History Notes

Exam Notes: The First World War

Weeks 1-2: Causes of WWI

Long-Term Causes (MAIN):

1. Militarism:
o European nations built powerful militaries (e.g., Britain vs. Germany in a naval
arms race).
o Military leaders gained significant influence, prioritizing war plans.
2. Alliances:
o Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy.
o Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia.
o Alliances increased tensions and ensured a localized conflict would escalate into a
world war.
3. Imperialism:
o Competition for colonies created conflicts (e.g., Germany wanted to challenge
Britain and France's colonial dominance).
4. Nationalism:
o Nations sought to prove their strength (e.g., France wanted revenge for losing
Alsace-Lorraine to Germany).
o Ethnic groups (e.g., Serbs) sought independence from empires.

Immediate Cause:

 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914):

o Heir to Austria-Hungary's throne killed by Gavrilo Princip (a Serbian nationalist
from the Black Hand).
o Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia → alliances escalated the conflict.

War Plans:

1. Schlieffen Plan (Germany):

o Invade France through Belgium, then attack Russia to avoid a two-front war.
o Assumed Russia would mobilize slowly and Britain would remain neutral.
2. Plan XVII (France):
o Focused on attacking Germany to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine.

Failure of the Schlieffen Plan:

 Belgium resisted → delayed Germany’s advance.

 Britain joined after Germany violated Belgian neutrality.
  Russia mobilized faster than expected.
 Germany fought on two fronts, leading to stalemates.

Weeks 3-4: Trench Warfare

What is Trench Warfare?

 Defensive strategy using long trenches to protect soldiers from enemy fire.
 Dominated the Western Front (France and Belgium).

Types of Trenches:

1. Frontline Trenches: Closest to the enemy; used for attacks.

2. Support Trenches: Reinforced frontline trenches with supplies.
3. Reserve Trenches: Rest area for soldiers and emergency reinforcements.
4. Communication Trenches: Connected trenches for safe movement.

Conditions in the Trenches:

 Diseases: Trench foot, dysentery, and lice were common.

 Poor Hygiene: Rats and stagnant water worsened living conditions.
 Psychological Stress: Constant artillery bombardments caused shell shock.
 Dangers: Poison gas, sniper fire, and artillery attacks.

Why WWI Ended in the Trenches:

 Defensive strategies and strong positions caused stalemates.

 New weapons (e.g., tanks, planes) eventually broke through trench systems.

Weeks 5-6: WWI Propaganda

What is Propaganda?

 The use of biased information to influence public opinion and behavior.

Tools of Propaganda:

 Posters: Encouraged enlistment and resource conservation.

 Newspapers and Films: Promoted patriotism and demonized enemies.
 Speeches: Motivated civilians and soldiers to support the war effort.

Reasons for Propaganda:

 1. Maintain public morale during long battles.
2. Recruit soldiers for the war.
3. Encourage civilians to conserve food, buy war bonds, and support industries.

Source Analysis Tips:

 Identify the message (patriotism, fear, etc.), target audience, and purpose.
 Evaluate how visuals and language reinforce the message.

Weeks 9-10: Weapons and Battles of WWI

Weapons Used:

1. Rifles and Machine Guns:

o Machine guns caused massive casualties and prolonged battles.
2. Artillery:
o Long-range weapons like howitzers devastated enemy lines.
3. Poison Gas:
o First used by Germany (1915); caused severe injuries and deaths.
4. Tanks:
o Introduced by Britain in 1916 to break trench stalemates.
5. Aircraft:
o Initially used for reconnaissance; later used for bombing and dogfights.
6. Submarines:
o German U-boats targeted Allied ships, disrupting supply lines.

Effects of Weapons:

 Increased destruction and prolonged the war.

 Defensive weapons, like machine guns, made offenses difficult.

Breaking the Stalemate:

 Tanks and new tactics, such as coordinated infantry-artillery attacks, broke trench
defenses.

Weeks 11-12: Why Did the U.S. Enter WWI?

1. The U.S. Could No Longer Remain Neutral:

o German actions (e.g., unrestricted submarine warfare) directly threatened
American lives and interests.
2. Close Economic and Political Ties to England:
 o The U.S. traded heavily with Britain and France.
o Allied success was vital for repayment of U.S. loans.
3. German Unrestricted Submarine Warfare:
o German U-boats attacked ships without warning, violating international law.
o Key event: Sinking of Lusitania (1915) killed 1,198 people, including 128
Americans.
4. The Zimmerman Telegram (1917):
o Germany promised Mexico U.S. territories (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico) if it
joined the war against the U.S.
o Interception of the telegram caused outrage in the U.S.

Weeks 11-12: The End of WWI

Why Did Germany Lose?

1. Exhaustion of resources and soldiers.

2. Allies (e.g., Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire) collapsed.
3. Effective Allied offensives, like the Hundred Days Offensive (1918).

Treaty of Versailles (1919):

1. Terms:
o Territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations (£6.6 billion).
o War Guilt Clause: Germany took full blame for the war.
2. Impact:
o Viewed as harsh and unfair by Germany, sowing resentment.
o Contributed to the rise of extremism (e.g., Nazi Party).

