Ch.16 Sec. 1 The Road to WWI Road to War Nation state- an independent state inhabited by

all the people of one nation and one nation only. 1.Nationalism- unique culture identity of a

people. Liberals believed that if states were organized

along national lines there would be peace. However this actually led to competition due to

trade wars and colonies.

Road to WWI Power Struggles Germany upset the balance of power set up at

the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The Triple Alliance of 1882- united Germany,

Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Triple Entente 1907- united Great Britain,

France, and Russia. 2.Balkans- area located in southeast Europe

that was referred to as a “tinderbox waiting for a spark.”

Road To WWI Austria Hungary annexed Serbia which was

supported by the Russians. As war seemed likely, Germany intervenes and

the Russians back down. 3. Internal Dissent- Social labor movements from

within countries may have forced some leaders into war.

4. Militarism- reliance on military strength or growth of mass armies.

Conscription- military draft (R1.3M, F&G 900,000)

Summer of 1914 the “SPARK” Serbia is determined to create a large

independent Slavic state. (Austria-Hungary) Archduke Francis Ferdinand- heir to the throne

of A-H who is assassinated by a Serbian terrorist.

Black Hand- Serbian terrorist group responsible for the assassination.

Gavrilo Princip- 19 year old Bosnian who shot both the Archduke and his wife.

Response of A-H A-H wants to attack Serbia but waits to

get the backing of Germany. Germany responds with a “blank check”

in full support of A-H Russia mobilizes its army in order to

support Serbia: Germany considers this an act of war.

Germany declares war on Russia due to its mobilization.

Sequence of Events: WWI 1914

Assassination of Archduke June 28 Austria’s ultimatum to Serbia July 23 Austria declares war on Serbia July 28 Russia mobilizes July 29 German ultimatum to Russia July 31 Germany declares war on Russia Aug. 1 Germany declares war on France Aug. 3 German troops invade Belgium Aug.4 Great Britain declares war on Germany Aug. 4

Ch.16 Sec. 2 “The War”

Schlieffen Plan- Germany’s military plan for WWI, which called for a two front war France & Russia.

Germany could NOT mobilize its army against Russia only under this plan.

Germany declares war on France and issues an ultimatum to Belgium for German troops to pass through.

In turn Great Britain declares war on Germany for violating Belgium’s neutrality.

WWI Leaders Country Germany Austria-

Hungary Italy Great Britain France U.S.

Leader Kaiser Wilhelm II Emperor Franz Josef I King Victor Emmanuel

III David Lloyd George Georges Clemenceau Theodore Roosevelt

1914 to 1915: Illusions & Stalemate Propaganda- ideas spread to influence

public opinion for or against a cause. Most Europeans are enthusiastic about

going to war. Most of Europe believed the war would

be over by Christmas of 1914 . These dreams and hopes would be

shattered once the war begins.

War in the West Germany’s Schlieffen Plan called for a vast

encircling movement around Paris. Battle of the First Marne (Sept.1914)- after this

battle the war turns into a stalemate and trench warfare is born. (500,000)

Battle of Somme- allied attack on Western front where 58,000 soldiers died in one day. (R) (1.1M)

The western front is typical associated with trench warfare.

Trenches stretched from the English Channel all the way to Switzerland.

Trench warfare By 1916 the early trenches had become

elaborate systems of defense Trenches were protected by barbed wire,

concrete machine gun nests, and mortars. Soldiers lived in the trenches for months and

dealt with the presence of death. Attacks on trenches rarely worked because

they were gunned down in “ no mans land”. War of attrition- war based on wearing the

other side down.

Eastern Front The eastern front was much more mobile but

the loss of life was enormous. Russia moves into eastern Germany but is

defeated at the Battle of Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes.

Russia will no longer be a threat to German territory.

Germany and A-H success in the east will allow them to focus more on the Western front.

War Expands Due to the stalemate both sides sought to

gain allies who could help them win. In an effort to weaken German force allies

try to open a third front at Gallipoli. Lawrence of Arabia- British officer who

urged Arab princes to revolt against their Ottoman overlords.

From this the British forces will destroy the rest of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East

The U.S. enters WWI The immediate cause of U.S. involvement grew

out the naval war between GB & Germany. To retaliate against GB blockade Germany

uses unrestricted submarine warfare. Germans accused the British of carrying war

supplies using passenger ships. Lusitania May 7 1915- passenger ship sunk by

German U-boats killing some 1100 people. (100)

Unrestricted submarine warfare eventually brought the U.S. in the war in April 1917.

Ch.16 Sec.2 cont. Total War- Complete mobilization of resources

and people. It affect all citizens in the warring countries. WWI created new roles for women in the

workforce. Women in the workforce would only be

temporary as soldiers arrived home. WWI had a positive impact on women’s rights

for social and political freedom.

Ch.16 Sec.3 Russia Revolution After Russia is defeated by Japan they never

recover enough for WWI. Czar Nicholas II-leader of Russia during

WWI & when the Bolshevik Revolution occurs.

A series of strikes in Petrograd would be the start of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Nicholas II loses control of the military and steps down and a provisional government is set up.

Cont. Provisional gov’t was lead by Alexander

Kerensky who refused to end the war. Soviets- councils composed of representatives

from the workers and soldiers. Bolsheviks- small faction of a Marxist party

called the Russian Social Democrats. V.I. Lenin- leader of the Bolsheviks The Bolsheviks believed in violent revolutions

and will seize power in this fashion. Bolsheviks battle cry was “ Peace,Land,Bread”

Cont. Lenin had promised the Russians peace but

many people were opposed to the revolution. Civil War will break out in Russia from groups

loyal to the czar with support from the allies. Bolsheviks or the Communists are successful

because they have a single minded sense of purpose.

By 1921 the Communists were in total control of Russia and largely hostile to the Allied powers.

Ch.16 Sec.4 Last Year of War 1917 had gone badly for the allies with the

exception of the U.S. entering the war. With the Russian withdrawal Germany

now hoped to end the war victorious. Second Battle of Marne- Germany last

offensive attack on France but its repelled by the allies (American troops)

After this German military leaders inform their leaders the war is lost.

Peace Settlements “ Fourteen Points” -President Wilson’s vision of

what he hoped to accomplish with an allied victory in WWI.

Paris Peace Conference- representatives met to make the final settlement on WWI.

It was obvious from the beginning the countries were going to clash over what should happen in Europe.

France and G.B. wanted to make Germany pay heavily for the war.

Reparations- payments to cover the cost of war

cont Treaty of Versailles- final peace settlement of

WWI that consisted of five different treaties. The treaty with Germany was the most

important. Article 231- called the war guilt clause which

ordered Germany to pay reparations. Germans had to reduce its military and lost

territory to a new Polish state. The Treaty of Versailles ironically would lead

to the most devastating war the world has seen .