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UNIT 3
​WORLD WAR I GLOSSARY OF TERMS


INTRODUCTION LESSON 


allies:  nations that have agreed to work together for a common goal or to defend each other in the event of war

ambassador:  a person who is selected to represent his or her own government while living in another country

amendment:  a change or addition to a law, rule, contract, or government document

arms race:  a situation in which countries that are enemies each try to build or collect weapons faster than the other can

border raid:  a surprise attack on an enemy by soldiers or other military forces

classified information:  information about a nation that must be kept top secret to keep the nation safe

contingencies:  all of the possible outcomes of an action or event

diplomatic mission:  diplomatic mission:  when one nation sends one representative or a small group of representatives to another nation to talk about issues, work out negotiations, or make alliances

domestic unrest:  a situation in which many of the people in a country are angry and hold protests or act violently (also called civic unrest)

empathy:  the ability to understand another person’s views and feelings and how their views and feelings influenced their actions

empire:  a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government

exploited:  to use someone or something in a way that helps you unfairly

foreign policy:  the way a government of a nation plans to deal with other governments of other nations

intel:  information that is valuable to a nation’s military or government

per capita:  divided equally to each individual

self-interest:  concern only for getting what you want or need and not about what happens to other people

surveillance:  the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime
​

yellow journalism:  when newspapers exaggerated the truth or embellished stories to make them seem a bigger deal than they actually were

LESSON 1 - CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I


alliances:  agreements between nations to work together for a common goal or to defend each other in the event of war

alliance system:  when several nations form alliances with several other nations

annexed:    to add an area or region to a country, state, or city

​Archduke Franz Ferdinand:  the heir to Austria-Hungary's throne whose assassination sparked World War I 

arms race: a situation in which countries that are enemies each try to build or collect weapons faster than the other can

artillery:  large guns that are used to shoot over a great distance or weapons that discharge missiles

assassination:  Killing a famous or important person usually for political reasons

Black Hand:  the Serbian terrorist group that planned and carried out the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Boer War of 1899: a war between the British and the Dutch over Transvaal and the Free Orange State in Southern Africa

Bosnian Crisis:  an international conflict that occurred when Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina

calibre:  the width of a bullet or a gun barrel

capitalize:  taking advantage of a situation, a person, or a thing to gain something for yourself 

colony:  an area under the control of a mother country, whose purpose is to provide resources to help the mother country

conflict:  disagreements or differences between nations that cause tension, aggression, or war

crises: difficult or dangerous situations in which a decision must be made quickly and the result of the decision has heavy consequences

democracy:  the belief in freedom and equality between people; a form of government in which the people rule, either directly or through elected representatives

dominance:  being more important, powerful, or successful than most others

domino effect: when one event sets into motion a chain of similar events where each event is triggered by the previous event

Dreadnought:  the largest and most powerful battleship during World War I that was invented by the British

economy:  the way in which a nation uses its resources and how it makes and spends its money 

empire:  a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government

Fashoda Incident:  a dispute over territory between France and Great Britain over an area of the Sudan south of Egypt

Fleet Acts:  laws passed in Germany that raised taxes in order to increase their navy and warships

front:  a region in which active warfare is taking place 

Gavrilo Princip:  the member of the Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand, who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand

heir:  the person who will become the king or queen of a place when the current king or queen dies

imperialism:  when a nation takes over another nation to rule them and take their natural resources

immune:  not capable of being affected by a virus or disease

inevitable:  something that is sure to happen

innovate:  to have a new idea or way of doing something, or to improve something already invented

Kaiser Wilhelm II:  the ruler of Germany and the head of the German military before and during World War I

militarism:  building up and maintaining a strong, well equipped military in order to defend, gain power, or achieve goals

mobilize: bringing together military forces to prepare for war

Moroccan Crisis:  a conflict between Germany and France over control of Morocco 

nationalism:  feeling loyal and proud of your nation and believing your nation is better and more important than other nations

nationalist groups: a group of people who want to form a separate and independent nation of their own

neutral: a nation that does not participate in a war

Otto Von Bismarck:  the German ruler who invented the alliance system

prestigious:  being respected or admired by others for being successful or important

propaganda: an idea or statement that is either false or exaggerated and is spread in order to help a political cause, a political leader, or a government

​Schlieffen Plan:  Germany's plan for fighting a two front war with Russia and France where Germany would invade France through Belgium in a surprise attack; beat them quickly; and move to the Russian front before the Russians could mobilize their army.

self-interest: concern only for getting what you want or need and not about what happens to other people

self-preservation: a natural tendency to protect yourself from harm or death.

sphere of influence: a country or area in which an imperialist country has power to affect what happens there though it has no formal authority

strategic locations:  areas that are good for carrying out a strategy or plan 

tensions:  a state in which people, groups, countries, etc., disagree with and feel anger toward each other

territory:  country that rules itself but has important matters decided by a more powerful nation

The Great War:  the name given to World War I before anyone knew there would be a World War II

thrive:  to do well, grow, or succeed

trade routes:  the path that merchants follow, either by land or sea, to buy and sell goods

treaty:  an agreement between two or more nations

two front war:  a region in which active warfare is taking place in two places at one time

U boats:  German submarines 

yellow journalism:  when newspapers exaggerated or embellished the truth about a story to make it seem a bigger deal than what it actually was.  

