Students explore the First World War. What caused it and the result of the war itself?

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World War I began in late July of 1914. It resulted in over fifteen million deaths. Though it was triggered by the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, it had been brewing for years. Differences in opinion over major foreign policies were the actual causes for the war between the Allied (Britain, Belgium, Greece, Italy, France, Japan, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and United States) and the Central (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and Turkey) Powers.

These reading worksheets dive deep in the events leading up to and the aftermath of World War I. We look at what specifically caused the war. We take a deep look at the Allied and Central Powers. We look at the key events of the war and the role of the United States in the conflict.

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Causes of World War I Reading Passage

Though causes of war are complex, historians agree that one particular event set the machine of World War I into motion: the assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand.

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Causes of World War I - Multiple Choice Questions

At the same time, many of these countries were seeking to expand their influence and power by taking over other countries.

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An Overview of the War

Most of the fighting happened in Europe in two general areas. On the eastern front, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria faced off against Russia and Romania. On the western front, from the coast of Belgium to Switzerland, France fought Belgium.

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An Overview of the War - Short Answer Questions

Who was the first country to declare war, and who did they declare war on?

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Allied Powers

The military conflict known as World War I took place between 1914 and 1918 and involved all the great powers of Europe, as well as the United States.

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QUESTIONS: Allied Powers

For the first years of the war, the United States did not take a side.

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Central Powers

The military conflict known as World War I took place between 1914 and 1918 and involved all the great powers of Europe, as well as the United States.

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QUESTIONS: Central Powers

Germany was at the helm of the Central Powers, and it had the largest army.

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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

When Archduke Ferdinand traveled to Sarajevo, some of the Bosnian nationalists felt that this was their opportunity to make a move for freedom.

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QUESTIONS: Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

The government of Austria-Hungary saw the attack as a declaration of war.

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In the Trenches Reading Passage

Trench warfare is a style of fighting. In trench warfare, both sides fight from deep trenches which can be many miles long.

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QUESTIONS: In the Trenches

What other ways were there to dig trenches, and which was the safest?

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The Sinking of the Lusitania

The Lusitania was a British luxury cruise ship. In 1907, at 787 feel long, it was the largest ship in the world, and could carry over three thousand people.

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QUESTIONS: The Sinking of the Lusitania

At the beginning of World War I, in 1914, the Germans were trying to gain control of the shipping lanes around Britain which were bringing fresh supplies for the war effort.

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The Role of Aviation in World War I Reading Worksheet

Airplanes in World War I were initially used for reconnaissance, or information-gathering.

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The Role of Aviation in World War I - Short Answer Questions

Why did both sides start marking the underside of the wings of the planes?

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The U.S. Role in World War I

American public opinion was varied, as many immigrants had family ties on both sides.

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The U.S. Role in World War I- Multiple Choice Questions

After entering the war, President Wilson, who was the only leader of the time to publicly declare his war aims, issued his Fourteen Points.

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The End of the War

On November 9th, 1918, Wilhelm abandoned his throne and fled to the Netherlands.

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The End of the War - Short Answer

Though it was the Treaty of Versailles that officially ended the war on June 28, 1919, November 11, 1918 has gone down in history as the end of "the war to end all wars."

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