causes of the war. europe at its peak industrial revolution at its peak modernization led to sense...
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Causes of the War
Europe at Its Peak• Industrial Revolution at its peak• Modernization led to sense that
Europeans were at the peak of world civilization
• Europe had 25% of world population—highest percent of any time in history
Imperial Tensions
• European nations competed for colonies
Militarism• Glorification of war and increase in
military spending• Germany competed against
England’s naval superiority
Nationalism
• Great pride in one’s country or aspiring to become one’s own country
• Germany and Italy had only recently become united, independent countries
• Many countries torn by tensions of different nationalist groups
• Combined with militarism and imperial competition, this increased tensions in Europe
The System of Alliances
• Web of treaties to protect themselves• Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-
Hungary and Italy• Triple Entente: France, Russia and
Great Britain
How do I possibly REMEMBER all
of that?
• These are the MAIN causes for World War I
• MAIN–Militarism–Alliances–Imperialism–Nationalism
War Breaks Out
Nationalism in the Balkans
Nationalism in the Balkans• People with diverse religions, ethnic
backgrounds, languages• As Ottoman Empire receded, new
nations were born• Russian and Austria competed for
colonial control of new nations• Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia in
1908 and Serbia resents this
Nationalism in the Balkans
The Assassination of the Archduke
The Assassination of the Archduke
• Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria visited Bosnian capital (Sarajevo) on June 28, 1914
• 7 assassins from the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group, plot against him
• 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip kills the Archduke and his wife (THE SPARK)
The Assassination of the Archduke
Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum• Germany gave “blank check” of
military support to Austria-Hungary• Austria-Hungary’s serves ultimatum
to Serbia• Serbia refuses to let Austria-
Hungary’s officials run an investigation in Serbia
• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia July 28,1914
The Alliance System Leads to War
• Russia supported Serbia and Germany supported Austria-Hungary
• Within one week, almost all of Europe plunged into war:–Germany declares war on Russia and
France–Britain declares war on Germany
Alliances and Fronts of the
War
What has changed about the alliances????
The Alliances• Allied Powers — Britain, France ,
Russia, Belgium• Central Powers — Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire
The Western Front• Germany tried to take France quickly
in the Western Front and then turn to fight Russia (Schlieffen Plan)
• Instead, battle lines formed in northeastern France and changed little (stalemate)
• Miles of trenches built (trench warfare)
The Western Front
Battles Along the Western Front• Long, bloody battles: Verdun—
680,000 casualties • Somme—over 1 million casualties
The Eastern Front• Lack of modern technology caused
Russia enormous defeats• Led to Bolshevik
(Russian)Revolution• Treaty signed with revolutionary
government in Russia—lost one-fourth of territory
The Eastern Front
Brest-Litvosk Treaty
The Balkan Front• The Allies abandoned attempts to land in
Balkans after losing battles to Ottoman Empire (ex. Gallipoli)
The Italian Front• Italians joined the Triple Entente in 1915
and fought Austria-Hungary
The War Ends• 1917 – USA enters war – replaces
Russia in Triple Entente• Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire
were first Central Powers to be defeated
• Revolts inside Austria-Hungary and Germany helped end the war quickly
New Weapons
Used in the War
The Machine Gun• Modern industry replaced the single-
fire, short-range rifle• British machine guns fired 8 round
per second, at a distance of 2,900 yards
Artillery• Greater power and carried shells much
further• 24 million shells used in the Battle of
Verdun alone
Weapons of the Industrial Age• 75 different types of poison-gas used
(1st time – 1915 2nd Battle of Ypres)• Flame throwers• Tanks (first used in 1916) • Airplanes• U-Boats
Casualties of Modern Weaponry• Tactics of sending masses of men
toward enemy didn’t work against modern weapons (No Man’s Land)
• Britain suffered 57,470 casualties on the first day of the Battle of Somme
• Total losses for WWI exceeded 10 million
The Reality of Soldiers’
Lives
Patriotic Fervor• Many Europeans looked forward to
war at the start
Attitudes Change• Soldiers changed Europeans’
optimistic fervor through letters about the horrors of war
The Return Home• No crowds or heroes’ welcome after
the war
Trench Warfare
The Race to the Sea• 475 miles of trenches were dug across
northern France• British troops used over 10 million
shovels during the war
Life in the Trenches• Charging over the top, crossing no
man’s land to reach enemy trenches• Boring, terrifying and caused shell
shock• Horrible living conditions
Effect of the War on the Home Front
Mobilizing for Total War
• Civilians back home made huge sacrifices
• Governments controlled industries, rationing
• Propaganda and Censorship used often
New Jobs for Women• Worked in jobs traditionally held only
by men, who were at the front• Number in paid employment rose by
over one million• Worked in paramilitary organizations
to support soldiers at front
Women’s Wages
• Paid less than men for same work• Industrial and civil work provided
better pay and working hours than traditional jobs
Women’s Changing Role• Women discovered the benefits of
financial autonomy and greater mobility
• Some refused to return to domestic service
• Women won right to vote throughout Europe
The Paris Peace
Conference
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Peace of Justice• Leaders of Allied and Central powers
met at the Palace of Versailles• President Wilson’s 14 Points
supported self-determination for all nations and a just peace
Peace of Vengeance
• Italy and Britain wanted territory• France wanted to punish Germany• Italy and United States left, leaving
peace settlement to France and Britain• Wilson - Pressure by United States for
Policy of Isolationism
Treaty of Versailles with Germany• France and Britain created a severe
treaty that punished Germany• Germany had to:
–Return Alsace-Lorraine region to France–Keep area near France, called Rhineland,
demilitarized–Pay war reparations of 32 billion dollars–Agree to war guilt clause
The New Europe• Treaties similar to Germany’s signed
with other Central Powers• Many countries experienced a change
in their borders• Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, Germany
and Russia lost territory• Many new countries were created
The New Europe