World War One

Causes of WWI

Nationalism - a deep devotion to one’s nation.

Imperialism - a policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially.

Causes of WWI cont.

Militarism – a policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war.

Alliance – an agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.

Alliances

The Triple Alliance - a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in the years preceding World War I.

The Triple Entente - a military alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia in the years preceding World War I.

Crisis in the Balkans

Known as the “Powder Keg” of Europe in 1914.

Made up of many nationalistic Slavic ethnic groups.

To prevent a Slavic nation Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia Herzegovina.

Gavrilo Princip – 19 year old Serbian, murders Archduke Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austria – Hungarian throne.

WWI begins with Austria-Hungary invading Serbia July 28, 1914.

Central Powers

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Bulgaria

Ottoman Empire

Allies

Great Britain

France

Russia

Japan

Italy

The Schlieffen Plan – Germany’s plan to quickly conquer France then finish off Russia.

Western Front – Northern France where trench warfare causes a stalemate for the armies of WWI.

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare – a form of warfare which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield.

Armies traded huge losses of life for small gains.

New Weapons of War

Poison Gas – different types of chlorine gas shot at the enemy causing death and injury.

Machine Gun – a gun that fires automatically which could destroy rows of advancing soldiers.

Tank - an armored combat vehicle that moved on chain tracks which could cross many types of terrain.

Submarine – an underwater vessel that fired torpedo missiles at opposing ships.

List of other New Weapons

Flamethrower Grenade Mortar Airplane Zeppelin Massive Artillery Barbed Wire Bolt-Action Rifle Canned Food Mines

Eastern Front - a stretch of battlefield along the German and Russian border.

In 1916, the Russian Army begins to collapse due to lack of industrialization.