World War I
Definition
A major global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918 involving many world powers divided into two opposing alliances - The Allies (including UK, France and Russia) and The Central Powers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary).
Analogy
Imagine if all your school friends suddenly split into two groups over some serious disagreements. These groups then start recruiting other students to join them until almost everyone is involved in this massive feud. That's kind of how World War I started on a global scale.
Related terms
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: This event triggered WWI when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.
Trench Warfare: A type of combat used extensively in WWI where soldiers fought from deep trenches dug across battlefields.
Treaty of Versailles: The peace treaty that officially ended WWI. It held Germany responsible for the war and imposed heavy penalties.
"World War I" appears in:
Study guides (5)
AP World History: Modern - 3.4 Comparison in Land-Based Empires
AP World History: Modern - 7.3 Conducting World War I
AP World History: Modern - 7.5 Unresolved Tensions After World War I
AP World History: Modern - 7.9 Causation in Global Conflict
AP World History: Modern - 8.1 Setting the Stage for the Cold War and Decolonization
Practice Questions (20+)
What is the estimated number of casualties due to World War I?
______ declared war on ______ which began World War I.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of alliances in the outbreak of World War I?
Which of the following was a significant effect of the Scramble for Africa on the outbreak of World War I?
Which of the following was a significant effect of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary on the outbreak of World War I?
Which of the following best describes the role of militarism in the outbreak of World War I?
Which of the following factors contributed to the rise of fascist movements in Europe in the years immediately following World War I?
Which of the following best explains the appeal of fascist ideologies in the post-World War I period?
What was the primary objective of the League of Nations when it was established after World War I?
What was Germany's initial plan at the start of World War I?
How did fighting in World War I contribute to decolonization?
Which art movement emerged after World War I as a reaction to its chaos and devastation?
Which event directly led to the start of World War I?
How were the causes of World War I different from those of World War II?
How might Middle Eastern history be different if the Ottoman Empire hadn't disintegrated after World War I?
What is a primary difference between the causes of World War I and World War II?
Which outcome resulted from imperialism's role as a cause for World War I?
Which technological innovation significantly influenced warfare during World War I?
What is one of the effects of World War I on political power structures?
What might have been a likely outcome if the United States had not entered World War I?
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