World War I

Chapter 18

Causes of WWI Imperialism

Race for colonies. Africa was last place for

Germany to compete. Militarism

Policy involves the build up of a nations armed forces and giving the military more control over the government and foreign policy.

Nationalism Great Powers own interest.

German region of Alsace-Lorraine conquered in 1871

Diverse Ethnic Interests.

Assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand June 28, 1914

Causes of WWI System of Alliances

Germany-Austria Hungry Austria Hungry declared war on Serbia as retaliation of Arch Duke’s

assassination.

Russia-Serbia Russia-France Belgium

International treaty protected neutrality.

France-Great Britain Entente Cordiale, loose alliance

Schlieffen Plan Germany’s first strike strategy used to fight war on two

fronts. Attack full force against France in the west, holding line

against Russia in the east. Germany pushed through Belgium en route to France,

violating international law, causing Great Britain to declare war on Germany.

Germany advanced as close as 30 miles from Paris when it had to pull soilders to protect eastern front from Russian army.

Schlieffen Plan

Central Powers v. Allies

Triple AllianceGermanyAustria-HungryOttoman Empire-1914Bulgaria-1915

Triple EntenteFranceGreat BritainRussiaSerbia Italy-1915Romania-1916United States-1917

United States Neutrality Immigration

1\3 of American population were immigrants (33 million) 25% were German and 13% were Irish. Public sentiment were for Britain due to early colonization of

America

Kaiser Wilhelm II Ruler viewed as autrocratic by American people.

American Investments 3.5 billion in overseas investments by 1914

America enters WWI Naval strategy

German U-boatsU-boats would surface and give crew opportunity to

deboard and then sink ship1915 sinking of the Lusitania

128 Americans among 1200 passengers dead. Ship carried war supplies for Allies.

1916 sinking of the Sussex2 Americans among 80 dead.

America enters WWI

The Sussex PledgeGerman governments pledge to warn all boats prior to

sinking. The Zimmermann Note

Arthur Zimmermann, Germany’s foreign secretary, asked Mexico to declare war on the United States.

Mexico could not declare war due to own civil war during this time.

American Mobilization to WWI 1917- America sends

token force of 14K men to front and $3 billion in war loans.

Selective Service Act of 1917- first draft. 24 mill. Men registered and

3 mill. drafted American Expeditionary

Force

Creation of national training academies to teach art of warfare.

Use of convoys to combat U-boats.

Lever Food and Fuel Control Act Price Controls, food rationing

and daylight savings time. 1917 Espionage Act made it

illegal to interfere with the draft.

Warfare Bolshevick

Revolution-1917 Vladimir Lenin

overthrew Russian government with help from Germans.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

declared peace with Germany allowing for Germans to fight a one front war.

Trench warfare Mustard gas Over the top No man’s land Trench foot

Technology Armored tanks Dogfights German Zeppelins

Genocide Armenians were

systematically destroyed by Ottoman Empire on grounds of disloyalty.

Trench Foot

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Designed by Woodrow Wilson to energize the American people, encourage the Russian people to stay in WWI, and encourage enemy states to join a peaceful resolution to the war.

Served as negotiations of peace treaty ending World War I.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points End to Secret diplomacy Freedom of the seas. Reduction in arms. Removal of economic barriers-

free trade. Ending of colonial claims. Creation of League of Nations.

Organization to ensure safety of the World.

Article 10

Evacuation of Russia and Belgium.

Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.

Italy shall be reorganized under nationality lines.

Countries established for Polish, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Rumania.

Nations formed with guarantees for political integrity no matter how big or small.

Treaty of Versailles Great Britain, US, France and Italy negotiated peace treaty with

Germany. Negotiated only after Kaiser Wilhelm II formally left office and

new govt. Installed in Germany. League of Nations organized. France insisted on Germany to admit guilt for war and pay over

$33 billion in reparations. Broke Germany into nine new nations. Originally Germany refused to sign saying it violated Wilson’s

Fourteen Points but capitulated when threatened with French invasion.