The Great War - WWI

“The War to end all wars”Period 6

Chapter 20

An accident waiting to happen…

• Background:• Trouble in the Balkans • “the Spark that ignited the war” was the

assassination of Archduke-Franz Ferdinand• The Black Hands• Austria-Hungry VS Serbia

M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI

• Militarism• Most European nations relied on Conscription• Arms Race – naval race between Britain and

Germany• Industrialization of warfare = submarines,

tanks, airplanes, poison gas, machine guns, barbed wire…impact on casualties, impact on fighting techniques

M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI

• Alliances• Resulted because of change in balance of

power• Triple Entente = Russia, France, Britain• Triple Alliance = Germany, Italy, Austria-

Hungry • Purpose of alliances – keep peace, however,

once Austria-Hungry declared war on Serbia, a domino effect was created.

M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI

• Imperialism• Use of colonial troops and laborers involved in the

war effort• Battles in Africa and South Pacific – Britain and

France wanted German colonies. Japan – took German possession in China and the Pacific

• Use of colonial labor – rise of nationalism – will lead to independence movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI

• Nationalism• Slavic Nationalism and Austro-Hungarian

opposition = heart of the war’s beginning• Great Powers of Europe competed for

colonies, spheres of influence, superiority in armaments

• Competing Nationalism gave support for the war (in the beginning)

WWI

• The Great War became a “war of attrition”• Trench Warfare – long, bloody, high casualty

warfare – Battle at Verdun(FR), Battle of the Somme (FR)

• “Total War” – mobilization of country’s entire population – “war socialism”

WWI

• Role of Labor Unions• Role of Women• Propaganda – purpose, audience

Long-term Outcomes of War

• Social Changes• Disillusionment – Europe and enlightenment ideas no

longer superior• High casualties – as a result, promoted social mobility • Integrating veterans back into society – “homes for

heroes”• Women urged to leave factory jobs• Mother’s Day• Suffrage Movements – US, Britain, Germany, Soviet

Union– Flappers – culture of the 1920’s – why was life a “party?”

Long-term Outcomes of War

• Politically• Collapse of German, Russian, and Austro-

Hungarian Empires – new map of Europe emerged

• With new states – ideas of “national self-determination” - Nationalism

• Russia – Russian Revolution of 1917 - world communism

Treaty of Versailles

• Paris Peace Conference – formally concluded in the war in 1919

• Provisions of the Treaty = – 1. Germany accept blame for war – 2. Germany lost colonial empires and 15% of

European territory– 3. War reparations – 4. Disarmament

• Treaty leads to resentment among the Germans, as a result, radical leaders emerge…Hitler

Armenian Genocide

• Target the Armenians – believe conspiring with the Russians. Major genocide movement

• End of the Ottoman empire – formation of Turkey and Middle eastern states

Impact of the War around the World

• Latin America – ideas of Nationalism• The Middle East – ideas of Nationalism• Africa – ideas of Nationalism• Asia– Japan– China

• The United States – debtor to creditor

Failure of the League of Nations

• League of Nations = purpose – prevent future world conflicts

• Wilson’s 14 Points• Two major problems with the League of

Nations:– The US doesn’t join – FP of isolationism– No military power to enforce

Discussion Q’s:

• How is Nationalism a cause of WWI? How will Nationalism lead to future world conflicts?

• How did the advances in military technology change the ways of war?

• How can propaganda influence nationalism? What are propaganda techniques?

• What social outcome of WWI do you believe to be the most consequential?

• What political outcome of WWII do you believe to be the most consequential?