Causes of WWI

"Splendid Isolation"

Great Britain was involved in a foreign policy known as "splendid isolation", which kept the nation out of the rest of Europe. the significance of "splendid isolation" is that it gave Great Britain a disadvantage in the war for having no alliances in case of an invasion or attack, but it was "splendid" because Britain didn't have to make enemies because it was there alliance's enemy.

Annexation of Bosnia

The Balkan provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina were annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908. Serbia was closely related to Bosnia and Herzegovina and demanded that Austria cede a portion of the provinces to them, Austria, firmly supported by its ally Germany, threatened to invade Serbia if they persisted in their demands. the significance of the annexation of Bosnia is that it created bitter relations between Serbia and Austria-Hungary that contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare is a method of fighting battles that involves digging trenches and planting men in the trenches for long periods of time. From the trenches, men would hide, attack, and travel. The trenches were intended to slow down mobility of the opposing side. The significance of trench warfare was that World War I used trench warfare, especially on the Western Front between France and Germany. The unhygienic conditions resulted in many men dying. The trenches were used as methods by both the French and the Germans, resulting in long-term battles.

Planned Economy

A planned economy is an economical system that has decisions and investments made by a government or other central system. The significance of Planned Economy during the era of World War I was the fact that the government was altered so that the Bolsheviks were in power, with a socialist economy. These economic changes would alter the way that the world saw Russia, leading into the Communism Cold War tension. The planned economy was the beginning.

Dardanelles Campaign

Also known as the Gallipoli Campaign, the Dardanelles Campaign was a operation in modern-day Turkey between the Ottoman Empire and the allies of Britain and France. Britain and France were attempting to create a sea route to Russia, thus beginning the Dardanelles Campaign. The Allies also attempted to capture Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. However, the Allies drastically lost their campaign and were forced to retreat to Egypt. The significance of the Dardanelles Campaign was that it was a huge loss for the Allies due to a lack of lives. It was also considered significant because it was a surge of success from the crumbling Ottoman Empire.

Battle of Jutland

The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle fought in the North Sea by Britain and Germany for two days in April and May of 1916. It was the third ever battle using fleet of steel naval ships battling. The British intended to lure out the German fleet to destroy it. The result of the battle had 14 British ships and 11 German ships sinking in the North Sea. The significance of the battle was that both sides claimed victory, which is still disputed today. Although Britain lost twice as many men, they had also gained a strategic victory by accomplishing the objective, while Germany had a tactical victory. However, the significance of the battle continues due to the fact that Germany continued naval aggression with submarines, which would later lead to the destruction of the submarine and the entrance of the United States into the war.

Battle of Tannenberg

The Battle of Tannenberg was a battle between Russia and Germany in the beginning of World War I. The battle took place for four days in August, 1914. The battle was fought in Eastern Prussia. The significance of this particular battle was that it almost demolished the Russian army, keeping it from fighting until the spring of 1915. It also demonstrated the vast power of the German army with the use of trains.

Battle of Verdun

The Battle of Verdun was a battle waged between France and Germany on the Western front from February to December of 1916. In Eastern France, the battle was started with Germany trying to capture French hills that would be used for observing the surrounding areas. The end of the battle came due to a miscalculation by Germany in what they believed France's strategy would be, resulting in a French victory. The significance of the Battle of Verdun was that it was the longest and most costly battles of World War I in both money and lives. Estimates on casualties for Germany and France range from 700,000 to 900,000.

Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme took place from July to November 1916 between the Allies of Britain and France against Germany. The Battle took place in Eastern France. Germany lost around 60,000 men in the first day. The battle is significant for its use of airplanes in battle and the first usage of tanks. The significance of the Battle of the Somme was the fact that it was one of the bloodiest battles ever. The battle resulted in the deaths of over a million men.

Black Hand

The Black Hand was a secret Serbian society that used terrorist methods to liberate Serbs outside of Serbia. It was the instrumental of planning of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. The significance of the Black Hand was that it planned the assassination of Ferdinand which assisted in the outbreak of World War I.

Central Powers

The Central Powers were one of the two sides in World War I. The Central Powers held Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria (often referred to as the Quadruple Alliance). The significance of the Central Powers was that the four powers shared the view that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by Serbian militants was supported by the Serbian government. This resulted in war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, which was followed by the entrance of Serbia's ally, Russia. This chain of war declarations and allegiance pledges resulted in all of Europe going into a full out war, resulting in World War I. Overall, the significance is that the side of the Central Powers declared the first war that brought on World War I.

