The Great WarUnit 7, SSWH 16 a p. 816-838

Militarism•Militarism—policy of glorifying

military power, preparing army • Protect overseas colonies and

interest• Social Darwinism—only the strong

survive• Results in an arms race (UBOAT)

Alliances• Germany believes France wants revenge

for loss in 1870 Franco-Prussian War • Otto von Bismarck seeks to isolate France

with a series of treaties/alliances:- forms Triple Alliance—Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy—in 1882

Response is Triple Entente—Britain, Russia, France

Alliances Threaten Peace• Kaiser Wilhelm II: German ruler in 1888• Foreign policy changes in 1890 with

dismissal of Bismarck, German Foreign Minister.- alliance with Russia dropped; Russia thenallies with France -effort to strengthen German navy, which alarms Britain

• Britain, France, Russia form Triple Entente alliance in 1907

Imperialism

• Domination of a country/territory by a stronger country

• Created by the need for raw materials (coal & iron) in industrialized countries

• Colonies became a source of competition among nations

• Morocco• Russo-Japanese War

The Rise of Nationalism (1)

•Nationalism leads many groups to demand independence

Balkan – Powder Keg A Restless Region• Many Slavic people in Balkans want

independence • New nation of Serbia made up largely of Slavs• Austria-Hungary annexes Slavic region Bosnia

and Herzegovina (1908)• Serbia outraged, sees itself as rightful ruler of

Bosnia & Herzegovina

A Shot Rings Throughout Europe (spark that starts the war)

• June 1914: Serbian rebel, Gavrilo Princip, killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austro-Hungarian heir

•Austria declares war on Serbia; Russia (a Slavic country) comes to aid of Serbia

Europe Plunges into War

Unit 6, SSWH 16 b

The Great War Begins – Aug. 1914

• Russia moves troops to its borders with Austria & Germany• Germany declares war on Russia,

& quickly attacks France• •Great Britain declares war on

Germany

Nations Take Sides• By mid-August 1914, two sides at

war throughout Europe:- Central Powers—Germany,

Austria-Hungary (and other nations)

- Allies—Britain, France, Russia (and other nations)

A Bloody Stalemate• Western Front—heavy battle zone in

northern France• Schlieffen Plan—German plan to defeat

France, then fight Russia• German army advances to outskirts of �

Paris• Germans retreat at First Battle of the �

Marne• Schlieffen Plan fails; Germany has to �

fight two-front war

War in the Trenches• Conflict descends into trench warfare—

armies fighting from trenches• Battles result in many deaths, small land

gains - life in trenches is miserable �(unsanitary/machine gun = deaths)• Massive losses in 1916: battle of Verdun

(gained 4 miles, each lost 300,000) & Somme (gained 5 miles each lost 500,000)

Early Fighting – Eastern Front• Eastern Front—site of main

fighting along the German-Russian border•Russians push into Austria & �

Germany, but soon retreat

Russia Struggles• Russia’s war effort suffering by

1916; many casualties, few supplies• Huge size of Russian army keeps �

it a formidable force- prevents Germany from sending

more troops to the Western Front

A Global ConflictUnit 7, SSWH 16 b & c

The Gallipoli Campaign• Allies move to capture Ottoman

Dardanelles strait in February 1915• Hope to defeat Ottoman Empire, a

Central Powers ally• •Also want to open a supply line

through region to Russia• •Effort ends in costly Allied defeat

America Joins the Fight• Germany seeks to control Atlantic Ocean

to stop supplies to Britain, uses unrestricted submarine warfare - ships sunk without warning• Halts policy in 1915, after sinking of

Lusitania angers U.S. (Killed 128 Americans)• •Renews unrestricted policy in 1917,

hopes to starve Britain quickly

• •Effort to enlist Mexico anger U.S. (Zimmerman Note: Germany asks Mexico to attack U.S.)• •U.S. declares war against Germany

in April 1917, joining Allies p. 832

War Affects the Home Front• WW I becomes total war—nations devote

all resources to war govt takes control of �economy to produce war goods• Nations ration: limiting purchases of war-�

related goods• Propaganda—one-sided information to �

build morale, support for war• 1000s of women fill jobs held by men• Women experience war as nurses�

Allies Win the War• �Unrest in Russia forces Czar to step

down from throne in 1917• Communists soon take control of �

Russia’s government – Vladimir Lenin (leader)• Russia signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

with Germany in March 1918, Russia pulls out of war

Central Powers Collapse• With Russia gone, Germany moves

most forces to Western Front• •Allies force Germans to retreat at

2nd Battle of Marne• Revolution in Austria-Hungary & stop

fighting • Allies win war; armistice (end

fighting) signed in Nov. 11, 1918

Legacy of The Great War•War takes heavy toll: 8.5 million

soldiers dead, 21 million wounded•War devastates European

economies, drains national treasuries• •Many acres of land/homes,

villages, towns destroyed p. 834-835

A Flawed Peace

Unit 7, SSWH 16 c & dp. 836 -837

Key Leaders Come Together• Group of leaders known as the

Big Four dominate peace talks:- U.S. president Woodrow Wilson- French ruler Georges Clemenceau- David Lloyd George of Great

Britain- Vittorio Orlando of Italy

Wilson’s Plan for Peace• Wilson’s 14 Points—outline for

lasting world peace• Calls for free trade & end to secret �

alliances, military buildups• Promotes self-determination—the �

right to govern own nation• �Envisions international peace-

keeping body to settle world dispute

The Versailles Treaty• Britain& France oppose 14 Points: wanted to

be stronger, want to punish/weaken Germany, treaty included (3): - creates League of Nations—international org. to keep peace- “War Guilt Clause” blames Germans for war, forces Germany to pay damages to nations (reparations) - $33 Billion- League to rule German colonies until ready for independence

A Troubled Treaty• Versailles treaty changes the look of

Europe• •Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman

Empire all lose lands• •Former Ottoman lands in Southwest

Asia turn into mandates• •New countries created in southeastern

Europe; Russia gives up land

“A Peace Built on Quicksand”• Treaty creates bitterness on both sides• •German people feel bitter & betrayed after

taking blame for war• America never signs Treaty of Versailles:

many Americans oppose League of Nations & involvement with Europe

• •Some former colonies express anger over not winning independence

• •Japan, Italy criticize agreement; gain less land than they want