WOODROW WILSON AND WWI 1914-1918. President Woodrow Wilson, 1908- 1913-1921.
WWI What? War invovling nearly all the nations of the World. When? 1914-1918.
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Transcript of WWI What? War invovling nearly all the nations of the World. When? 1914-1918.
WORLD WAR I
WWI
What? War invovling nearly all the nations
of the World. When? 1914-1918
Causes
M-Militarism A- Alliances N- Nationalism I- Imperialism A- Assassination of Archduke Francis
Ferdinand
Militarism
• Massive military buildup in European countries, late 1800s and early 1900s
• Wanted to protect overseas colonies from other nations
• Growing power of armed forces left all sides ready to act at first sign of trouble
• Minor disagreements had potential to turn to armed conflict
Alliances
• Nations formed partnerships to protect against opposing forces
• Central Powers united Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
• Great Britain joined France, Russia in Allied Powers
• Believed no one nation would attack another, because allies would join fight
Imperialism
• Late 1800s and early 1900s saw quest to build empires
• Created rivalry, ill will among European nations
• Germany, France, Russia, Great Britain vied to become great imperial nations
• Each did not want others to gain power
Nationalism
• Strong devotion to one’s national group or culture, increased in late 1800s
• Led to formation of new countries, struggles for power
• Most visible in Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe
• Home to many ethnic groups trying to break free from Ottoman Empire
Assassination
June 28, 1914: Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and wife assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand
Fighting Begins
• Germany faced war on two fronts: Russia to east, France to west
• Decided to strike France quickly then move to Russia
• Began with quick strike into neutral Belgium
• Attack on neutral country led Great Britain to declare war on Germany
Key Players
Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary
Allied Powers Great Britain France Russia Serbia
Trench Warfare
A new fighting style in which each side fights from deep ditches, or trenches dug into the ground
Retreating Germans dug series of trenches Waited in trenches for Allied attack Trenches elaborately constructed, cleverly concealed
Allies dug trenches of their own Major battles for months with little change in
positions Deadlocked region became known as Western
Front
Trench Warfar
e
New Weapons
Machine gun Poison gas Airplane Submarine Tank Why these weapons? Why now?
Russian Revolution
Unhappiness with the war among the Russian people Germany/Austria beating Russians
Changes in government Lenin transported Mensheviks (moderates) victorious
Bolshevik counter revolution Russia withdraws from war
Germany ready to have a single front war
New German Offensive
•Wanted to deal decisive blow to Central Powers before U.S. had time to ready for war
•Opportunity came with Russia’s withdrawal from war– Russia out by end of 1917– German troops no longer needed on Eastern front– Could launch new offensive in the west
Assault on West
• Launched major assault, March 1918• Made progress, advanced to within 40 miles of Paris
• High cost to Germany, lost 800,000 troops
• By June, 1918, U.S. troops arrived in Europe
• Gave Allies hope, discouraged Germans
End of the War
Battle of Argonne broke German morale Versailles Peace Treaty
70 nationalities Woodrow Wilson (League of Nations) Britain and France desires
Fence Germany in Reparations Mandates over other territories
Division of German colonies German reaction
Too harsh Felt justified in the war
Seeds of WWII planted
Economic Costs Political Change
• War destroyed national economies
• Farmland, cities devastated• Economic chaos in much of
Europe• Cost Europe role as
dominant economic region of world
• U.S., Japan, others prospered during war
• World War I caused widespread political unrest
• Communist revolution in Russia
• Monarchies in Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire overthrown
• Political, social turmoil would shape world in years to come
Human Costs• Nearly 9 million soldiers killed in battle• Millions wounded, taken prisoner• Almost an entire generation of young German, Russian, French men
died, were wounded in war• Deadly outbreak of influenza spread by returning soldiers killed
some 50 million worldwide, spring 1918
Treaty of VersaillesAfter difficult negotiations, the Allies finally compromised on the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was named after the French Palace of Versailles, where the treaty signing took place.
• Germany forced to pay enormous amount of money to war’s victims
• Treaty also assessed responsibility for the war on Germany
Key points
• Military size limited
• Return conquered lands to France, Russia
• German land taken to form Poland
• Other colonies given to various world powers
Weaker Germany
• Furious, though no choice but to sign
• Reparations crippled economy
• Bitterness would affect German politics in years to come
German reaction
AftermathLeague of Nations
• Organization of world governments proposed by Wilson
• Established by Treaty of Versailles
Main goals• Encourage cooperation, keep
peace between nations• Germany excluded• U.S. did not ratify treaty, not
member, weakened League
Other treaties• Separate agreements with all
defeated Central Powers • Made important changes to
Europe
Changes in Europe• Austria-Hungary, Ottoman
Empire lands broken apart • Independent nations created:
Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Turkey