WORLD WAR I

1. WORLD WAR I

2. Eve of the War • Social Revolutions explode • Russia – Tsar forced to create national assembly • Reformers overthrow Sultan in 1908 • New technologies more destructive • Violence leads to communism and fascism

3. Four Main Causes of WWI 1. Nationalism • Each ethnic group should have its own nation • Promote nations interests and assert as superior • Rivalries b/w France, Germany, Austria-Hungary • New independent nations in Balkans – where Ottomans once ruled • Ethnic groups wanted own nation-state, threat to break up Austro-Hungarian Empire

4. 2. Imperialism • Power = possession of overseas colonies • Competition created tension b/w powers • 1900 – Britain ruled 1/4 of world • German industrialization threat to GB economic supremacy • Russia interest in Balkans threat to A-H and Turkey

5. 3. Militarism • Military values and goals take over civilian society • Kings wore military uniforms • Generals influence government • GB and Germany compete to build powerful navy • Pressure to mobilize and act quickly • Took time to assemble and move armies on railroads, leaders attacked first

6. 4. Alliance System • Two Large Alliances in Europe • Triple Alliance – Germany, A-H, Italy • Triple Entente – Russia, France and G.B. (US later) • Any dispute b/w any two countries drag all other in

7. Start of the War • Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated • Austrian leaders believed Serbians helped a Slav terrorist group (Black Hand) • A-H invaded Serbia, Russia entered to protect Serbia, Germany entered to protect obligations to Austria • G.B. and France entered to help Russia • Italy refused to join since A-H attacked first

8. Fighting the War • Avoiding two front war, Germany tried to take Paris before Russia entered war • US President Woodrow Wilson urged Americans to remain neutral

9. New techniques and Weapons • Machine gun, poison gas, submarines, airplanes • Easier to defend position than attack • Trench warfare – dug ditches to create fort positions • Separated by fields of barbed wire and mines (no man’s land) • Neither side could advance, fighting became stationary • German subs (U-Boats) attacked large ships

10. US Enters the War • US sent supplies to G.B. and France, German sub attacked ships • U-Boat sank a passenger ship, Lusitania • US enters war • Wilson Fourteen Points – redraw Europe map, each nationality gets own state, freedom of the seas, end to secret diplomacy, and create League of Nations

11. War Propaganda • Used by Governments to influence public opinion • Built up nationalism • “War will be over by Christmas”

12. Impact on the Home Front • Total War- complete mobilization of resources and people • Government powers expand • DORA Act passed- protestors = traitors • Women’s role drastically increased • Began fight for women’s rights

14. Aftermath of War • Germany surrenders 1918 • Paris Peace Conference • Treaty of Versailles – peace with Germany • Peace Terms • 1. Germany’s Territorial Loss – Independent Poland created, lost territory in France, Poland and overseas • 2. Germany lost navy, army size reduced, pay reparations to Allies for starting war • 3. A-H Empire divided into new national states, Turkey lost territory in Middle East • 4. League of Nations formed to defend each other against aggressors, weakened when US and Russian failed to join