Background Causes of World War I Alliances Nationalism Imperialism Militarism.
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Transcript of Background Causes of World War I Alliances Nationalism Imperialism Militarism.
WORLD WAR IWORLD WAR I
Background Causes of
World War I• Alliances
• Nationalism• Imperialism• Militarism
AlliancesAn agreement between between countries
to come to each other’s aid in case of war. Two major alliances:
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (does not enter war on this side, replaced with Ottoman Empire)Triple Entente: France, Russia, and Great Britain
If one nation was pulled in war, all would enter
NationalismExtreme loyalty to a nation and
concern for its welfare
Multi-ethic empires (Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire) had many groups seeking independence
Balkans are ready to explode (“powder keg of Europe, Balkan Peninsula)—Serbia and Bosnia in Balkans
Imperialism
A nation’s attempt to gain control of a weaker nation
Nations wanted control to gain raw materials, Europe had divided Africa in 1884
Militarism
A nation’s policy to maintain strong armed forced
Britain and Germany competed for the strongest navy
Militarism included complex plans in case war broke out
Immediate Cause:Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary (heir to the throne)
Shot by a Serbian nationalist in Bosnia, part of Austria-Hungary (A.H.)
Assassination is considered the “spark” of the war
A.H. blamed Serbia and Germany gave A.H. a “blank check” saying they would back them no matter what
A.H. then gave Serbia an “ultimatum” saying they must agree to all their demands or they would declare war—A.H. declared war anyway
Russia then mobilized in case of war—Germany then declares war on Russia and France
Germany then invaded Belgium in order to get to France.
Britain then declares war on Germany as Belgium was neutral.
Main Players
•Allied Powers
•Central Powers
Allied Powers• France
• Great Britain• Russia (withdrew in 1917 due to
Bolshevik Revolution)• Italy
• Romania• United States
Central Powers
• Austria-Hungary
• Germany• Ottoman Empire (Bulgaria and
Turkey)
A New Kind of War
Machine Gun
Trenches
Poison Gas
Tanks
U-Boat
America Neutral?
•America sympathetic to Allies
•Lusitania
•Sussex Pledge
•Zimmerman Note
Lusitania• May 1915, a German submarine sank the
British ocean liner Lusitania.
• Among the hundreds killed, 128 were American.
• President Wilson warned Germany not to continue to violate international law, which required warships to provide for the safety of the passengers and crews of trading ships they sank.
• Germany apologized.
Zimmerman Telegram
• The British intercepted and decoded a secret radio message from Germany to Mexico
• In this “Zimmerman Telegram,” Germany urged Mexico to attack the United States in return for regaining the southwestern United States.
• This was the final straw!
America
Readys for War
The United States enters the War
• The US declares war on April 6, 1917
• Over 100,000 Georgian men and women contributed to the Allied victory
Georgia in the War•Soldiers trained in GA at Fort Benning, Fort McPherson, and Camp Gordon—helped state’s economy
•Textile mills made uniforms
•Railroads carried troops and goods to port
•Victory Gardens—citizens planted gardens to raise their own veggies so there would be more food for the military
•Women helped
•3,000 from Georgia died in the war
War Ends—Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Three Goals:•Elimination of War Causes
•Right to choose government
•League of Nations (Wilson’s dream)
Treaty of Versailles--Very harsh on Germany who is forced to agree--Strip Germany of territory, military reduced--Must take blame for entire war--Must pay reparations (payments for war damages)
Lives Lost
Russia 1,700,000
France 1,357,000
Great Britain 908,000
United States 130,174
Germany 1,800,000
Austria 1,200,000Diseases, hunger, and other war-related causes 20,000,000
Mangled 6,000,000
WW ICausesWW II