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (20 marks)

Answer all questions. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. Which of the following was a long-term cause of World War I?

A) Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
B) Militarism
C) U.S. joining the war
D) Zimmerman Telegram
2. Which countries were part of the Triple Alliance before WWI?
A) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia
B) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
C) France, Russia, United Kingdom
D) Italy, Russia, France
3. Which plan was Germany’s military strategy to avoid a two-front war?
A) Plan XVII
 B) Schlieffen Plan
C) The Dardanelles Campaign
D) The Zimmermann Plan
4. Which of these was NOT a type of trench during World War I?
A) Frontline trench
B) Reserve trench
C) Radar trench
D) Communication trench
5. What was the main purpose of World War I propaganda?
A) To create peace treaties
B) To influence public opinion and encourage support for the war
C) To negotiate with enemy nations
D) To spread information about military strategies
6. Which weapon was first introduced during WWI to break trench warfare
stalemate?
A) Machine gun
B) Tank
C) Airplane
D) Submarine
7. Which event directly triggered the start of World War I?
A) The sinking of the Lusitania
B) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
C) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
D) The signing of the Zimmerman Telegram
8. What was the primary aim of the Schlieffen Plan?
A) To make peace with Russia
B) To avoid fighting a two-front war by defeating France first
C) To invade Britain
D) To prevent the U.S. from entering the war
9. What did the Zimmerman Telegram propose?
A) Mexico would join Germany in exchange for U.S. territories
B) France would get help to recapture Alsace-Lorraine
C) The U.S. would stay neutral in the war
D) Germany would stop unrestricted submarine warfare
10. Which country was NOT part of the Allied Powers during WWI?
A) United Kingdom
B) United States
C) Italy
D) Germany
11. Why did the U.S. enter World War I in 1917?
A) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
B) The German unrestricted submarine warfare
C) To support Austria-Hungary
D) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
12. What was the main goal of propaganda during World War I?
A) To spread information about the war's progress
 B) To encourage civilians to conserve resources and support the war effort
C) To make peace with Germany
D) To create anti-war movements
13. Which of the following was NOT an effect of WWI?
A) Collapse of empires like Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire
B) The creation of the League of Nations
C) The spread of Communism
D) Rise of Nazi Germany in 1930s
14. Which event was crucial in breaking the WWI stalemate on the Western Front?
A) The use of tanks
B) The signing of the Armistice
C) The use of chemical weapons
D) The Battle of Verdun
15. What was the impact of unrestricted submarine warfare on the U.S.?
A) Increased trade with Germany
B) Led to the sinking of civilian ships and the death of Americans
C) It made the U.S. join the war in support of Germany
D) Forced the U.S. to sign a peace treaty with Germany
16. Which country suffered the most casualties in WWI?
A) Germany
B) Russia
C) France
D) United Kingdom
17. Which battle marked the first major use of tanks in warfare?
A) Battle of the Somme
B) Battle of Verdun
C) Battle of Passchendaele
D) Battle of Cambrai
18. What was the Treaty of Versailles?
A) A peace treaty that officially ended WWI and blamed Germany
B) An alliance between Britain and France
C) A declaration of war on the U.S.
D) A proposal to end trench warfare
19. Which of the following was a major factor in the U.S. decision to enter the war in
1917?
A) The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine
B) The Russian Revolution
C) The defeat of Austria-Hungary
D) The sinking of the Titanic
20. What was the effect of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?
A) It required Germany to take full blame for the war and pay reparations
B) It resulted in Germany gaining more land
C) It created a long-lasting alliance with the U.S.
D) It was rejected by Germany
Section B: Short Answer Questions (20 marks)

Answer all questions. Each question is worth 4 marks.

1. Describe the main elements of the Schlieffen Plan and explain why it failed.
2. Explain the conditions in the trenches during World War I. What impact did these
conditions have on soldiers?
3. Discuss the role of propaganda in World War I. How did it influence public opinion
and support for the war?
4. Explain the impact of the Zimmerman Telegram on U.S. public opinion and its role
in the U.S. entering the war.

Section C: Essay Questions (20 marks)

Answer one of the following questions. Your answer should be around 250-300 words.

1. What were the main causes of World War I? Discuss how the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand escalated the conflict into a global war.
2. Evaluate the reasons why the United States entered World War I in 1917. How did
these reasons lead to a shift in American foreign policy?
3. Explain how trench warfare and new weapons changed the nature of combat during
World War I. What were the effects of these changes on soldiers and the war's
outcome?

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (20 marks)

Answer all questions. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. B) Militarism
2. B) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
3. B) Schlieffen Plan
4. C) Radar trench
5. B) To influence public opinion and encourage support for the war
6. B) Tank
7. B) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
8. B) To avoid fighting a two-front war by defeating France first
9. A) Mexico would join Germany in exchange for U.S. territories
10. D) Germany
11. B) The German unrestricted submarine warfare
12. B) To encourage civilians to conserve resources and support the war effort
13. D) Rise of Nazi Germany in 1930s
14. A) The use of tanks
15. B) Led to the sinking of civilian ships and the death of Americans
16. B) Russia
 17. D) Battle of Cambrai
18. A) A peace treaty that officially ended WWI and blamed Germany
19. A) The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine
20. A) It required Germany to take full blame for the war and pay reparations

Section B: Short Answer Questions (20 marks)

Answer all questions. Each question is worth 4 marks.

