Post on 05-Jan-2016
World War I
1914-1918
Long Term Causes leading to WWI
• Forming of opposing Alliances
• Nationalist intentions in Balkans
• Rivalry between Great Powers
• Militarism
Great Powers
• Austria-Hungary
• Great Britain
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Russia
The Balkans
Bosnia in a “Tug of War”
• Ottoman Empire had weakened an many new nations with strong feelings of Nationalism emerged– each with goals of expanding.
• Austria vs. Russia
• Lots of threats back and forth, but by 1913, neither side would give in again
Opposing alliances
• Bismarck made alliances because he feared war could break-up the newly unified Germany
• France wanted revenge for Franco-Prussian war, so Bismarck decided to isolate them with no allies
• Germany formed alliances with:– Austria-Hungary, Italy and Russia
• One problem b/w Russia and Austria-Hungary– Both claimed rights to Bosnia
• Great Britain proudly stood alone
New German Leader changes alliances
• Kaiser Wilhelm II fires Bismarck and wants to show off power of his country/ army
• Russian alliance lapses, and they sign an alliance with France
• Great Britain is threatened by Germany’s empirical desires and signs entente (agreement of friendship) with Russia and France.
Two major factions in Europe
Triple Alliance• Germany
• Austria-Hungary• Italy
Triple Entente• Great Britain
• Russia• France
Militarism
• Tension so high, most political leaders thought war could put a quick end to it all.
• Military leaders believed they had perfected strategies and weapons and could “easily win” any war within 6 mos.
• People were feeling STRONG sense of nationalism and believed no better way to show it than war.
Immediate Causes for WWI
• Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
• German support of Austrian Aggression
• Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum to Serbia
• Germany’s Invasion of Belgium
Franz Ferdinand
• Franz Ferdinand about to be heir of Austria
Assassination
• On a visit to Bosnia, Ferdinand is assassinated.
• This is the “spark” that was necessary to start to fire of war.
• Each country wanted war: alliances, nationalism, imperialism, and arms race.
Ultimatum
• Austria used assassination to go to war.
• They consulted with Germany who agreed to back them completely.
• Austria gave Serbia an ultimatum with very harsh terms.
• Serbia planned to accept to avoid war.
• Austria-Hungary invaded anyway.
The country’s take sides
• Russia agreed to back Serbia and begins mobilizing troops toward Austrian and German borders (precautionary).
• Mobilization will take Russia a long time
• Germany declared war on Russia.
• Germany declared war on France.
Schlieffen Plan
• Germany now faced 2 front war
• Schlieffen plan expected Russian mobilization to be slow, and planned to make quick attack and beat France
Belgian Invasion
• Germany insisted on going through Belgium (a neutral country) in order to carry out the swift invasion of France.
• Belgium was angry and Great Britain became nervous due to the vicinity of their ports to Belgium.
• G.B. declares war on Germany.
Central Powers vs. Allied Powers
Central Powers (based on geographic location)• Germany
• Austria-Hungary• Bulgaria• Turkey
Allied Powers• Great Britain
• France• Russia
• Italy
Battle of the Marne:Schlieffen Plan vs. E`lan
• E`lan– French plan for war, counted on spirit of troops.
• E`lan was no match for Germans.• Germans got to Parisian border.• Just before Paris, Germans sent troops
East to Russia– Schlieffen Plan has failed.• French and British troops fought off
Germany.• Paris was saved.
Stalemate
After Marne, trenches were built.– 600 miles worth from English Channel to
Swiss border
Between the trenches was “no-man’s-land”
Years passed and this was a war like no other!
Trench Warfare
Industrialization in WWI
New Weapons
• Machine gun
• Poison gas
• Tanks
• Airplanes (1st time in war)
• Submarines– U-boats
Machine Guns
Mustard Gas
Life Changes
• Total War– countries put all resources into war. Changed the role of women.
• Rationing
• Propaganda– one-sided info that tries to persuade people to believe in something.
Nationalism/ Propaganda
United States Enters War
• 1915, German U-boat sinks British passenger ship with 139 U.S. citizens on board, Lusitania
• Germany stopped unrestricted sub warfare to avoid war with U.S.
• 1917, Germany began unrestricted sub warfare again, and sent message to Mexico that they would help them get territory in U.S.
• U.S. Declares War on side of Allies.
Good Night to WWI
• The U.S. troops were too numerous and fresh for the Germans to continue.
• 11/11/18 The War Ends with Germany signing an armistice.
Immediate Effects of WWI
• Russian Revolution
• Defeat of Central Powers
• Destruction and Loss of Life
• Treaty of Versailles
• League of Nations
• Break-up of Austria-Hungary
• Forming of Mandates
Death and Destruction
• 9 Million Military Killed
• 6 Million Civilians
• 60 Million total casualties
German Cementary
Russian Mass Grave
Treaty of Versailles
• Wilson and his Fourteen Points:1. Ending Secret Treaties2. Freedom of the seas3. Removal of economic barriers on trade4. Reduce size of national armies and navies5. Colonial claims changed to favor colonial
peoples6-13: New borders and Self-determination14. League of Nations!!
Peaceful Conflict
• Many countries disagreed about how Europe should be rebuilt, what regions should go to what countries.
• U.S., France, Great Britain, and Italy hammered out the deal.
• Russia, despite the greatest loss of life in the war was not invited to the Paris.
• No defeated countries allowed to participate.
The Big Three
U.S.A.
France
Great Britain
Woodrow Wilson
David Lloyd George
Germany got Hammered
• Loss of Land– 13% land– 10% population
• Military Restrictions– Restrictions on size of army, no planes or u-boats, no
troops on French border• Reparations
– Most severe part of treaty, “war-guilt” clause– Germany must take sole responsibility for war and
pay $31 Billion.• League of Nations
League of Nations
• Wilson gets his 14th point.• 5 Permanent members
– U.S.A.– Britain– France– Italy– Japan
• 42 Allies• Germany and Russia NOT MEMBERS
United States Rejects Treaty!
• U.S. Congress rejects the Treaty of Versailles.
• U.S. Congress refused to join League of Nations– Did not want to weaken congress’ power
• Did not want U.S. soldiers forced to fight by League without consent of Congress
– Many wanted isolationism
Weak League
Long Term Effects of WWI
• German and Italian Resentment of Treaty
• U.S. Policy of Isolationism
• Disillusionment of Lost Generation
• Rise of Fascism
• World War II