World War I

March Toward War

-__3__ factors that led to war

  • 1.) __nationalism__: the deep feeling of __attachment__ to one’s own __nation__
  • helped __unify__ people of a country
  • promoted __competition__ between countries
  • by __1900__ there were __6__ rival nations in Europe:
  • 1.) __Germany__
  • 2.) Austria-Hungary
  • 3.) __Great Britain__
  • 4.) Russia
  • 5.) __Italy__
  • 6.) France
  • 2.) Imperialism
  • France and __Germany__ both sought to control __Africa__ and almost went to war twice over imperial lands
  • Competition over land created __mistrust among countries__
  • 3.) Arms race: each country except __Great Britain__ built a large army
  • each country had plans to move their __armies__ quickly if necessary

Alliances

-growing rivalry led to the __formation__ of __alliances__

-Germany: in __1879__ Germany formed the __Triple Alliance__ with Austria-Hungary and __Italy__ and signed a treaty with __Russia__

  • Eventually the treaty with Russia __fell apart__

-Triple Entente: __Great Britain__, France, __Russia__

The Balkans

-June, 1914: Archduke __Franz__ Ferdinand, heir to the throne of __Austria-Hungary__ was __assassinated__ in Bosnia by a Serbian Black Hand Member Gavrilo Princip

  • Austria-Hungary declared war on __Serbia__
  • __Russia__ came to Serbia’s defense because Russia had always felt like the “__Big Brother__” of the Balkan countries
  • soon all of Europe would be at war due to the

__Alliance System__

Europe Plunges into War

-Russia mobilized its troops against __Austria-Hungary__ and Germany but did not declare war

  • Germany soon felt threatened and declared war on __Russia__
  • Soon after Germany declared war on __France__, Russia’s ally

-Germany’s plan for winning the war

  • Defeat __France__ quickly on its __western__ front, then turn its attention toward __Russia__ on its __eastern__ front (also known as the __Schlieffen__ Plan)
  • To attack France, Germany moved through __Belgium__ which was a neutral country
  • This angered __Great Britain__ so they declared war on Germany

-France, __Great Britain__, and Russia (and later Italy when they broke with Germany and Austria-Hungary) became known as the __Allies__

-Germany, Austria-Hungary (and later __Bulgaria__ and the __Ottoman__ Empire became known as the __Central__ Powers

World War I

-The Western Front

  • The war in France was known as the __Western__
  • German Forces almost made it to __Paris__ in September __1914__, but France stopped them
  • Both sides dug __deep trenches__ and ran __barbed wire__ in front of it
  • The trenches were __miserable__
  • Soldiers lived in mud
  • Suffered from lack of __food__
  • Many were __killed__ or wounded by exploding __shells__
  • Generals believed that the war would be won by __large attacks__ by huge __armies__
  • When soldiers left the trenches they faced the following:
  • 1.) __machine guns__
  • 2.) tanks
  • 3.) __poison gas__
  • 4.) large artillery shells

-The Eastern Front

  • __Russia__ had little success against __Germany__ and Austria-Hungary
  • they could not keep troops __supplied__ because they did not have a fully __industrialized__ economy
  • Russia did have a __large population__ and a huge army so they were a constant __threat__ to Germany

-A Global Conflict

  • The __Allies__ tried to take part of the Ottoman Empire known as the __Dardanelles__ (also called Gallipoli) in hopes of capturing their capital, __Constantinople__
  • If the Allies took Constantinople, they believed that could

__ship supplies__ to __Russia__ through the Black Sea

  • The Allies __failed__ to capture the Dardanelles
  • T.E. Lawrence: helped lead an __Arab__ revolt against Ottoman rule
  • Because of his efforts the Allies were able to

__capture several cities__ of the Ottoman Empire

-Blockade

  • Britain used their __strong navy__ to block supplies from reaching Germany
  • In response, Germany increased its __submarine__ (or U-boat) attacks on ships that brought __weapons__ and __supplies__ to the Allies
  • U.S. president __Woodrow Wilson__ and the U.S. public became __angry__ when American ships were sunk
  • Many U.S. citizens died when the Germans sank the

__Lusitania__

-The Zimmerman Note

  • The __British__ intercepted a secret message from Germany to __Mexico__
  • If offered to help Mexico regain land lost to the __USA__ in the 1840s if Mexico sided with __Germany__
  • The Zimmerman Note and the sinking of __American ships__ by German __submarines__ was enough for __the USA__ to declare war on Germany in April __6, 1917__