1. Describe the main elements of the Schlieffen Plan and explain why it failed.
o Main Elements:
 Germany’s plan to avoid a two-front war by first invading France through
Belgium.
 The plan relied on a fast victory in France, then turning to fight Russia.
o Why it Failed:
 Belgium resisted the German invasion, delaying the advance.
 Britain entered the war after Germany violated Belgium’s neutrality.
 Russia mobilized faster than expected, forcing Germany to fight on two
fronts.
 French resistance and logistical problems slowed Germany’s progress.
2. Explain the conditions in the trenches during World War I. What impact did these
conditions have on soldiers?
o Conditions in the Trenches:
 Muddy, waterlogged trenches, with rats and lice.
 Soldiers lived in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, with diseases like
trench foot and dysentery spreading.
 Constant threat of death from artillery fire, gas attacks, and snipers.
o Impact on Soldiers:
 Physical exhaustion, psychological trauma (e.g., shell shock), and a high
death toll.
 The harsh conditions led to widespread illness and poor morale among
soldiers.
3. Discuss the role of propaganda in World War I. How did it influence public opinion
and support for the war?
o Role of Propaganda:
 Governments used propaganda to maintain morale, recruit soldiers, and
raise funds for the war effort.
 Posters, films, and speeches depicted the enemy as evil and encouraged
citizens to make sacrifices for the war.
 Propaganda also promoted national pride and demonized enemy nations.
o Influence on Public Opinion:
 Propaganda created a sense of urgency and patriotism, increasing support
for the war.
  It helped shape public attitudes toward the war, often minimizing the
hardships and dangers faced by soldiers.
4. Explain the impact of the Zimmerman Telegram on U.S. public opinion and its role
in the U.S. entering the war.
o Impact on U.S. Public Opinion:
 The interception of the telegram revealed Germany’s attempt to form an
alliance with Mexico, offering to help them regain U.S. territories (Texas,
Arizona, New Mexico) if they attacked the U.S.
 The revelation outraged the American public and led to a surge of anti-
German sentiment.
o Role in U.S. Entry into the War:
 The U.S. saw the telegram as a direct threat to national security.
 This, combined with other factors (e.g., German unrestricted submarine
warfare), led the U.S. to declare war on Germany in April 1917.

Section C: Essay Questions (20 marks)

Answer one of the following questions. Your answer should be around 250-300 words.

1. What were the main causes of World War I? Discuss how the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand escalated the conflict into a global war.

Main Causes of WWI:

o Militarism: European nations built powerful military forces, leading to an arms

race.
o Alliances: Countries formed alliances that made the war a global conflict.
o Imperialism: Competition for colonies increased tensions between nations.
o Nationalism: National pride and territorial disputes (e.g., France vs. Germany)
intensified conflicts.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand:

o The assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne by a Serbian

nationalist on June 28, 1914, triggered the war.
o Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination and declared war.
o Due to the system of alliances, Russia supported Serbia, and Germany supported
Austria-Hungary.
o This caused a chain reaction: France, Britain, and others became involved,
escalating a regional conflict into a world war.
2. Evaluate the reasons why the United States entered World War I in 1917. How did
these reasons lead to a shift in American foreign policy?

Reasons for U.S. Entry:

 o Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany's policy of sinking neutral ships,
including the Lusitania, which killed Americans, angered the U.S.
o Zimmerman Telegram: Germany’s proposal to Mexico to attack the U.S.
angered American public opinion.
o Economic and Political Ties to Britain and France: The U.S. had strong trade
relations and invested heavily in the Allies.
o The U.S. Could No Longer Stay Neutral: Growing threats from Germany and
the need to protect American interests led to a change in policy.

Shift in Foreign Policy:

o The U.S. moved from neutrality to active participation in international affairs.

o The U.S. adopted a more interventionist stance in global conflicts, marking the
beginning of a more prominent role in world politics.
3. Explain how trench warfare and new weapons changed the nature of combat during
World War I. What were the effects of these changes on soldiers and the war's
outcome?

Trench Warfare:

o Trench warfare was a defensive strategy that caused long stalemates on the
Western Front.
o Soldiers lived in harsh conditions, and battles often resulted in massive casualties
with little territorial gain.

New Weapons:

o Machine Guns: Made it difficult for soldiers to advance, causing heavy losses.
o Artillery: Large-scale bombardments devastated the landscape and enemy
positions.
o Poison Gas: Introduced new forms of warfare that caused permanent damage to
soldiers.
o Tanks and Airplanes: Later in the war, tanks broke through trench lines, and
airplanes added a new dimension to warfare.

Effects on Soldiers and War Outcome:

o Soldiers: Psychological trauma (shell shock), physical injuries, and death were
rampant.
o Outcome of the War: Trench warfare led to stalemates, but new technologies
eventually helped break the deadlock, leading to the end of the war in 1918.