Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

Which document formally ended World War I?

1. The Treaty of Versailles

2. The Treaty of Paris

3. The Declaration of Independence

4. The Magna Carta

The correct answer is: The Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles is the document that formally ended World War I, signed on June 28, 1919. This treaty was crucial in establishing the terms of peace between the Allied Powers and Germany after the extensive conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It laid out various reparations and territorial adjustments, reshaping the political landscape of Europe post-war. The other options, while significant in their own historical contexts, do not pertain to the conclusion of World War I. The Treaty of Paris refers to several treaties, the most famous being the one in 1783 which ended the American Revolutionary War. The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, and the Magna Carta is a foundational text in the development of constitutional governance, signed in 1215, but it is unrelated to the context of World War I. This distinction underscores the unique role the Treaty of Versailles played in shaping the post-war world.