Causes of World War I

“The war to end all wars”

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history/videos/causes-of-world-war-i?m=528e38969e64d

Nationalism• The strong feeling

people have for their own country. Often results in

revolutions.

• Belief that peoples who share the same language, heritage, and history belong behind the same borders.

Imperialism• The desire of a

country to have colonies for the purpose of raw materials and prestige. Great Britain- “The sun

never set on the British Empire.”

Germany- wanted more colonies than the few it had.

Militarism• Building up of

military and weaponry to gain new colonies and prepare for war. “The one with the

most toys wins.”

System of Alliances• Balance of Power- every

nation tried to increase its strength by securing as many allies as possible. Triple Alliance

• Germany• Austria-Hungary• Italy

Triple Entente• Great Britain• France• Russia

• When one or the other was threatened- the allies would come to their aid. Many secret alliances

created between nations– leads to distrust.

Austria-Hungary• Empire in Eastern

Europe.• Late 1870’s-

experiences numerous nationalistic revolts amongst the Balkan peoples.

• 1908- takes Bosnia and Herzegovina. Angers the

independent Serbia. Asks for Russian help,

but is refused.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Serbia

Serbia• Small nation of Slavic

speaking peoples south of the Empire.

• Serbian nationalists want to free all Slavic speaking peoples in Austria-Hungary and create a new independent country called Bosnia.

Emperor Franz Joseph• 1848- Became

emperor of Austria-Hungary.

• Nearly 80 years old, and in need of an heir to the throne.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Heir to the Austria-Hungary throne.

• Visits the city of Sarajevo w/ wife. Capital of Bosnian

province.• Both assassinated by

Serbian nationalists. Gavrilo Princip

• Assassins captured and tried. Franz Joseph demands

an investigation into the plot.

Serbia refuses.

War !!!• European nations

attempt to arbitrate the dispute.

• July 28, 1914- Austria- Hungary declares war on Serbia.

• Germany’s alliance with Austria-Hungary brings them into the war.

• Russia comes to the aid of Serbia believing that they were the protectors of all Slavic speaking nations.

War!!• July 29, 1914- Russia

declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany Cannot take both

powers on.

• French alliance with Russia brings them into the war.

• Germany asks neutral Belgium for right to pass through to invade France. Belgium refuses

• August 1, 1914- Germany invades France via Belgium. This “act of

aggression” forces Britain to declare war on Germany.

War-time AlliancesCentral Powers

• Germany• Austria-Hungary• Ottoman Empire

Secret alliance with both nations brings the Ottoman-Turks into the war.

Triple Entente or Allied Powers

• Britain• France• Russia• Italy

Joins Allies because of promises of new colonies.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Europe_1914.jpg

American Neutrality• President Woodrow

Wilson urges American neutrality despite ties to immigrant families in Europe.

• War violated progressive reform. Why use factories to

build weapons to destroy things?

Germany• Plans to end war

early.• Create a western

front before Russia could mobilize.• Invades France

through Belgium.

• Takes 18 days to defeat Belgium.• French able to get aid

from 90,000 British troops.

Trench Warfare• Western Front• German, French, and

British armies dig 600 miles of trenches throughout France.

• For 3 years both sides battle over narrow strip of land between the trenches. “No man’s land”

• Protected by mines and barbed wire.

• Muddy and rat-infested– troops lived in their own “filth.”

• http://www.history.com/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-trench-warfare?m=528e38969e64d#bet-you-didnt-know-trench-warfare

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history/videos/wwi-firsts?m=528e38969e64d

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48lz1iJcvoM

New Weapons• Long-range

guns• Machine guns• Gas warfare

Effects of Mustard Gas.

• Camels• Tanks• Airplanes• Zeppelins

Submarine Warfare

• Germans build U-boats Germans build U-boats (Unterseeboot)(Unterseeboot) in in response to the response to the powerful British Navy.powerful British Navy.

• Designed to lurk under Designed to lurk under the water, strike w/out the water, strike w/out warning, and slip away warning, and slip away quickly.quickly. Germany uses on many Germany uses on many

trading vessels.trading vessels.

The Lusitania• German U-boats

patrol the North Atlantic shipping lanes.

• May 7, 1915- British passenger boat is sunk by U-boats. 1,200 people are killed,

including 128 Americans.

• New Secretary of State Robert Lansing issues strong protests. Germans issue a

statement that ocean liners would no longer be targets.

Election of 1916• Democrats

Woodrow Wilson• Republicans

Charles Evans Hughes• Wilson runs on

campaign slogan- “He kept us out of war.” Highly criticized for

neutrality policies, but orders a massive buildup of arms and munitions.

• Wilson narrowly wins.

Renewal of Submarine Warfare

• February, 1917- February, 1917- Germany informs Germany informs United States that it United States that it would allow one (1) would allow one (1) American passenger American passenger ship to sail to England ship to sail to England each week.each week.

• Wilson breaks off Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations diplomatic relations with Germany.with Germany.

