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This text provides an overview of the main causes of World War I, including militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. It also touches on key events such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the start of the war. The text discusses trench warfare, the Western Front, and the Christmas Truce. It concludes with the involvement of the United States in the war, including American neutrality, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the Zimmermann telegram.
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World War I Mr. Mize
Causes of WWI M-Militarism A-Alliances I-Imperialism N-Nationalism
Causes of WWI Militarism • Many of Europe’s countries competed to have the largest military • Having a large military made each country think they could never lose. • Made war look romantic Alliances • The most powerful countries in Europe formed alliances to protect each other and their interests. • Thought that it would prevent wars
Causes of WWI Imperialism • European countries competed to control the world resources. • This threatened other countries who continued to increase spending on their militaries to defend their interests. Nationalism • Minority ethnic groups wanted to break away from old European empires. • Examples: Balkan Region • Slavic nations: Poland and Czechoslovakia
Tinderbox Event Archduke Franz Ferdinand • Next in line to rule throne for Austria-Hungary • Wanted to make Bosnia feel more like Austria-Hungary • Decides to visit Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.
Tinderbox Event • Gavilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.
Tinderbox Event Gavrilo Princip after his assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
WWI Begins Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia. • Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. • Example of Pan-German nationalism • Russia pledged their support for Serbia. • Example of Pan-Slavic nationalism
WWI Begins Germany declares war on Russia. France pledges their support for Russia. Germany declares war on France. Germany invades Belgium on the way to France. Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.
Central Powers: Germany Allied Powers: Great Britain World War I Austria-Hungary France Ottoman Empire Russia Italy
Trench Warefare Germany had a plan to win the Great War. Von Schlieffen Plan
Trench Warefare Trench Warfare – type of fighting during World War I in which both sides dug trenches protected by mines and barbed wire
Trenches • Many men killed in the trenches were buried almost where they fell. These corpses, as well as the food scraps that littered the trenches, attracted rats. Quotes from soldiers fighting in the trenches: • "The rats were huge. They were so big they would eat a wounded man if he couldn't defend himself." • "I saw some rats running from under the dead men's greatcoats, enormous rats, fat with human flesh. My heart pounded as we edged towards one of the bodies. His helmet had rolled off. The man displayed a grimacing face, stripped of flesh; the skull bare, the eyes devoured and from the yawning mouth leapt a rat."
Trenches • Disease spread easily in the trenches • Trench foot • No bathrooms • No showers • No shelter from the weather
Western Front • Over 400 miles of trenches across Belgium and France. • Most offenses resulted in heavy casualties but gained little territory.
Christmas Truce 1914 One of the most remarkable incidents in history was the impromptu truce that took place on the Western Front on Christmas Day 1914. Beginning late on Christmas Eve, the entrenched British and German troops began serenading each other with songs and carols. By the next day a full truce was on, with soldiers and officers from both sides fraternizing and exchanging gifts. There was even an international soccer match played with teams comprised of warring soldiers. On December 26, 1914 the First World War started again. How sad. Ninety-four years later, in 2008, soldiers from the same opposing regiments reenacted the famous Christmas Truce in the same location. (video – 3:06)
American Neutrality · • Officially, the U.S. was a neutral country. • Nation of Immigrants • Isolationism • However, we traded food, weapons, oil, steel, and other goods far more with the Allied Powers than with the Central Powers. ·
Freedom of the Seas • The U.S. claimed the right to trade with either side in the war. • However, Britain and Germany set up blockades around the British and German coasts. ·
U-Boats • German submarines, called U-boats, torpedoed enemy ships and neutral ships trading with the enemy.
Lusitania • In 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, killing approximately 1,200 people, including 128 Americans. • Germans claimed it was carrying weapons from America. • Evidence in how quickly it sank. ·
Zimmermann telegram • Secret message from Germany to Mexico • Germany urges Mexico to attack the U.S. • Germany promised to help Mexico regain land it lost to the U.S. in the Mexican War. • The U.S. declared war on the Central Powers in 1917. – *
Zimmermann Telegram as Received by the German Ambassador to Mexico, (right) decoded words
USA Joins WWI • USA joins with the allies • Wanted to protect freedom of the seas • Selective Service Act (1917) required all men from the age of 21 to 30 to register for the military draft • By 1918, approximately 4 million Americans joined the armed forces.
USA & Treaty of Versailles • USA agreed to Treaty of Versailles, but rejected League of Nations • Thought it would drag USA into European issues • USA wanted to return to isolationism
