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The Road to War. Angela Brown Chapter 10 Section 1. June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were shot to death in Sarajevo, Bosnia by terrorist Gavrilo Princip. Sarajevo was a new province within the Hungarian Empire.
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The Road to War Angela Brown Chapter 10 Section 1
June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were shot to death in Sarajevo, Bosniaby terrorist Gavrilo Princip. • Sarajevo was a new province within the Hungarian Empire. • Princip, a Bosnian Nationalist, believed Austria-Hungary had no right to rule Bosnia. • http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/8/8c/220px-Franz_ferdinand.jpg
Causes of WWI • Imperialism, militarism, nationalism and alliances played apart. • Imperialism – sharpened rivalries within Europe – Japan joined in when it won the Sino-Japanese war 1895 and acquired Korea, Taiwan, and territory on China’s mainland. • Militarism- diplomacy had taken a back seat to militarism – endless planning for war made war much more likely
3. Nationalism – 1. tendency for countries to act in their own interest, when such action went against another nation, warfare could result. 2. Ethnic minority in a country fights for independence leds to violence • 4, Alliances – alliances bound great powers to come to each others aid in the event of attack
Conflict Expands • July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia convinced they were behind the attack. • July 29 – Russia, as Serbia’s protector, began mobilization. • Germany, Austria-Hungary’s ally demanded Russia stop mobilizing. • Russia refused. • Russia’s ally France began to ready troops. • Germany did as well.
Aug. 1 – Germany declared War on Russia. The country lay between Russia and France had developed a first strike strategy. • Schlieffen Plan – quick sweep through France then concentrate on Russia • German army had to pass through neutral Belgium- this brought Great Britain in as Belgium’s protector
Central Powers = Germany, Austria-Hungary • Allies = Russia, France, Serbia and Great Britain
Stalemate • Each side confident of a swift victory within 6 weeks. • Evenly matched = stalemate • Stalemate – situation in which neither side is able to gain advantage • Modern firepower – machine guns – long range artillery to stop advances • France and Great Britain held Germany 30 miles outside of Paris for months. http://ux1.eiu.edu/~nekey/gifsplus/british/trenches.jpg
Austrian army captured Belgrade, Serbian capital. • German and Austro-Hungarian forces pushed Russian lines back. • Ottoman Empire, Turkey, joined Central Powers. • Italy joined Allies in 1915.
Modern Warfare • Machine guns fired 450 rounds a minute. • Hand grenades, artillery shells, poison gases • Unaccustomed to weaponry – officers repeatedly gave order to attack • 1916 Battle of Somme – British lost 20,000 troops in one day. • http://www.diggerhistory2.info/graveyards/images/equip-uniforms-badges/fk-kit1914.jpg
http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~worldwarone/ WWI/Weapons/images/machinegun-grenades-sm.jpg
Morale sank – began using any tactic necessary (burned fields, killed livestock, poisoned wells) • German subs torpedoed any ship believed carrying arms to Allies. • British naval blockade starved German people. • http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~worldwarone/WWI/Weapons/images/BrowningGun-Rifle-sm.jpg
American Response • U.S. newspapers recorded war in bold headlines. • 1/3 nations 92 million 1st or 2nd generation immigrants – identified with old countries • ¼ German, 1/8 Italian favored Central Powers over Allies
Most Americans opposed the Central Powers. • Kaiser Wilhelm, an autocrat, ruler with unlimited power. • Americans saw German people frightening militarism, cold blood efficiency.
American Neutrality • Trade influenced American position on war. • German subs and British blockades put investments at risk. • Aug. 4, 1914 - President Wilson proclaimed U.S. neutral country. • Protested actions on both sides and tried to act as peacemaker.
Preparedness Movement • U.S. business leaders welcomed proclamation of neutrality. • “Preparedness” wanted U.S. to be in position to aid Great Britain due to commercial ties. • 1914 National Security League to “promote patriotic education and national sentiment and service among people of U.S.”.
1915 leaders convinced government to set up training camps. • 1916 Wilson had worked out argument with Congress for large increases in armed forces.
Peace Movement • Movement consisted of populists, progressives and social reformers. • Women were very active. • 1915 American Union Against Militarism founded.
Peace advocates in Congress insisted on paying for preparedness through makers of arms and higher income taxes. • They thought it would change the war attitude. • Congress increased taxes but preparedness movement remained strong.