Zimmerman Telegram• February, 1917• British intercept a telegram

from German Foreign Secretary Alfred Zimmerman to Mexico. Germany offers alliance

with Mexico. Urges to invade the United

States and “reclaim its lost land.”• Purpose to create a 3rd

front to the war, and keep the U.S. from aiding Britain.

• American public demands U.S. enter the war!

• Wilson announces that all American trading ships would be armed for defense.

America Enters the War• March 12- 21 German March 12- 21 German

U-boats sink 5 U-boats sink 5 American ships.American ships.

• April 2, 1917- Wilson April 2, 1917- Wilson asks Congress to asks Congress to declare war on declare war on Germany.Germany.

• Wants to make the Wants to make the world safe for peace world safe for peace and democracy.and democracy.

• Calls on Americans to Calls on Americans to support a “war effort.”support a “war effort.”

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59wErqg4Xg

Raising an Army• Selective Service

Act Required the

registration of all men between the ages of 21 and 30 (later amended to 18 and 45)• 2.8 million “boys”

are drafted into the army.

• 371,000 blacks join “black only” units commanded by whites.

Financing the War• War bonds

Governments ability to borrow money from the people.

• Liberty Bonds raised over $21 million for the war.

Conserving Food• 18th Amendment-

Prohibition Attempt to conserve

grain for the war effort.

• Food Administration Herbert Hoover leads. Encouraged expansion

of agriculture and reduced waste.

“Food will win the war.” “Wheatless Mondays” “Meatless Tuesdays”

Dissension Among the People• Committee on Public

Information Circulated pro-war

pamphlets to gain American citizenry support.

• Espionage Act Sentences of up to 20

years for persons found guilty of being disloyal to America or aiding the enemy.

• Sedition Act Penalties for using

“disloyal language” against the government.

• Many who speak out against the war are jailed. Eugene V. Debs

• Possible Constitutional right violations??

End of the German Empire

• Kaiser Wilhelm II slowly loses control of the Empire to his generals.

• Faced with revolution in Germany.

• Abdicates on November 9, 1918.

• A German Republic is created.

• Escapes to the Netherlands.

• Died in 1941 of a heart attack at age 82.

The End of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire

• November, 1916- Emperor Franz Joseph dies at age 86.

• Karl I (great-nephew) comes to the throne at age 29. Tries to make peace with

France by giving back Alsace-Lorraine.

Germany angered.• November 4, 1918- Signs

an armistice with Britain and France.

• November 11, 1918- Abdicates and flees to Switzerland.

• 1922- dies of tuberculosis.

The Armistice• November 11, 1918

at 11:00 a.m.- Germany signs the armistice and fighting ceases.

• Terms of the armistice

1. Germans would evacuate France.

2. Germany would surrender all war materials and release all prisoners.

War Statistics- Total Killed

• Entente Powers France- 1.4 million Russia- 3.7 million Britain- 733,000 United States-

126,000

America only fought for 16 months.

• Central Powers Austria-Hungary- 1.5

million Germany- 2.5 million

A total of 10-15 million A total of 10-15 million people were killed people were killed between the two between the two powers.powers.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcKpWZOalo

Fourteen Points• Woodrow Wilson’s

proposal for world peace.• Presented to Congress in

January, 1918. End all “secret

agreements” between nations.

Freedom of the seas. De-militarization of nations. Called for self-

determination National groups should

have the right to choose where to live w/in their own borders.

Creation of the League of Nations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwKl8PEl-fs&index=86&list=PL47F868B521713645

League of Nations• Wilson’s 14th point• Urged the creation

of a general association of nations to protect the independence of both large and small nations.

The League of Nations• Headquartered in Geneva,

Switzerland.• Executive Council

United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan.

• League Covenant Each member nation agreed

to solve problems in a “friendly way” before going to war.

• Weaknesses1. “aggressor nations” never

defined2. Forcing peoples to live

inside boundaries they did not want to.

3. No way to solve economic problems that led to wars.

The Treaty of Versailles

• June, 1919June, 1919• Germany would accept full Germany would accept full

responsibility for the war.responsibility for the war.• Germany would pay war Germany would pay war

reparations.reparations.• Germany was disarmed.Germany was disarmed.• Allies took German Allies took German

colonies.colonies.• Creation of the League of Creation of the League of

Nations.Nations.• http://www.history.com/http://www.history.com/

topics/world-war-i/treaty-topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versaillesof-versailles

Senate Rejection of League

• Henry Cabot Lodge- leading Republican opponent. Objects to Article 10-

League members would act together to put down any threats to peace.

Wants America to become isolated again.

Wilson’s Response• Does not want to see

the League of Nations weakened.

• Travels around the country by train making speeches in defense of the Treaty.

• Fall, 1919- collapses from exhaustion and suffers a mild stroke. Wife secretly runs the

country during his illness.

Senate Vote• November, 1919• Senate rejects The

Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. Never becomes a

member.

• 1921- signs a separate peace treaty with Germany.

Red Scare

• Communism in Russia after Lenin takes over and socialism in the United States lead to the first Red Scare

• Fear of the reds, a term used to describe communists (taken from their red flag)

• Result is immigrant restriction. “don’t let those commies in here”

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IavxgMZA-0&index=88&list=PL47F868B521713645