WORLD WAR I- THE GREAT WAR

On the Eve of WWI

In 1900, there was general peace and prosperity across Europe. There had not been a major conflict on the continent for over a century

However, there were places where conflict was brewing: In Turkey, Mexico, China, and Russia reformers were

outraged at sharp social divisions and authoritarian governments

In Austria-Hungary, different ethnic minorities dreamt of independence and establishing their own nation-states

Underlying Causes of WWI Remember- the MAIN causes: M-Militarism

This occurs when military values and goals take over civilian society.

Otto von Bismarck, the first German Chancellor, had united the German states through Prussia’s military power.

Every European power tried to build up their military.

France Great Britain Germany Russia

Underlying Causes of WWI A- Alliance System

By 1914, Europe had come to be divided into large alliances. They were known as the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.

Although these alliances sought to preserve the existing balance of power, if there was a dispute between any two of these countries, it was liable to drag in all the others.

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Russia

France

Great Britain

Triple Alliance Triple Entente

Italy

Underlying Causes of WWI I-Imperialism

The European Powers believed that the sign of a great power was the possession of overseas colonies.

The competing claims over overseas colonies created a tense atmosphere in Europe.

By 1900, ¼ of the world was under British control. German industrialization threatened British supremacy. Russian interests in the Balkans threatened both Austria-

Hungary and Turkey.

N-Nationalism In WWI, nationalism was a belief that each ethnic group should

have its own nation. It is also a belief that citizen in existing nation-states should promote their nation’s interests.

Nationalism encouraged rivalries between France, Germany, and Austria-Hungary, and Russia.

It led to the independence of nations in the Balkans- Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Rumania.

Austria-Hungary consisted of MANY different ethnic groups. Some of these ethnicities wanted their own nation-states.

Flashpoint Ignites War In July 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand- the heir to the

Austrian Empire- was assassinated by a member of a terrorist group

The Black Hand was a Slav nationalist group Austria-Hungary, suspecting secret government

involvement, invaded Serbia. This set off a chain reaction

Schlieffen Plan Germany’s strategy entering the war Germany decided they would attack France to the west,

defeat them and then attack Russia to the East. They based this plan on the following assumptions:

Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilize France would be easily defeated in 6 weeks Belgium would not resist a German attack Britain would remain neutral

What actually happened: On 2nd August 1914, the German army invaded Luxembourg and

Belgium according to the Schlieffen Plan. The Germans were held up by the Belgium army, backed up by the

BEF (British Expeditionary Force) which arrived extremely quickly. Russia mobilised in just 10 days and Germany was forced to

withdraw troops from the Schlieffen Plan to defend her eastern border.

Germany did not take the chance to take Paris, instead decided to attack east of the capital. They were met by French at the battle of the Marne (5-11 Sept) which halted the German advance

New Military Technology New and improved weapons were used in fighting.

Machine gun Poison gas Submarines Airplanes

These weapons were most helpful in defense.

On the Western and Eastern front, the war was fought in trenches.

U.S. Enters the War Serbia, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Greece, and Portugal

joined the Allied Powers.

Although the U.S. was officially neutral, Americans were sympathetic to Britain and France.

As a result, the U.S. sent supplies to the Triple Entente.

In 1917, a German U-Boat attacked and sank a U.S. passenger ship, the Lusitania killing 1,198 passengers.

As a result, the U.S. decided to enter the war.

In the same year, as a result of social issues, Russia decided to drop out of the War.

Fourteen Points President Wilson announced his war aims in the Fourteen

Points.

Wilson wanted each nationality to have their own state.

He also demanded the freedom of the seas and the creation of a League of Nations.

President Woodrow Wilson posing with King George V

Aftermath of WWI Millions of people were killed or injured. This

was Total War- occurs when the entire country is involved in the war

Paris Peace Conference (1919) Germans agreed to end the war and overthrow

the Kaiser

Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, and Georges Clemenceau met in Paris to negotiate peace

The treaty that resulted was the Treaty of Versailles (1919)

German Territorial Losses- New independent Poland was created, Germany lost territory to France

and Poland, as well as all of its overseas colonies.

Austria-Hungary and Turkey- the Austro-Hungarian Empire was

divided into several new national states. Turkey lost territories in Mid

East

Punishing Germany- Germany lost its navy, army reduced to small

police force. Germany was forced to accept blame for starting the war in

the War Guilt Clause and was required to pay reparations.

League of Nations- The treaty created the League of Nations, and organization of nations pledged to

defend each other against aggressors. It was weakened when major powers, such as the U.S. and

Russia did not join.

Treaty of Versailles

WWI and the Middle East WWI led to the end of the Ottoman Empire The Armenian Massacre

For centuries, Christian Armenians had lived in the Ottoman Empire- some sought independence

Fearing this population might be sympathetic to Christian Russia, the Ottomans began to disarm its Armenian Citizens

These people were taken to jail, then often hung or shot.

At one point, Turkish soldiers gathered over a million Armenian men, women, and children and sent them on death marches in the Syrian desert.

They also used firing squads, burnings, drowning, poisons, and drugs against Armenian victims

Armenian Massacre