World War I and the peace treaties that redrew the map

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cause and effect chain “How the war ended, 1914 to 1918”. Long-term cause 1: Stalemate: the war becomes costly battles and trench warfare on the western front, where trenches run up to 475 miles. Long-term cause 2: The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and Germany's attempt to ally with Mexico. Long-term cause 3: Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, two Central Powers, surrender in September and October 1918. Arrows from every long-term cause lead to the trigger. Trigger: end of September 1918: Germany's military leaders advise the Kaiser to seek an armistice. Arrows from the trigger lead to the effects. Effect 1: November 9, 1918: the Kaiser's abdication is announced. Effect 2: November 11, 1918: an armistice takes effect, and fighting on the western front stops. Effect 3: Losses: more than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives and about 21 million were wounded; scholars estimate that as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives, but no careful count was kept, so sources differ. Below the chain: An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

2. 1.

   Ari reads the chain. Which event is the trigger of the armistice, and why is it not one of the long-term causes?

   • Germany's leaders advising an armistice in late September 1918, one dated decision
   • The stalemate on the western front: it shaped the war for years, so it is the event that set things off
   • The US entry in April 1917: it is the first dated event in the chain, so it started the end of the war
   • The Kaiser's abdication on November 9: it came last in the chain, so it must have set off the armistice
3. 2.

   The chain calls the US entry of April 1917 a long-term cause of the end of the war. Bo asks how far that claim goes.

   • It changed nothing until 1918, since the American army had not yet fought when war was declared
   • It was the main cause, since the chain places it second and the other causes are listed around it
   • It cannot be a cause, since a cause must come right before its effect and the gap here was months
   • It built pressure over months; the chain does not say how much it weighed
4. 3.

   In the chain, arrows run from every long-term cause to the trigger. Esme asks what that layout claims, and what it cannot show.

   • That each pressure weighed the same, since the arrows are drawn alike from each cause to the trigger
   • That the three pressures led to the leaders' advice, not how much each weighed
   • That the stalemate alone led to the advice, since it is the first cause the chain lists
   • That the surrenders led to the stalemate, since the last cause is placed closest to the trigger

5. Use this

   Cause and effect chain “How the war ended, 1914 to 1918”. Long-term cause 1: Stalemate: the war becomes costly battles and trench warfare on the western front, where trenches run up to 475 miles. Long-term cause 2: The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and Germany's attempt to ally with Mexico. Long-term cause 3: Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, two Central Powers, surrender in September and October 1918. Arrows from every long-term cause lead to the trigger. Trigger: end of September 1918: Germany's military leaders advise the Kaiser to seek an armistice. Arrows from the trigger lead to the effects. Effect 1: November 9, 1918: the Kaiser's abdication is announced. Effect 2: November 11, 1918: an armistice takes effect, and fighting on the western front stops. Effect 3: Losses: more than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives and about 21 million were wounded; scholars estimate that as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives, but no careful count was kept, so sources differ. Below the chain: An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Card B (today): “World War I: losses”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to describe the war's cost. Summary in our words, not a quotation: More than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives. About 21 million were wounded, an estimate. No careful count of civilian losses was kept, but scholars say as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives. Accurate figures are hard to find. Context (what else was happening): Records from many countries were incomplete after the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It gives estimates, not counts, and does not say how each was made.

6. 4.

   Card B says about 21 million were wounded, “an estimate.” What does the word tell Kira about the numbers?

   • The numbers are approximate; accurate figures are hard to find, so they show scale
   • The numbers are worthless, since estimates made long after the war cannot show anything about its cost
   • The numbers are too low, since a museum would leave out the losses of the smaller countries in the war
   • The numbers are exact counts, since the card prints them as round figures with the word “more than”
7. 5.

   Card B says as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives and more than 8.5 million soldiers. What can Luz say about the two?

