AP European History Flashcards: World War I
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What was a major political consequence for several European powers following World War I?
A significant effect of the war was the overthrow and collapse of several European empires, such as the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian Empires.
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What was a major political consequence for several European powers following World War I?
A significant effect of the war was the overthrow and collapse of several European empires, such as the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian Empires.
Provide a specific example of an insurrection that occurred within a belligerent nation during World War I.
The Easter Rebellion in Ireland is a key example of an insurrection that arose from the domestic pressures created by the war.
Explain how WWI became a globalized conflict.
The war globalized as European empires mobilized colonial troops and resources, and as non-European powers like the United States and Japan entered the conflict.
Define the "alliance system" as a cause of WWI.
The alliance system was a network of mutual defense pacts that obligated nations to join the conflict if their allies were attacked, causing a regional dispute to rapidly escalate into a world war.
Identify the four main factors that turned a regional Balkan dispute into World War I.
The main factors were nationalism, military plans, the alliance system, and imperial competition.
How did WWI alter political and diplomatic interactions among nations?
The war led to the overthrow of empires and the rise of new world powers like the U.S., fundamentally changing the political map and the nature of international diplomacy.
What was the significance of the United States' emergence during the WWI era?
The emergence of the United States as a world power was a key development that shifted the global relationship of Europe to the world and changed international diplomatic interactions.
How did new technologies like the machine gun and poison gas impact the conduct of World War I?
These new technologies confounded traditional military strategies, leading directly to the development of trench warfare and massive troop losses.
What were the domestic consequences of military stalemate and total war within the nations fighting in WWI?
The immense strain of military stalemate, national mobilization, and total war led to widespread protest, insurrection, and eventually revolutions within the belligerent nations.
How did World War I shift the global balance of power away from Europe?
The war's globalization, the overthrow of major European empires, and the emergence of the United States as a world power significantly altered Europe's dominant global position.
What was trench warfare in the context of WWI?
Trench warfare was a form of combat where opposing armies fought from fortified ditches, resulting from a military stalemate caused by the effectiveness of new defensive weapons.