World War One1914-1918

World War One

What makes a war a “World War”?

What was World War One about?

What impact does it still have on us?

World War One

Causes of World War One: 1. Rivalries:– There have been many wars in European History.– Many nations didn’t like or trust each other. – Colonialism increased this tension• Nations were competing for dominance around the

world

World War One

Causes of World War One:2. Alliances– All major European powers made alliances for protection– Some nations had multiple alliances

– What did these treaties of alliance say?– Why were these alliances bad?

– The alliances meant that there could be no “small war” because everyone would get sucked in.

World War One

Alliances

Allied Powers

Central Powers

France

Russia

Great Britain

Germany

Italy Austria-Hungary

Romania Ottoman Empire

Serbia

Japan Bulgaria

World War One

Causes of World War One:3. Arms Race:– What is an arms race?

– Nations of Europe began to build large militaries for protection.• Why was that bad?

– Made the nations trust each other less.– Nations began to build more to stay ahead of their enemies

• Britain and Germany had a naval arms race.

World War One

Causes of World War One:4. Nationalism– What is Nationalism?

• Having extreme pride in your nation or ethnicity• Why would this be bad?

– Europeans wanted a war to prove their superiority. Jingoism

– Ethnic groups within nations began to push for independence and sometimes used violence.

– Why was this dangerous?

World War One

How did the war begin?

• In 1914 Serbia and Austria-Hungary were arguing over borders.– Hundreds of years ago Serbia lost land in a war.– Austria-Hungary controlled the land and wouldn’t give it up.– A Serbian terrorist group (The Black Hand) had been causing

violence inside Austria-Hungary.– Many members of the Black Hand were part of, or trained by,

the Serbian Army.

World War One

June 1914 – Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary

• Austro-Hungarian Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the empire, was visiting Sarajevo.

• He was assassinated by a 16 year old member of the Black Hand.

• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia.

World War One

“The whole world falling down a flight of stairs”

War began in August when a few nations began to fight and all the others became involved.

• Britain joined in after Germany invaded neutral Belgium.• The war would last over 4 years and kill over 10 million people.• Most people throughout Europe were excited about going to

war.

World War One

The Nature of the WarFirst Industrial war

New technologies changed the nature of war forever– Motorized vehicles

• trucks, • airplanes

– More advanced weapons • machine guns, • tanks, • submarines, • longer range artillery (cannons)

– Chemical Weapons• Poison Gas

World War One

The Nature of the War• Trench Warfare– In some areas the war was fast moving.– On the Western Front (France and Belgium) the war

became a stalemate.– Both sides dug trenches to protect their soldiers.– The front lines wouldn’t move much for four years.

World War One

America’s Role• The US was neutral when the war began.– Why?• It didn’t affect us.• We saw the war as pointless and stupid.• We were trading partners with both sides.• Lots of recent immigrants might rebel if we chose sides.

– America flexed it’s muscle in 1915• Why?

World War One

The Lusitania• In 1915 Germany began “unrestricted submarine

warfare” -any ship in British waters would be sunk.• This was very successful for Germany.• The Lusitania was a luxury liner sunk off the Irish coast – – thousands of innocent civilians died, including

hundreds of Americans– The US threatened Germany with war if they didn’t stop

unrestricted submarine warfare.– Germany stopped.

World War One

The War Rages On:• Neither side was doing well.• Millions were dying in endless battles.• Germany was starting to lose.– How could Germany survive?

World War One

America at War• The US declared war in 1917– Anti-German propaganda affected Americans – The Zimmerman Note angered Americans– Woodrow Wilson made the War worth fighting • A war to end all wars

World War One

America’s Contributions to the War

• Supplies and Money– The US was the economic power of the globe, • produced tons of weapons and supplies • lent money to the allies

• Military Force– US military helped win the war

World War One

America’s Contributions to the War• Inspiration– After 3 ½ years of fighting, the armies in Europe

had begun to see the war as pointless.– President Woodrow Wilson gave the war a

purpose.• Wilson’s “Fourteen Points”• The war became “a war to end all wars”.

– Wilson was seen as a savior by people in Europe.

World War One

The End of the WarThe Russian Communist Revolution• Russia’s military did very poorly in the war• Many of Russia’s people were starving• Russian Communists launched a revolt that took over

the nation.• The Communists signed a peace treaty with Germany.

– How would this affect the war?• Germany turned all its military might against France,

Britain, the United States and Italy.

World War One

The End of the War• 1918– Germany was worn out, but had never been invaded.– Germany decided to ask for peace because they felt

the “14 Points” would guarantee them fair treatment.

• The war ended on November 11, 1918 at 11AM.

World War One

The war was over but who will win the peace?• The Versailles Peace Treaty was supposed to end the war and

establish peace.• The treaty punished Germany severely and rewarded Britain and

France.• Italy and Japan were promised new land but didn’t get it.• Russia wasn’t even invited to the Peace Conference.• In the US, many are afraid of joining the League of Nations.

– Why?– The US Senate would not ratify the treaty – Woodrow Wilson suffered a massive stroke– The US had to sign separate treaties to end the war.

World War One

Lasting Legacy

– The War created new nations in Europe– The US withdrew from international affairs– New weapons and strategies– The Soviet Union (communist) was created– The Second World War was just a matter of time