WORLD WAR I

OVERVIEW

(1914-1918)

History – Notes 8-1

Causes of WWI

• Militarism: aggressive buildup of military to

threaten other nations

• Alliance System: agreement between 2 or

more nations to cooperate or defend each

other

Causes of WWI

• Imperialism: strong countries can control

weaker ones

• Nationalism: feeling of pride in one’s

homeland

• Many Europeans nations seeking

independence / freedom

Causes of WWI

• (June 1914) Assassination of the Arch-

Duke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

Causes of WWI

• Gavrilo Princip: Assassin was Bosnian-

Serb nationalist and member of nationalist

group “The Black Hand”

Causes of WWI

• Austria declares war on Serbia

• Other nations forced by alliance system to

take sides and declare war

Alliances

Key Players

• Central Powers

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

• Bulgaria

Key Players

• Allied Powers

• Great Britain

• France

• Russia

• Italy

• United States (starting in 1917)

Map of Allies and Central Powers

Key Features

• Massive amounts of

death and destruction

• High number of

civilians killed, by war

and disease

Key Features

• Advanced weapons like tanks, planes,

machine guns, poison gas, barbed wire

WWI Photos

WWI Photos

WWI Photos

Key Features

• Trench warfare: stalemate, small gains in

territory, high loss of life in “No Man’s Land”

WWI Trenches

WWI Photos

Key Features

• Western Front:

trenches between

France and Germany

• Eastern Front:

trenches between

Russia and Germany

Results of WWI

1. Treaty of Versailles: peace treaty to end

war and establish League of Nations

2. Germany blamed for WWI, loses territory,

and forced to pay reparations (pay

damages)

3. U.S.A. an economic power and isolationist

(avoid alliances w/other countries)

Results of WWI

4. Britain and France take over Germany’s

colonies and carve up Middle East

5. Colonies in Africa and Asia seek

independence

6. WWI directly causes WWII

Stop Here

• Alright Soldiers, Let’s Rest for the Night