WORLD WAR IThe Great War

1914-1918

FHAO – World War 1

Objectives: Students will be able to describe some of the

conditions in Europe leading up to World War 1. Students will work together to understand the origins

of World War 1. Students will make determinations about the impact of

World War 1 on Germany during the creation of the Weimar Republic.

Essential Questions: How do choices and circumstances help some political

parties gain power and cause others to lose power? How do people respond to disappointment, shame, and

humiliation?

FHAO – World War 1

Group Analysis: Complete assigned reading in the HHB

book and answer guided reading questions. Prepare to share about your reading to the

class.

Causes

Long Term M (militarism) A (Alliance System) I (Imperialism) N (Nationalism)

Short Term-Direct Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of

Austria-Hungary by Serbian nationalists Provokes Austria-Hungary to declare war on

Serbia…Alliances are called upon

Nationalism

Nationalism, or devotion to one’s nation; kick-started international and domestic tension. Groups of people started to believe that a nation

should express the heritage of a single ethnic group. Heightened international rivalries. New Nations formed = Unification of German &

Italian States EXAMPLE: Alsace-Lorraine – This was a former

French territory taken by the Germans in 1871. The French were humiliated in battle and wanted the land back.

Social Darwinists believed that the best nation would come out ahead in the constant competition among countries.

Industrial output, trade and the possession of an overseas empire were the yardsticks of wealth and greatness.

“Powder Keg of Europe” – The Balkan Peninsula

Imperialism

Imperialism – Industrialization led to population

increase in Europe Population increase led to a higher need

for overseas access to resources Industrialized nations competed among

them selves as they carved colonies out of Africa islands in the Pacific China.

Example: Austria-Hungary annexed parts of the Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Militarism

Militarism: Glorification of the military grew, in the

competing countries and fueled this arms race even more.

A strong NAVY would support the ideals of Imperialism

Germany armed themselves more than anyone else. Most dangerous guns in the world.

Machine Gun, Mobile Artillery, Tanks, Submarines, Airplanes

Alliances

Alliances: Nations knew that if they declared

war, powerful allies were obligated to fight along with them.

Alliances

Prior to WWI Triple Entente – Great Britain, Russia,

France Triple Alliance – Italy, Germany, Austria-

Hungary During WWI

Triple Entente (“Allied Powers”) Triple Alliance (“Central Powers”) – Italy

drops out; Ottoman Empire added

Short Term Cause

Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to throne of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914.

Assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia.

Gavrilo Princip, an ethnic Serb, killed them both. He believed that Bosnia rightfully belonged to Serbia.

This assassination triggered WWI!!

Short Term Cause

Assassination of Ferdinand Austria-Hungary issues ultimatum to

Serbia = investigate & punish who did this

Austria-Hungary gets support from Germany = Germany begins to Mobilize

Serbia gets support from Russia = Russia begins to mobilize

Short Term Cause

JULY 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declares war on

SERBIA… Alliances are called upon… Germany & Russia are brought into the

conflict

“Who’s to Blame?”

Trench Warfare

War on the “western front” carried on for three years as a STALEMATE

American Neutrality

The U.S. remains neutral from 1914-1917 (war ended in 1918)

Wilson wants U.S. to serve as light of democracy for rest of world

Hard to pick sides: 1/3 of Americans in 1910 were immigrants

(most from Europe) Immigrants chose sides – supported home

lands (U.S. was divided) Germany seen as bully – invaded Belgium;

killed innocent civilians

American Neutrality

America Goes to War

Woodrow Wilson urges congress to declare war on April 2, 1917

The U.S. must now mobilize for war

Armistice Day

The eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month…1918 Germany agreed to a ‘cease-fire’ & signed

the armistice (truce) We celebrate as ‘Veterans’ Day

Final Toll – bloodiest war in history (until WWII) 20 million dead (1/2 civilians) 10 million displaced (refugees)

Wilson fights for peace

WWI 1914-1918; Who lost? What happened after war? The Treaty of Versailles Woodrow Wilson wants PEACE throughout the

world… Wilson’s 14 Points:

There were 3 parts to speech 1-5: Laws to prevent future wars 6-13: Boundary changes based on the principle of

self-determination 14: The League of Nations – International

peacekeeping *Not many of his points were actually agreed to

The Treaty of Versailles

Allies (along w/ Central Powers) signed peace treaty – Hall of Mirrors; June 28, 1919

Provisions: Established 9 new nations (Finland, Estonia,

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia)

Ottoman Empire divided b/w France & G.B. (Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan)

* Punished Germany: 1) return Alsace-Lorraine to France, 2)no army allowed, 3) War-guilt clause 4) Reparations!

Russia (now the USSR) lost more land than Germany