World War I Study Guide
1. List the 5 MAIN causes of World War I.
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism, Igniting Incident (spark)
2. Explain what they are.
 Militarism: Countries prepared for war , so when Austria Hungary declared
war on Serbia countries joined because they were ready.
 Alliances: Countries formed two alliances. The Allies which included Great
Britain, France and Russia and in 1917 the U.S. The Central Powers which
included Austria Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire. When
Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia, everyone has to join in because
they were part of an alliance and they promised to help fight when
needed.
 Imperialism: The goal was to keep and get colonies. Countries went to
war to get colonies if they won and to keep other countries from taking
theirs.
 Nationalism: Is pride in your nation and you want it to be bigger and
better. You also believe you are better than others. Nationalism is a
cause of WWI because it made Princip a Bosnian Serb kill Arch Duke Franz
Ferdinand, because he wanted Bosinia to join with Serbia and thought
killing the Arch Duke would get him what he wanted. So, A/H declares
war on Serbia to protect itself and their Nationalism.
 Igniting Incident (spark): See Nationalism
3. What was the spark that caused World War I to begin? Explain it.
 See nationalism in question 1
4. Why did the United States favor Great Britain and France during World War I?
 We had a common ancestry and traded with each other.
5. List the Allied Powers of World War I.
 Great Britain, France, Russia, Serbia and in 1917 the U.S.
6. List the Central Powers of World War I.
 The Central Powers which included Austria Hungary, Germany and
the Ottoman Empire.
7. Name three new technologies used during World War I.
 Gas Mask, Tank, Airplane, Submarine, Trenches
8. What caused the United States to enter World War I? Two Reasons, Explain.
 Unrestricted sub warfare: Sinking the Lusitania is an example of the
Germans using unrestricted submarine warfare. This means people on
the boats/ships were given no warning or time to get off the boat/ship
before the torpedo destroyed them. Germany first told America it would
stop after the Lusitania, then again after the Sussex. American knew
Germany did not mean it, after they wrote in the Zimmerman Telegram
that they would keep doing it and sunk four of our ships.
 Zimmerman Telegram: This telegram told the U.S that German would
start unrestricted sub warfare again This telegram told the U.S. that
Germany was trying to get Mexico to be their ally and go against U.S. This
was completely disrespectful to the United States.
 The U.S. was now was good and mad enough to go to War in 1917.
9. Which treaty ended World War I?
 Versailles Treaty
10. Which organization was established to keep a long and lasting peace after World
War I? What point was it in Wilson’s 14 point plan.
 League of Nations, number 14.
11. Who wrote the Fourteen Points?
 Woodrow Wilson
12. What country had to pay reparations, give up land, and reduce their military
after World War I?
 Germany
13. What was the major reason President Wilson’s peace plan failed?
14. What is this cartoon about?
15. When WWI began in Europe, the United States remained _______________
16. A note, proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico that really angered
Americans was the_______________
17. President Wilson hoped the League of Nations would__________________
The U.S. did NOT participate in the League of Nations because of a decision in
the ________________.
18. In his plan called the Fourteen points, President Wilson believed world peace
could be achieved with the formation of the________________________, did it
work? _____________ How do you know? __________________________
It was like a baby, Why? ________________________________________________
19. Causes Essay