Setting the Stage

CHAPTER 27-WW1

WORLD WAR 1• Meaning

• Great War

• War to End all Wars

• Began in Europe in 1914 and lasted until 1918

4 MAIN CAUSES OF WW1: 1. MILITARISM

• Each country tried to have more weapons then the other

• Military gained more power

• Everyone prepared for war in Europe:

• New Weapons

• Warships

• Expanding armed forces

2. IMPERIALISM• Desire for more land, wealth, and land colonies

• Surge of imperialism led to sharp rivalries in Europe.

• Germany: only could expand if we take away from others.

3. ALLIANCES• Groups of nations organized against each other in an effort to

maintain a “balance of power” around the world.

• Secret alliances that helped maintain peace for 20 years in Europe lead its creators into War.

4. NATIONALISM• “Feeling of deep loyalty of one’s country”

• Strong nationalistic competition had developed among France, Britain, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Germany.

• National unrest within certain European countries with diverse population occurs:

BALKAN “POWDER KEG”• June 28th, 1914: Archduke Ferdinand and wife visit Sarajevo

(capital of Bosnia). Bosnia was province of Austria-Hungary had taken over in 1908 (Imperialism).

• Ferdinand was next in line to rule Austria-Hungary Empire.

• 19 year old Bosnia nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke and wife.

• Austria-Hungary believe Serbia government

is behind murder and wanted to punish Serbs.

BEGINNING OF WAR: ULTIMATUM• One party threatens harmful action if the demands it has made are

not met. Austro-Hungarian ultimatum:

1. Serbian govt. must suppress all groups that opposed Austro-Hungarian govt.

2. Serbia must dismiss school teachers and ban books that did not support Austro-Hungary.

3. Serbia must dismiss govt. officials who spoke out against Austro-Hungary.

4. Austro-Hungarian officials must be allowed to participate in trials of those accused of assassination.

• Serbia accepted first three terms, not fourth.

• Austria-Hungary declared war.

MOBILIZATION OF EUROPE• Readying troops for war

• August 1, 1914: Germany declared war on Russia

• Germany declared war on France two days later

• Belgium: was guaranteed neutrality. Belligerents: warring nations

• Germany wanted to cross Belgian territory and they did so.

• Britain declared war on Germany later that day.

EXPANSION• Later in August, Japan entered the war on the side of Great Britain/France.

• Everyone at war except for Italy for 10 months.

• Secret treaty with allies: guaranteed share of spoils with Germany defeat

• May, 1915: Italy entered the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary

• October 1914: Ottoman Empire entered war with Austria-Hungary/Germany

• Ottoman Empire: Major control of waterway

• Russia’s Black Sea bottled up

• Allies had trouble sending supplies

• Bulgaria: enter war in 1915 with Germany

EUROPE 1914-1918

Allied Powers:

• France

• Great Britain

• Russia

• Italy

• United States (Eventually)

• Japan (Eventually)

Central Powers:

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Ottoman Empire

• Bulgaria

WW1 SIDES: THE BELLIGERENTS