WWI Vocabulary Flashcards

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Triple Entente

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The Triple Entente was an alliance formed before World War I between France, Russia, and Great Britain. It was created to counter the growing power of Germany and its allies. This alliance meant that if one nation was threatened, the others would offer support, helping set the stage for a larger global conflict.

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Triple Alliance

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The Triple Alliance was a military agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before World War I. It was designed to protect these nations if they were attacked by other powers.

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Propaganda

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Propaganda is biased information spread by governments to influence public opinion and gain support for the war. During World War I, countries used posters, newspapers, and speeches to encourage people to enlist, buy war bonds, and view the enemy negatively.

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Lusitania

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The Lusitania was a British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, killing over 1,000 people, including 128 Americans. The event angered many in the United States and shifted American public opinion against Germany. It became one of the key reasons the U.S. moved closer to entering World War I.

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Zimmerman Telegram

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The Zimmerman Telegram was a secret message sent in 1917 by Germany to Mexico, proposing an alliance if the United States entered World War I. Germany promised Mexico it could reclaim Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if they helped fight the U.S. When the telegram was discovered and made public, Americans were outraged and support for entering the war grew.

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Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

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Unrestricted Submarine Warfare was a German policy during World War I where submarines (U-boats) would attack any ship, including civilian and neutral ones, without warning. Germany used this strategy to cut off supplies to the Allies. This aggressive tactic was another major reason the United States decided to join the war.

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Treaty of Versailles

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The Treaty of Versailles was the peace agreement signed in 1919 that officially ended World War I. It placed heavy blame and punishment on Germany, including loss of territory, military restrictions, and large reparations payments. The treaty created long-term resentment in Germany, which later contributed to the rise of World War II.

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14 Points

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The 14 Points were a peace plan proposed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918. It called for principles like self-determination, free trade, reduced militaries, and "peace without victory" to prevent future wars.

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League of Nations

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The League of Nations was an international organization created after World War I to promote peace and prevent future conflicts. It was part of Wilson’s 14 Points and included many nations, but the United States did not join. Without U.S. support and enforcement power, the League struggled to stop aggression in the years leading up to World War II.