   • Civilian losses were larger, since 13 million is more than 8.5 million and both are counts from the war
   • Soldiers' losses were larger, since soldiers' deaths were recorded and civilians' were not counted
   • Civilian losses may have been larger, but “as many as” leaves that uncertain
   • The two cannot be compared, since one number counts civilians and the other counts people in uniform

8. Use this

   Cause and effect chain “How the war ended, 1914 to 1918”. Long-term cause 1: Stalemate: the war becomes costly battles and trench warfare on the western front, where trenches run up to 475 miles. Long-term cause 2: The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and Germany's attempt to ally with Mexico. Long-term cause 3: Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, two Central Powers, surrender in September and October 1918. Arrows from every long-term cause lead to the trigger. Trigger: end of September 1918: Germany's military leaders advise the Kaiser to seek an armistice. Arrows from the trigger lead to the effects. Effect 1: November 9, 1918: the Kaiser's abdication is announced. Effect 2: November 11, 1918: an armistice takes effect, and fighting on the western front stops. Effect 3: Losses: more than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives and about 21 million were wounded; scholars estimate that as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives, but no careful count was kept, so sources differ. Below the chain: An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Card A (today): “World War I”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to explain World War I. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 sparked the war. On the western front the armies fell into a stalemate of trench warfare. The United States declared war on April 6, 1917. Russia's revolutions of 1917 led to a separate peace at Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire surrendered in September and October 1918. At the end of September, Germany's military leaders advised seeking an armistice. The Kaiser's abdication was announced on November 9, and fighting on the western front stopped on November 11, 1918. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the war's outcome known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It is an encyclopedia entry; it does not give the reasons of Germany's leaders. Card B (today): “World War I: losses”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to describe the war's cost. Summary in our words, not a quotation: More than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives. About 21 million were wounded, an estimate. No careful count of civilian losses was kept, but scholars say as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives. Accurate figures are hard to find. Context (what else was happening): Records from many countries were incomplete after the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It gives estimates, not counts, and does not say how each was made.

9. 6.

   Milo uses cards A and B together. Which statement do both cards support?

   • The US entry caused the losses to stop, since card A dates it in 1917 and card B lists the losses
   • The war cost 8.5 million soldiers' lives and 13 million civilians' lives, since card B gives both figures
   • The surrenders ended the war by themselves, since Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire left before the armistice
   • Fighting stopped on November 11, 1918, after losses given as estimates

10. Use this

    Cause and effect chain “How the war ended, 1914 to 1918”. Long-term cause 1: Stalemate: the war becomes costly battles and trench warfare on the western front, where trenches run up to 475 miles. Long-term cause 2: The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and Germany's attempt to ally with Mexico. Long-term cause 3: Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, two Central Powers, surrender in September and October 1918. Arrows from every long-term cause lead to the trigger. Trigger: end of September 1918: Germany's military leaders advise the Kaiser to seek an armistice. Arrows from the trigger lead to the effects. Effect 1: November 9, 1918: the Kaiser's abdication is announced. Effect 2: November 11, 1918: an armistice takes effect, and fighting on the western front stops. Effect 3: Losses: more than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives and about 21 million were wounded; scholars estimate that as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives, but no careful count was kept, so sources differ. Below the chain: An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Card A (today): “World War I”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to explain World War I. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 sparked the war. On the western front the armies fell into a stalemate of trench warfare. The United States declared war on April 6, 1917. Russia's revolutions of 1917 led to a separate peace at Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire surrendered in September and October 1918. At the end of September, Germany's military leaders advised seeking an armistice. The Kaiser's abdication was announced on November 9, and fighting on the western front stopped on November 11, 1918. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the war's outcome known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It is an encyclopedia entry; it does not give the reasons of Germany's leaders.

11. 7.

    Card A dates Bulgaria's surrender to September 1918 and the military advice to the end of September. Noah asks if the surrender caused the advice.

