World War I

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World War I (1914-1918)

Causes of the War• The archduke of

Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Serbia.

• Russia joined Serbia and Germany soon followed.

• They formed an alliance which is an agreement to act together.

Video Clip

Causes…

• Nationalism-excessive devotion and loyalty to one’s own country.

• Ethnic Conflict- People that share a common culture and often the same language and religion. A major ethnic conflict existed in the Austro-Hungarian Empire because the Austrians and Hungarians had the right to vote. Other ethnic groups could not and wanted their independence.

Causes…..

• Ideology- group of ideas, beliefs or theories that guide individuals, social movements, or groups. Germany’s world politics was another cause of WWI. They felt they deserved “a place in the sun.” In other words, Germany wanted to be equal partners with other leading world powers, like Britain.

Causes…

• Political and Economic Rivalries between countries

Ex. (trade

interests

threatened)

Partners

What were some causes of WWI?

What countries participated in WWI?

Allied Forces vs. Central Powers

Great Britain

France

Russia

Serbia

United States

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Bulgaria

Turkey

Partners

How were sides divided in

WWI?

Weapons & Trench Warfare

• First time the machine gun was used in war.

• Both sides were forced to fight from trenches.

• This was marked the beginning of chemical weapons, flame throwers, and planes (bombers)

• Soldiers fought disease, lice, rats, dogs, trench foot, as well as bombs and bullets.

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Partners

How was WWI fought?

Sinking of the Lusitania

• On May 7, 1915 the Germans sunk the Lusitania killing all 1924 people on board including 128 Americans.

• Even though the people were warned not to travel in a war zone not a single person canceled.

• Many Americans urged President Woodrow Wilson to join the war.

America Enters the War• In 1917 the Zimmerman

message was decoded from Germany.

• It told Mexico to wage war on the U.S.

• President Wilson went before Congress to declare war on Germany.

America enters the Great War!

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Partners

What caused the United States to enter WWI?

Fighting Ceases

• Over the course of many years solders lost their will to fight.

• One by one countries began dropping out of the war with Russia being the first.

• Germany was left alone to fight but eventually gave up as well when money and men ran low.

• Germans signed an armistice and on 11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m. fighting ceased, the war was over.

Conflict and Change were dominant themes in history

following WWI. Much of Europe was in chaos. Many people were

hungry and homeless.

Treaty of Versailles

• Germany was required to take full responsibility for the war.

• The Treaty of Versailles imposed terrible hardships on Germany.– Could only have a small army– Surrendered its overseas colonies.– Forbidden to build large ships

Continued…

– Had to pay reparations or money to cover the cost of the war to Great Britain & France for the damages caused by the war.

– Had to give up territory (land) to surrounding countries.

- Had to disarm its military.

Purpose of Treaty

To make sure Germany could never again wage war in Europe.

This led to resentment by the Germans.

President Woodrow Wilson Worried…

• That punishing the loser nations might lead to bitterness, instability, and future war.

• He was right.

Germany plunged into …

• Economic depression,

• People resented its new republic (government)

• Believed the treaty to be a national disgrace and blamed it for the country’s hardships.

• Refer to p.15 in SCIS Europe in Transition

Misery for Germany

• Economy was ruined by the treaty.• Money was worthless.• They borrowed money from the U.S. until the

Great Depression.• Currency (money) decreased in value• The Great Depression spread through Europe.• Its industrial areas were not taken away.• Germans became very angry with their situation

and looked for a way out. They looked for a strong leader to bring them back to greatness.

• Adolf Hitler used this unhappiness to rise to power in the early 1930s and lead Europe back into war (WWII).

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Partners

How did the Treaty of Versailles affect Germany?

Rise of Adolf Hitler

• Hitler claimed he could fix all of Germany’s problems.

• He became the Chancellor of Germany.

• He blamed the government and “impure” (Jewish and others) citizens for everything.

• Hitler blamed many of Germany’s problems on one group: The Jews.

• By 1933 he and the Nazi Party (Hitler’s political group) controlled Germany.

Hitler continued….

• Hitler promised the Germans their country would create jobs and grow to be the most powerful country.

• Europe was plagued with anti-Jewish sentiments, or anti-Semitism. So promises given by Hitler encouraged

German support. Germans disregarded (didn’t think it was important or didn’t care) whom Hitler would harm through his discriminatory and racist ideas.

• Hitler’s belief in a strong central government, nationalism, and racism was known as fascism.

Partners

Why did Hitler become so important to the German people?

5. What was the Treaty of Versailles?

6. How did Hitler gain popularity with the German people?

7. How did the war affect the world?

World Wide Depression How did the war affect the world?

• Germany went broke trying to pay for the war.

• Europe’s war effort had drained its colonies of resources.

• France and Britain (victors) even struggled.

• Many nations had debts to pay.

• Returning soldiers needed jobs.

• Unemployment skyrocketed

• U.S. stock market crashed (1929)

• Around the world, unrest and nationalism (excessive pride in one’s own country) grew.

• People wanted strong leadership to make their countries rich and powerful again.

• World Wide Depression had taken hold of Europe and the world.

Questions

1. What were some causes of WWI?2. What countries made up the Allied Forces?

The Central Powers?3. How was WWI fought? 4. Why did America enter the war?5. What was the Treaty of Versailles?6. How did Hitler gain popularity with the German

people?7. How did the war affect the world?

The Russian Revolution

• Began in 1917

• 2 Parts

*February Revolution

*October Revolution

February Revolution

• People in Russia were unhappy about the way the czar was running the country. (Textbook p.322)

• Russian people were very upset over their participation in WWI.

• Overthrow of the czar by the people. • This created chaos at home and on the warfront.• Russian army was ineffective in the war so they

stopped their involvement.

• An important cause of the Russian Revolution was the differences between social and economic classes.

October Revolution

• Another name- Bolshevik Revolution…marked the first Communist revolution of the 20th century.

• Led by Vladimir Lenin and based on an ideology written by Karl Marx.

•More violent than part 1.•Civil war followed the revolution that lasted more that 2 years.•The Bolsheviks kept control of Russia and continued to rule until nearly the end of the century.

Questions

1. What effect did the Russian Revolution have on World War !?

2. Why did the Russian troops have a hard time dedicating themselves to the war?

3. Who was Lenin?

The End!