WORLD WAR I
World War 1
3 Continents 31 Countries 65 Million Soldiers 37 Million Casualties 91,198 Deaths by Gas 6,395 Allied and Neutral Ships lost $186.3 Billion Financial Losses
M.A.I.N. causes of WWI
DRIVING FORCE WAS NATIONALISM
Militarism
Imperial nations built up bigger and more powerful
armies and navies which allowed them to conquer land
Example: The size of France
and Germany’s militaries
doubled from 1870-1914.
Alliances
Economic and political rivalries set up a system
of alliances
Triple Alliance – Central Powers
○ Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy
Triple Entente – Allies Powers
○ Britain, France, & Russia
Europeans believed this created a balance of
power
Alliances
Imperialism
Newly united countries (Germany & Italy)
wanted to establish colonies to gain New
Markets and Raw Materials which created
WEALTH! $$$$
Both countries pursued colonies in Africa. The
Germans wanted the Congo !
The Italians wanted Ethiopia !
Nationalism Was the Driving Force! Behind WW I
Many Ethnic people wanted independence from their
empires.
Especially in the Balkans From the (Austro-Hungarian &
Ottoman) Empires
They wanted Nation States. One Nationality -- One State
The Differences led to conflict and an assassination which
caused WW I to Begin
Outbreak of World War I
Austro-Hungary and Ottoman Empires had ruled over the Balkan Peninsula for years.
Result= Nationalism in the Balkans! Serbia gained independence from
Ottoman Empire. Serbia wanted to unite with Bosnia
which was part of the Austro- Hungarian Empire.
The “Powder Keg” & “Spark”
‘Powder Keg’ was the unstable Balkans Region
The “Spark” That started WW I was…….
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to
the Austro-Hungarian Empire) In Bosnia by a Serbian
nationalist
The Fight between Austria-Hungary
and Serbia quickly involved many
European Countries.
Nations honored their agreements to back one
another! !
Russia=Serbia’s ally and they declare war on Austria-Hungary.
Germany= Austria-Hungary’s ally and they declare war on Russia. France and Great Britain= Russia’s ally and they declare war on
Germany.
WORLD WAR I
3 FRONT WAR WW I
The WESTERN FRONT( French / German border )
THE EASTERN FRONT( Russian / German Border )
THE ITALIAN FRONT( Northern Italy Bordering France & Austro- Hungary )
The Fronts and Alliances
WESTERN FRONT
Most Trench Warfare took place on the Western Front
Fighting was between France, England & USA vs. Germany
Ended in a Stalemate in 1917
EASTERN FRONT
Fighting between Russia & Germany
Russia Pulled out of the War in 1917
and signed a treaty with Germany.
Germany can now focus on the Western Front
Italian Front
Italy Switched Sides
( Sided with the Allied Powers)
Fought with France
Fought against Germany and Austro-Hungary
New Weapons Industrial Revolution developed new weapons which
made the war more deadly Development of trench warfare New Weapons
Long range artilleryPoison gasesGas masksSubmarinesTanksMachine gunsAirplanesFlame throwers
Both sides thought the war would be over quickly
WW I Technology
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