World War I

Known as “The Great War” and “The War to End all Wars.”

It wasn’t called World War I until after World War II.

It involved 60 countries and 6 continents. Fought between 1914-1918.

War War I Intro

$10 million dollars per hour. 16 million total deaths. First war of the Industrial Revolution. New

weapons vs old tactics.

Triple Alliance Triple Entente

(Central Powers) (Allied Powers)

Germany Great BritainBulgaria FranceAustria-Hungary Empire Russia

The Two Sides

The creation of Germany transformed European politics in 1871.

Germany and France have land disputes in 1870, which makes them enemies.

Germany becomes allies with Italy and Austria- Hungary for support.

Germany

Great Britain and Germany become naval rivals.

This forces Great Britain to ally itself with Russia and France.

France needs support to compete with Germany, so they ally with Great Britain.

Russia is competing with Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Russia then aligns itself with France and Great Britain.

Small Slavic states are caught in the middle.

They express Nationalism. Nationalism is an intense feeling of

pride for one’s homeland. Major powers, like Germany, France, GB,

Russia, etc all are feeling prideful too.

Very few countries were not involved. Observe the map.

All Encompassing

Map

Causes

Imperial Powers had controlled most of the world.

By 1910, all of the most desirable colonies had been claimed.

Britain vs France vs Germany Repeat again, Nationalism is a feeling of

intense pride for one’s homeland.

Causes

Map of Imperial Powers

Colonial Power

All of this competition for land and resources leads to nations participating in an “Arms Race.”

Total defense expenditures from European Powers in millions of pounds:

Rivalries and Alliances

1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914

94 130 154 268 289 398

$673 billion In 40 years… In $2.7 trillion

It Begins…

The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, visits Sarajevo.

An assassin from a nationalist group shoots and kills the Archduke on June 28, 1914.

The Austro-Hungarian government blames Serbia for the attack.

Austrians ask Germans for support. The Serbs ask Russia for support. Russia asks France for support.

Germany invades France hoping that they could force France into Surrender before the Russians could mobilize.

In order to reach France, Germany had to pass through Belgium. Belgium is neutral but is backed by Great Britain.

When Germany passes through Belgium, Great Britain declares war on Germany.

President Wilson declared that the United States would be neutral.

“We must be impartial in thought as well as in action.”

8 million German Americans and 4.5 million Irish Americans.

United States

The British block German ports hoping to prevent war materials and supplies from arriving just like an Anaconda snake does to its prey.

Germans deploy submarines known as U-boats (Unterseeboot).

Germany announces in 1915 that any ship they find in the waters would be sunk by its U-boats.

On May 7, 1915, the British passenger liner, Lusitania, is sunk.

1,200 passengers are killed (128 Americans).

“we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you.

You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves.

Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace.

The Zimmerman Telegram

Art during WWI

“Paths of Glory” C. R. W. Nevinson 1917

“Oppy Wood” John Nash,1917

“A Street in Arras” John Singer Sargent, 1918

“Fit for Active Service!” German Cartoon, 1918