Key Events
• Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist
• Militarism, nationalism, and alliances drew nations into war
• The United States’ entrance into the war helped the Allies
• Federal power increased and the status of women changed
Key Events
• The Russian Revolution ended with Communists in power
• Peace settlements caused lingering resentment
• The League of Nations was formed
Impact on Today’s World
• Led to the disintegration of empires and the creation of new states
• In many ways led directly to WWII
• Communism became a factor in global conflict
• The Balkans remain an area of political unrest today
Causes of World War I
•Militarism
–Growth of army size in 19th Century – conscription (military draft)
–Figures pg. 501
•Nationalism
–Nation building of 19th Century led to competition instead of cooperation
•Imperialism
–Rivalries over colonies and trade led to increased tension
•Alliances
–Triple Alliance = Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
–Triple Entente = France, Great Britain, Russia
Crisis in the Balkans
•S.E. European states fight for independence from Ottoman Empire rule
•Serbia, supported by Russia determined to form “Slavic” independent state
•Austria-Hungary determined to hang onto Bosnia & its capital Sarajevo
•“Powder Keg” – pg. 501 quote
Assassination in Sarajevo
•On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to Austria-Hungary throne) & wife Sophia assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb and member of Young Bosnia, a group that wanted Bosnia to become a Serbian state. This group was supported by the Black Hand, a Serbian terrorist group.
Outbreak of War
•Austria-Hungary wanted to declare war against Serbia but feared Russian intervention – asked Germany’s Emperor William II for support and received “blank check”
•Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia in July, 1914
•Russia’s Czar Nicholas II mobilizes army in support of Serbia
•Germany warned Russia not to mobilize, but Russia refused
•Germany declares war on Russia, (Aug. 1st)
•Because Russia is allied with France, Germany implements its Schlieffen Plan (attack France then Russia, 2 fronts) and declares war on France (Aug. 3rd)
•Germany intends to send troops through neutral Belgium thus Great Britain declares war on Germany (Aug. 4th)
The Great War
•Europeans went to war with much enthusiasm (pg. 503), swept up in nationalism & propaganda – most felt their cause was just & war would be over quickly – “home by Christmas”
•True to Germany’s Schlieffen Plan the fighting occurred on 2 fronts: WesternEastern
The Western Front
•Germany’s advance toward Paris was halted at the First Battle of the Marne
•Stalemate resulted – troops became bogged down in trenches
Trench Warfare
(The Great Slaughter)
•Trenches included massive tangles of barbed wire, machine gun nests, & artillery
•Area between the two lines of trenches called “no man’s land”
•Little land gained while millions died in war of attrition
–New technology introduced (poison gas)
–Terrifying fighting in trenches caused mental disability known as “shell shock”
The Eastern Front
•Fighting was more mobile, however, equally catastrophic in loss of life
•Russia moved into eastern Germany & was soundly defeated at the Battle of Tannenberg – making Russia no longer a threat
•Italy betrayed Triple Alliance and attacked Austria-Hungary, becoming part of the Triple Entente, now called Allied Powers
•Germany comes to aid Austria-Hungary & is victorious over RussiaSerbia allowing it to concentrate on Western Front
Widening of the War
•Because of stalemate, both sides anxious to find new allies
•Former Triple Alliance became the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottomans, & Bulgaria)
Entry of the United States
•U.S. tried to remain neutral (isolationism)
•Two events led to U.S. entrance into WWI
- May 7, 1915 a British passenger ship (Lusitania) carrying nearly 2000 passengers was sunk by German U-boat (submarine) – 1200 lost including 123 Americans
- Zimmerman Note (Jan. 16, 1917) – Germany tried to entice Mexico to join Central Powers, in return Mexico would get help in reclaiming its territories (TX, NM, CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO) lost to the US. in the Mexican-American War (1848)
American Neutrality
Officially, the U.S. was a neutral country.
However, we traded food, weapons, oil, steel, and other goods far more with the Allied Powers than with the Central Powers.
Freedom of the Seas
The U.S., as a neutral nation, claimed the right to trade with either side in the war.
However, Britain and Germany set up blockades around the British and German coasts.
Total War
•As war dragged on nations committed all resources & people toward winning the war:
•Results:
•All able bodied men, even elderly & children became soldiers
•Women – filled jobs normally reserved for men
•Governments & rulers increased their power
•Governments able to manipulate public opinion via propaganda
Battle of Belleau Wood – June, 1918
This was the first battle involving U.S. troops.
The Germans were defeated after three weeks of battle
The Allied defense of Paris was the turning point of the war.
Last Years of WWI
•By middle of 1917 Central Powers appeared close to victory
•Germany launched massive offensive on Western Front, however, French held again at 2nd Battle of Marne (July, 1918)
•In 1918, with 2 million American troops, Allies marched toward Germany
•The Allies refused to negotiate peace agreement with Emperor William II, as a result, German population revolted forcing William II to flee country on Nov. 9, 1918
Peace at Last
At 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, Germany agreed to the armistice, ending World War I.
•The German Social Democratic Party declared Germany a republic & signed an armistice with the Allies bringing WWI to end
•The Austria-Hungary empire disintegrated into independent republics of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, & Yugoslavia
•In January, 1919 – Allied members met in Paris (Paris Peace Conference) to reach final peace settlement
Treaty of Versailles
•U.S. President Woodrow Wilson presented “Fourteen Points” he thought were necessary for lasting peace – this included creating a League of Nations
•French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau & British Prime Minister David Lloyd George wanted to punish Germany by forcing them to pay reparations
•The Treaty of Versailles, (June 28, 1919) specifically article 231 declared:
•Germany must admit blame for starting war
•Germany must pay reparations to Allies (33 billion)
•Germany must return AlsaceLorraine to France
•That Ottoman Empire would be disbanded
Total Costs of WWI
•Germany accepted Treaty of Versailles because it had no choice, however, it outraged & angered population – many sought revenge
•The devastation was staggering – roughly 20 million dead & 20 million wounded
•Environment ripe for more revolutions and political instability – “Seeds sown for WWII”