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World War I

In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:

Central Powers

Allies

Trench Warfare

The Treaty of Versailles

Reparations

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In 1914, the Archduke of Austria wasassassinated. Austrians believed that

Serb officials had helped the assassins.Austrians decided to invade Serbia.

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Austria’s decision to invade Serbia set off a chain reaction that soon involved

all of Europe’s major powers.

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During the war, Germany, Austria-Hungary,and Turkey became known as the Central

powers. Britain, France, and Russiawere known as the Allies.

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During the first World War, soldiersdug themselves into trenches, protected

by barbed wire and machine guns.

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Trenches extended hundreds of miles.Many soldiers died due to the harsh

conditions in the trenches.

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New weaponswere used

during WorldWar I. These

weapons included the

machinegun, poison

gas, submarines,

and airplanes.

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Initially, the UnitedStates was neutral.

However, Americanswere sympathetic to

the British and French.When American ships

were attacked byGermany in 1917, theUnited States enteredthe war while Russia

dropped out of the war.

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The Russians had experienced a

revolution and werepromised “Peace,Land, and Bread.”

When the Russiansdropped out, the arrival

of new Americantroops still favored

the Allies.

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President Wilson announced FourteenPoints that he felt should be the basisof the coming peace. He planned to

give each nationality its own governmentand end secret diplomacy.

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The Germans agreed to end the war andoverthrew the Kaiser in 1918. However,

the final peace terms turned out to bequite different from the Fourteen Points.

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The Treaty of Versailles (1919) concludedthe peace with Germany. Germany lost

territory to France and Poland, as well asall of its overseas colonies. The Austria-Hungary empire was divided into several

smaller states.

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Germany lost its navy while its army was reduced to a small police force. Germany was forced to accept blamefor starting the war and was forced topay huge reparations (payment for

damages) to the Allies.

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The League of Nations or an organizationof nations was created to prevent future

national aggression. However, the United States and Russia failed to join it

thus weakening its power. The roadto the Second World War was being paved.

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Questions for Reflection:

• What event triggered the First World War?• List the nations of the Central Powers and

the Allies.• What was trench warfare and why do you

think it was particularly devastating?• What were the terms of the Treaty of

Versailles?• Why did the Treaty of Versailles pave the

way to future conflict in Europe?