LESSON 2 - FIGHTING WORLD WAR I


advance:  to move forward

​aerial warfare:  using aircraft to fight a war

Alfred von Schlieffen:  the Chief of the German Army who came up with the Schlieffen plan
​
alliance:  an agreement between nations to work together for a common goal or to defend each other in the event of war

alliance system:  when several nations form alliances with several other nations

Allied Powers:  one side in World War I that included the nations of Great Britain, France, Russia, Serbia and eventually Italy, and the United States 

artillery:  large guns that are used to shoot over a great distance or weapons that discharge missiles
​
Battle of Arras:   an aerial battle also called Bloody April in April 1917, during World War I, where the German Air Force took down large numbers of the British Air Force under their flying ace known as the Red Baron, but were unable to stop the British from accomplishing their mission of providing the British army with reconnaissance information 

​Battle of Caporetto:  a battle on the Italian Front that began in October 1917, during World War I, between Italy and Austria-Hungary where Austria-Hungary with assistance from Germany pushed through the Italian line but were stopped when France and British troops arrived to help Italy; one of the only battles where gains were made by either side

Battle of Lake Naroch:  a battle on the Eastern Front that began in March 1916, during World War I, where Russia attempted to divert the German Army away from the French at the Battle of Verdun by invading Germany but were defeated by the Germans without them having to bring in any troops from Verdun

Battle of Somme:  a battle on the Western Front that began in July 1916, during World War I, between Germany and Great Britain where Great Britain attempted to divert German troops from the Battle of Verdun by attacking the German line but were unable to make any gains; the battle that taught both sides that new weapons and tactics were needed in order to win the war

Battle of Tannenberg:  a battle on the Eastern Front that began in August 1914, during World War I, between Germany and Russia where Germany won; the only battle where Russia would make it into Germany

Battle of the Marne:  a battle on the Western Front that began in September 1914, during World War I, between Germany and France where Germany invaded France through Belgium but France was able to push the Germans back by sending French troops to the frontline in taxi cabs

Battle of Verdun:   a battle on the Western Front that began in February 1916, during World War I, between Germany and France where weather delays allowed the French to send for reinforcements against the Germans to save a special fort and launch a counter-offensive against the Germans that drove the Germans back

Battle of Ypres:  a battle on the Western Front that began in October 1914, during World War I, after Germany and France competed in a Race to the Sea by trying to outflank each other; it was the beginning of trench warfare and ended in a stalemate

casualties:  those in the military who are lost through death, wounds, injury, sickness, internment, capture or that are missing in action
​
Central Powers:  one side in World War I that included the nations of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria

charging:  violently rushing forward to attack an enemy
​
counter-offensive:  an attack made in order to defend against an enemy or opponent
​
​crises: difficult or dangerous situations in which a decision must be made quickly and the result of the decision has heavy consequences

court martial:  a court for trying members of the armed services who are accused of offenses against military law

Dardanelles Campaign:  a battle of the seas during World War I when Great Britain sent ships to the Dardanelles Straits in the Ottoman Empire to gain a way to get supplies to Russia and hoping to break the war's stalemate but after a year of heavy fighting and casualties, were forced to evacuate

dogfight:  combat or fighting with military airplanes
​
Eastern Front: the fighting zone in Eastern Europe during World War I that occurred in Eastern Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia

fort:  a strong building or group of buildings where soldiers live

frontline:  the military line or part of an army that is closest to the enemy
​
fronts:   battle zones or areas where armies faced each other and fought

Italian Front: the fighting zone in Southern Europe during World War I that occurred at the Northern border of Italy and Southern Border of Austria-Hungary

