World War I Key Terms

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Nationalism

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A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

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Militarism

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An increase in the importance of the military of a country

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Alliance systems

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Countries agree to support and protect each other - military or economically

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Imperialism

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A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

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Trench Warfare

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A form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield.

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No Man's Land

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Territory between rival Trenches, very dangerous

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Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

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A policy that the Germans announced on January 1917 which stated that their submarines would sink any ship in the British waters

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Lusitania

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A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat. The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans

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Selective Service Act

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Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft

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Zimmerman Note

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A telegram from Germany to Mexico offering a return of territory in exchange for declaring war on the United States