?

Answer 20

1. accept responsibility for the war
2. pay $33 billion in reparations
3. could only keep a small army
4. Nine new nations were created from territory taken by central powers
5. The League of Nations was created

Question 21

Why did the US Congress refuse to sign the treaty?

Answer 21

Republicans were afraid that joining the League would lose its ability to act alone and would be forced to committing troops to war anytime a nation went to war.