First Battle of the Atlantic

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/first-battle-of-the-atlantic

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the period of major conflict?February 1917 - November 1918
2. What is the geographic scope?Primarily the North Atlantic, but also extended to other Allied sea lanes
3. Why did Germany use submarines in World War I?Germany had a weaker surface navy, so they used U‑boats to block Britain’s supplies and try to force Britain to surrender before the United States could help.
4. How did the Allies stop the German U-boat attacks?The Allies built groups of merchant ships called convoys, gave them warship escorts, and used new tools like depth charges, hydrophones, and planes to hunt submarines.

Blockade: The act of preventing goods or people from entering or leaving a place, especially by sea.
Depth Charges: Explosive devices dropped into the water to destroy submarines.
Hydrophones: Underwater microphones used to detect the sound of submarines.
Maritime Lifelines: Sea routes essential for transporting supplies, troops, and trade.