Manfred von Richthofen:  an ace German fighter pilot during World War I, also called the Red Baron, because of his red plane

mobilize: bringing together military forces to prepare for war

naval warfare:  battles fought at sea in a war

neutral: a nation that does not participate in a war

No Man's Land:  the area between the two enemy trench lines

mutiny:  when soldiers refuse to obey orders and try to take control away from the person who commands them

offensive:  attacking an enemy
​
profound:  something that has a deeply important impact

reconnaissance:  exploring or investigating enemy territory to gain military information
​
reinforcements:  people and supplies that are sent to help or support an army or military force in a conflict, battle, or war

resistance:  an effort made to stop or to fight against someone or something
​
​Schlieffen Plan:  Germany's plan for fighting a two front war with Russia and France where Germany would invade France through Belgium in a surprise attack; beat them quickly; and move to the Russian front before the Russians could mobilize their army

stalemate:  a deadlock situation where neither side is able to gain ground or win a battle
​
strategies:  plans for winning a battle or war

theaters:  the key areas or regions where major battles are fought in a war 

The Christmas Truce:  when German and British soldiers stopped fighting on December 24, 1914, and crossed trenches to talk and celebrate together
 
The Great War:  the name given to World War I before anyone knew there would be a World War II

trench warfare:  a type of fighting in which two enemy armies dig long, deep ditches called trenches facing each other and fight from these trenches
​
two front war:  a region in which active warfare is taking place in two places at one time
​​
Western Front: the fighting zone in Western Europe during World War I that occurred in France, Belgium, and Western Germany

yellow journalism:  when newspapers exaggerated or embellished the truth about a story to make it seem a bigger deal than what it actually was

LESSON 3 - AMERICA ENTERS WORLD WAR I


acquitted: to decide that someone is not guilty of a crime

ammunition:  the objects such as bullets, shells, and grenades that are shot from weapons or used as explosives

antagonize:  to irritate or upset someone or to cause someone to feel hostile or angry
avengers:  people who set out to harm or punish someone who has done them harm or has done harm to someone or something they care about

Big Sister Policy:  a foreign policy proposed by Secretary of State, James Blaine under the Garfield and Harrison administrations whereby the nations of Latin American would unify under American leadership

Big Stick Diplomacy:  President Theodore Roosevelt's addition to the Monroe Doctrine that said the United States would do whatever necessary to protect not only North America, but also Central and South America from European rule

Black Tom Bombing/Explosion:  an act of German sabotage where a stockpile of munitions that America had planned to send to the Allies was destroyed 

blockade:  to stop people or supplies from entering or leaving a country during a war
Boxer Rebellion:  when a group called the Boxers rose up and tried to drive all foreigners from China in 1900

cannon fodder:  soldiers who are sent into battle even though it is likely that they will die

Charles Evans Hughes:  a supreme court justice who ran as the Republican Party candidate for the presidency in the election of 1916 

Committee on Public Information:  a group that organized the propaganda campaign to gain support for entering World War I and to invest money and time to the war effort

conserve: to save something or to keep something from being wasted
Darwinism:  an idea that the strongest survive

democracy:  the belief in freedom and equality between people; a form of government in which the people rule, either directly or through elected representatives

Democratic Party: U.S. political party that favors big government and high taxes in order to provide the most services to the most people

deployed:  to move troops into position for military action or to send troops into war

Dollar Diplomacy:  President William Howard Taft's foreign policy to use the United States' economic power to gain influence in Latin America and the Caribbean and to keep European influence out of the region

domestic issues: all the matters, concerns, and needs within your nation

draft:  a system in which young people are required to join the armed forces of a country for a period of service

economy:  the way in which a nation uses its resources and how it makes and spends its money 

Electoral College:  a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

enlist: to join or enroll in the military

espionage:  the things that are done to find out secrets from enemies or competitors or the activity of spying

Espionage and Sedition Acts:  laws passed that made it illegal to do or say anything bad about America's involvement in World War I

Eugene V. Debs:  a labor union leader who founded several unions and a member of the Socialist Party, who ran for president five times as the socialist candidate that was arrested for violating the Espionage and Sedition Acts and stripped of his citizenship
evasive:  to avoid someone or something
Farm and Garden Initiative: a movement to get citizens to grow food in order to increase food production for the American and European soldiers fighting in World War I

food conservation drive:  using propaganda to reduce the amount and types of food people ate at home so that more food could be saved and sent the the troops overseas

foreign policy:   the way a government of a nation plans to deal with other governments of other nations 

four minute men:  public speakers who worked for the Committee on Public Information that spoke to different groups of people all over the nation about how to help in the war effort

George Creel:  the director of the Committee on Public Information during World War I

Great Phenol Plot:  when Heinrich Albert, a German spy, was caught by the American Secret Service for attempting to sabotage America's supply of Phenol which could be used to make explosives

Great Rapprochement:  the friendship that developed between the United States and Great Britain after the British backed down in the border dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela

Herbert Hoover:  head of the U.S. Food Administration during World War I

Hooverizing:  the term used to describe the campaign to conserve food during World War I
hysteria:  a state in which your fear or anger are so strong that you behave in an uncontrolled way

imperialism:  when a nation takes over another nation to rule them and take their natural resources
intercepted:  stopping someone or something from getting to a desired place 

isolationism: a policy of remaining neutral in other nations' conflicts and wars
isolationist:  a person who believes in remaining neutral in other nations' conflicts and wars

liberty loan drives:  fundraisers during World War I in which the government sold special issue war bonds to raise money for the war effort

manifest destiny:  the attitude that America should expand from the Atlantic coast in the East to the Pacific Coast in the West

markets:  places where goods are bought and sold

merchant ships:  ships with crews that are hired by people or businesses to transport people or goods or to carry cargo 

Mexican Revolution:  when farmers in Mexico rose up and banned together in 1910 and overthrew the dictator to establish a new constitutional government

missionaries: people who are sent to a foreign country to spread Christianity and to do religious work

mobilize:  bringing together military forces to prepare for war

Monroe Doctrine:  President John Monroe's foreign policy for the nations of Europe stating that any attempt to make colonies of North America would be considered a hostile act and would be stopped by the United States

moral diplomacy:  President Woodrow Wilson's policy is to make the United States the conscience of the world by using US influence to condemn imperialism and help nations who wanted to gain democracy

Open Door Policy:  the policy proposed by Secretary of State John Hay under the President William McKinley that proposed China not be controlled by one imperialist nation but shared by all including the United States

Panama Canal: a water route that cut through the Isthmus of Panama, built under Theodore Roosevelt's administration, so sailors would no longer have to sail around the tip of South America to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

Pan-American Conference:  when Latin American delegates met with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. to discuss how the United States, Central, and South America could all work together to help each other
passenger ships:  merchant ships that transport people from one place to another

profane:  to use foul language, curse, or call something or someone bad names

progressive:  favoring change, reform and protecting civil rights

Progressive Party:  a U.S. political Party started by Theodore Roosevelt that favored change, reform, and civil rights while favoring a large, well funded military in order to protect citizens  

propaganda: an idea or statement that is either false or exaggerated and is spread in order to help a political cause, a political leader, or a government

propaganda campaign:  using propaganda to achieve a goal

pro-war:  in favor of going to war

Q-ships:  British vessels designed to look like merchant vessels but were heavily armed and staffed by the navy

rationing:  allowing a person or group of people to only have a set amount of something each day for a certain length of time 

recruit: finding or convincing people to join the military

Red Cross:  an organization set up in 1864 to care for those who were wounded, sick, or homeless in wartime

Republican Party:  U.S. political party that favors small government and low taxes in order to interfere as little as possible in the lives of individual citizens 

Robert Prager:  was a German immigrant, who was lynched by a mob because of anti-German sentiment during World War I and because he was accused of being a socialist

sedition: the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people to disobey their government

Selective Service Act:  a law that required all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for the military reserves national lottery during World War I

self-interest: concern only for getting what you want or need and not about what happens to other people
sentiment:  an attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by feeling

Socialist:  a person who believes that all property and business should be owned in common by everyone in a country under government control 

surplus: the amount over or more than the amount that is needed

suspicion:  having the belief or impression that someone is involved in an illegal or dishonest activity

tariffs:  taxes on imports and exports

The Lusitania:  a British luxury passenger ship carrying American passengers and secretly carrying ammunition to Great Britain that was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915

Theodore Roosevelt:  president of the United States from 1901 to 1909 who practiced Big Stick Diplomacy; established the Progressive Party in 1912; and supported U.S. involvement in World War I

U-boats:  German submarines

unrestricted submarine warfare:  a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink any vessels that enter a war zone without warning

U.S. Food Administration:  a government agency under the direction of Herbert Hoover that worked to get food to U.S. and Allied troops fighting in World War I

verdict:  the decision made by the jury in a trial

war bonds: loans to the federal government that the government will repay you in the future with a small amount of interest

Western Hemisphere:  the half of the earth containing North and South America and surrounding waters

William Howard Taft:  Republican President from 1909 - 1913 who became president after Theodore Roosevelt and then was challenged by Roosevelt for the presidency in the 1912 election

Woodrow Wilson:  the democratic President of the United States that served two terms from 1913 - 1921 who believed in U.S. isolationism but ended up involving the U.S. in World War I to make the world safe for Democracy

yellow journalism:  when newspapers exaggerated or embellished the truth about a story to make it seem a bigger deal than what it actually was

Zimmerman Telegram:  a secret telegram sent by Germany to Mexico in January 1917 asking Mexico to join the Central Powers if the United States declared war on Germany in return for Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if the Central Powers won the war




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