World War I

-Total War

  • World War I demanded all the __resources__ of the countries that fought it
  • __Governments__ took control of __factories__ and told them what to produce
  • Governments __rationed__ food and other goods, __limiting__ how much people could buy
  • Governments used __propaganda__ to generate support for the war
  • They would __silence__ people who spoke out against the war

-The Role of Women

  • With __men__ away at war, women were needed to work in __factories__, offices, and shops
  • They also built __weapons__ and made clothing
  • People began to change their __attitudes__ towards the kind of work __women__ could do

-1917

  • The __U.S.A.__ entered the war
  • __Russia__ left the war
  • Russians were tired of __suffering__ and stopped supporting the __czar__
  • Czar Nicolas _II_: stepped down in __March__ 1917
  • The __October__ revolution: __Communists__ seized control of Russia’s government
  • The communists signed a treaty with __Germany__

-1918

  • March: Germany tried one last time to __defeat France__
  • They almost made it to __Paris__, but the Allies, with the help of the fresh __American Troops__, turned the Germans back
  • November 11, 1918…….__Armistice__ Day
  • World War I was officially over
  • The __Allies__ were victorious

-New Weapons

  • 1.) __Machine Guns__: fire ammunition automatically
  • 2.) __Poison Gas__: soldiers used masks to protect themselves
  • 3.) __Tanks__ armored combat vehicles; first introduced by the __British__ in 1916 at the Battle of the __Somme__
  • 4.) __Flamethrowers__: introduced by the Germans in 1914

-Big Names of World War I

  • 1.) Kaiser Wilhelm II: ruler of __Germany__ during World War I
  • 2.) Vladimir __Lenin__: communist leader who took power in __Russia__ after the October Revolution
  • 3.) Woodrow __Wilson__: U.S. president who urged __Congress__ to declare war on __Germany__ and proposed his __14__ Points of Peace for Europe

World War I

-Major Battles on the Western Front

  • __Western__ Front: region in __Northern__ France close to where France borders _Germany__
  • First Battle of the __Marne__: took place in the __Valley__ of the Marne River
  • The French saved __Paris__ from the Germans
  • Verdun, __1916__: the Germans launched a massive attack against __France__; each side lost __300,000__ men
  • Battle of the __Somme__: British forces tried to relieve the __Pressure__ on the French at __Verdun__
  • __20,000__ British soldiers died in one day

-The Legacy of the War

  • World War I ushered in an era of war on a __grand__ and __global__ scale
  • Caused death and destruction that have never been seen before
  • __8.5 million__ soldiers died; __21__million were wounded
  • an entire __generation__ in Europe was wiped out
  • The war destroyed __farmland__, homes, and towns
  • Some estimate the war cost __$338 billion__
  • The war left a deep mark on __Western__ society
  • Survivors of the war were __disillusioned__
  • Much of these feelings were reflected in the __art__ and __literature__ of the time

-A Flawed Peace

  • The __Paris__ Peace Conference took place at the

__Palace of Versailles__ in January 1919.

  • The Allies could not agree upon the terms of the peace treaty
  • The Big __4__
  • Woodrow Wilson (U.S.)
  • Georges _Clemenceau__ (France)
  • David __Lloyd George__ (Great Britain)
  • Vittorio Orlando (__Italy__)

-Wilson’s Plan for Peace

  • __14__ Points: outlined a plan for __just__ and lasting peace
  • 1st four points: end __secret__ treaties, freedom of the __seas__, free trade, and __reduction__ of the size of armies
  • 5th point: readjustment of the __colonies__ of European countries
  • 6th through 13th: suggestions for changing the __borders__ of some countries
  • 14th point: the creation of a general association of nations that would __protect__ all the __nations__ of the world

-The Treaty of Versailles

  • Britain and __France__ did not like Wilson’s 14 Points
  • They wanted to __Punish__ Germany and strip them of its war-making powers
  • The compromise
  • Wilson’s __14th__ point was used: The __League__ of Nations was created to promote __peace__ between nations
  • The punishment of Germany: lost __war making power__, limits were set upon the size of its __military__; Germany had to admit to __causing__ the war and had to __pay__ the Allies; Germany lost its overseas __territories__.