Tension

A feeling of stress, disagreement, or conflict between people or countries that could lead to violence or war.

Neutral

Not taking sides in a conflict or war.

Atrocities

Extremely cruel or violent acts, especially against civilians or innocent people.

Hostility

Angry or aggressive behavior toward another group or country.

Stalemate

A situation where neither side in a conflict can win or make progress.

Reconciliation

The process of restoring friendly relationships after conflict or disagreement.

Opposition

Resistance or disagreement against an idea, group, or action.

WWI (World War I)

A global war fought from 1914 to 1918 between the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia, and later the U.S.) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria).

Militarism

The belief that a country should build a strong military and be prepared to use it aggressively.

Alliance

An agreement between countries to support and defend each other.

Nationalism

Strong pride and loyalty toward one’s nation, often leading to competition or conflict with other nations.

Imperialism

When a country expands its power by taking control of other lands and peoples.

Assassination

The murder of an important political leader.

Ottoman Empire: 'Sick Man of Europe'

A nickname given to the Ottoman Empire because it was weakening and losing power during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Balkan 'Powder Keg'

A term describing the Balkans region because it had many ethnic conflicts and political tensions that could easily explode into war.

Total War

A type of warfare where a country uses all its resources (economy, industry, and civilians) to support the war effort.

Armenian Massacre

The killing of approximately 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during WWI; often called the Armenian Genocide.

Propaganda

Information or media used to influence people’s opinions, often encouraging support for war or a political cause.

Reparations

Payments made by a defeated country to compensate for damages caused during war.

Trench Warfare

A type of fighting where soldiers battle from deep ditches called trenches, leading to slow movement and heavy casualties.

Wilson’s 14 Point Plan

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s proposal for peace after WWI, promoting fairness, self-determination, and the creation of the League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that officially ended WWI in 1919 and placed heavy blame, military limits, and reparations on Germany.

League of Nations

An international organization created after WWI to promote peace and prevent future wars (the U.S. never joined).

Self-determination

The idea that people with shared culture and identity should have the right to form their own nation.

Mandate System

A system where territories taken from defeated empires were controlled by Allied countries until they were ready to govern themselves.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria

The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose assassination in 1914 helped spark World War I.

Woodrow Wilson

The U.S. president during WWI who proposed the 14 Points and supported the creation of the League of Nations.