    • No: two events in the same month cannot be linked, since a link needs years between them
    • No: card A shows the advice came from the US entry alone, since it names no other cause
    • It dates both in September but does not link them
    • Yes: Bulgaria's surrender came first, so it forced Germany's leaders to give the advice

12. Use this

    Cause and effect chain “How the war ended, 1914 to 1918”. Long-term cause 1: Stalemate: the war becomes costly battles and trench warfare on the western front, where trenches run up to 475 miles. Long-term cause 2: The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and Germany's attempt to ally with Mexico. Long-term cause 3: Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, two Central Powers, surrender in September and October 1918. Arrows from every long-term cause lead to the trigger. Trigger: end of September 1918: Germany's military leaders advise the Kaiser to seek an armistice. Arrows from the trigger lead to the effects. Effect 1: November 9, 1918: the Kaiser's abdication is announced. Effect 2: November 11, 1918: an armistice takes effect, and fighting on the western front stops. Effect 3: Losses: more than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives and about 21 million were wounded; scholars estimate that as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives, but no careful count was kept, so sources differ. Below the chain: An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Card A (today): “World War I”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to explain World War I. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 sparked the war. On the western front the armies fell into a stalemate of trench warfare. The United States declared war on April 6, 1917. Russia's revolutions of 1917 led to a separate peace at Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire surrendered in September and October 1918. At the end of September, Germany's military leaders advised seeking an armistice. The Kaiser's abdication was announced on November 9, and fighting on the western front stopped on November 11, 1918. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the war's outcome known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It is an encyclopedia entry; it does not give the reasons of Germany's leaders. Card B (today): “World War I: losses”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to describe the war's cost. Summary in our words, not a quotation: More than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives. About 21 million were wounded, an estimate. No careful count of civilian losses was kept, but scholars say as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives. Accurate figures are hard to find. Context (what else was happening): Records from many countries were incomplete after the war. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It gives estimates, not counts, and does not say how each was made.

13. 8.

    Cards A and B agree the war ended in November 1918. Pia asks what they leave open about why it ended.

    • Nothing, since card A names the military advice and the abdication as the reasons the war ended
    • Whether Russia's peace ended the war, since card A names the Russian revolutions as its main cause
    • Whether the stalemate, US entry or surrenders weighed most
    • Whether losses ended the war, since card B shows the war stopped once losses reached 8.5 million

14. Use this

    Cause and effect chain “How the war ended, 1914 to 1918”. Long-term cause 1: Stalemate: the war becomes costly battles and trench warfare on the western front, where trenches run up to 475 miles. Long-term cause 2: The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and Germany's attempt to ally with Mexico. Long-term cause 3: Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, two Central Powers, surrender in September and October 1918. Arrows from every long-term cause lead to the trigger. Trigger: end of September 1918: Germany's military leaders advise the Kaiser to seek an armistice. Arrows from the trigger lead to the effects. Effect 1: November 9, 1918: the Kaiser's abdication is announced. Effect 2: November 11, 1918: an armistice takes effect, and fighting on the western front stops. Effect 3: Losses: more than 8.5 million soldiers lost their lives and about 21 million were wounded; scholars estimate that as many as 13 million civilians lost their lives, but no careful count was kept, so sources differ. Below the chain: An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Card A (today): “World War I”. Who made it: historians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. For whom: readers of an online encyclopedia. Why: to explain World War I. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 sparked the war. On the western front the armies fell into a stalemate of trench warfare. The United States declared war on April 6, 1917. Russia's revolutions of 1917 led to a separate peace at Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire surrendered in September and October 1918. At the end of September, Germany's military leaders advised seeking an armistice. The Kaiser's abdication was announced on November 9, and fighting on the western front stopped on November 11, 1918. Context (what else was happening): Written today, with the war's outcome known. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It is an encyclopedia entry; it does not give the reasons of Germany's leaders.

15. 9.

    Ren asks what card A supports about the US entry. Which statement is best?

    • The United States entered to end the stalemate, since card A describes the war as a stalemate
    • The United States declared war on April 6, 1917; the cards do not say that ended the war
    • The United States entered because Russia left the war, since card A lists both events in 1917
    • US entry ended the war, since the armistice came 19 months after the declaration of war
16. 10.

    Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire surrendered in September and October 1918. What does that support, Tala?

    • Two Central Powers had quit before the armistice, which fits pressure on Germany
    • Germany had already lost the war in September, since its allies had begun to surrender
    • The surrenders alone decided the war, since two allies of Germany had left it before November
    • The surrenders mattered little, since the war went on until Germany's own surrender in November