Dual Alliance of 1879

The Dual Alliance was a pact between Austria-Hungary and the German Empire, in which the two powers made a promise to support each other in case of an attack by Russia. The significance of the Dual Alliance was that it kept Germany from isolation in the war and prevented Russia from waging war on either empire.

Wilson's 14 Points

The Fourteen Points is a series of reasons made in a statement by President Wilson of the United States in 1918 for why the United States was joining the war in Europe. The United States joined the side of the Allies in the fight against the Central Powers. The points showed the policy of the United States in terms of the war, which included democracy, free trade, open agreements, and self-determination. The 14 points called for free seas, diplomacy, free trade, less militarism, readjust the colonies fairly, self-determination for the Russian government, and the redistribution of the land. The significance of Wilson's 14 points, other than the fact that it symbolized the new involvement of the United States, was that it also called for the formation of a League of Nations. The League of Nations would strive to maintain independence for all countries, big or small.

Franco-Russian Alliance

The Franco-Prussian alliance was a political and military pact between France and Russia that became one of the basic alliances pre World War I. In the event of an attack by Germany, Russia would field 700,000 to 800,000 men; in the event of an attack by Germany, France would field 1,300,000 men. The significance of the Franco-Russian alliance is it gave France and Russia a great advantage over Germany and the Triple Alliance.

German "blank check"

The German "blank check" was a letter sent to Austria-Hungary assuring that they would defend them in battle disregarding the opponent. the significance of the German "blank check" was that it caused a chain of conflicts with other countries and alliances that lead up to the outbreak of World War I.

Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan was an overall plan of success designed by German General Staff. The plan was designed in the early 1900's, before the war began. The plan involved fighting Russia in the East, and France in the West. The plan focused attention initially on France, and Russia later as it was further away. The significance of the Schlieffen Plan was that, other than the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, it was a reason that the world war was initiated.

Secret Treaty of London 1915

The Secret Treaty of London of 1915 was a secret agreement between Italy and the group of Britain, France, and Russia that would gain the support of Italy in the fight against their former allies, the Central Powers. The treaty was signed in London. In exchange for allegiance, Italy would gain land. The significance of the Secret Treaty of London was that it changed the the amount of power the Allies had in the fight against the Central Powers. The war was to be won by who your allies were, and the more allies the Allies could gain, the better. It also affected the way that the land was distributed after the war was over.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty made between the new Bolshevik Russian government and the Central Powers on March 3, 1918. The treaty ended Russian participation in the war. Russia was being advanced on by Austria and Germany, and wanted to end their involvement before there were more losses.The significance of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was that it recognized the independence of Ukraine, but not to the Polish, leading to Polish protests and tension. It also made one less complication for the new Russian government, which was dealing internally with a Russian Civil War.

Triple Alliance

The Triple Alliance was a secret agreement between Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy that stated Germany and Austria-Hungary would assist Italy if it were attacked by France, and Italy would do the same for Germany. In 1902 Italy reached an understanding with France that they would both remain neutral in the event of an attack on the other. Italy's neutrality with France nullified the pledges made with the other members of the Triple Alliance. The significance of the Triple Alliance is that it caused Italy to go into World War I as an enemy to Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Zimmerman telegram

The Zimmerman telegram was a coded telegram sent from Germany to Mexico in 1917. The message called for Mexico to join the side of the Central Powers in the case of the United States joining the Allies in the War. The message was intercepted and decoded by the British, and shared to the United States. The significance of the Zimmerman telegram was that it greatly angered the U.S. public, and support for the United States entering the war against Germany grew. This support led to Wilson's 14 points and the entrance of the U.S. into the war.

Entente Cordiale

The entente cordiale was an Anglo-French agreement that ended several controversial matters between Great Britain and France, leading to their diplomatic cooperation against German pressures. The significance of the entente cordiale is it created security for France against any German alliances, such as the Triple Alliance.

Sarajevo Crisis

The heir to the Austrian Empire, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. Ferdinand assassin was a member of the Black hand Gang that wanted to rid Bosnia of Austrian rule. Serbia was blamed for this catastrophe because they had provided the Black Hand Gang with weapons and encouraged them, Austria planned to punish Serbia by invading their country. Serbia called in their close ally Russia and Austria was in an alliance with Germany. The significance of the Sarajevo crisis was that it, despite the numerous long-term causes, sparked World War I.

Triple entente

Triple Entente was the association between Great Britain, France, and Russia, the center of the allied powers in Europe during World War I. the significance of the Triple Entente was that it was the most powerful alliance and helped shape the result of World War I.