HGS 12 – 20 th Century Background Information Part II

1. HGS 12 – 20th Century Background Information Part II This presentation was designed for HGS 12 students at Millwood High

2. WORLD WAR I • Largest military conflict in human history • First Global conflict • Marks the beginning of a new era: • Europe’s decline • Rise of new “world powers”

3. ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR I • Economic Factors • Development of European capitalism • European countries seek new sources of primary goods and markets to exploit, creating global competition • Arms Race – involving principal arms producers

4. ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR I • Nationalism • Germany – young and dynamic • France – seeking revenge for Franco-Prussian War(1870-71) treaty – Alsace and Lorraine • Large empires(particularly the Austro-Hungarian Empire) are experiencing upheaval from conquered minority groups • Nationalism leads to the “war mentality”

5. ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR I • Alliances • Diplomatic agreements – often done secretly • Lead to the arms race and plans for mobilization in war time • Once plans are set into action, become very difficult to stop • Create three main rivalries • The Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia • France and Germany • Great Britain and Germany

6. Conflict – The Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia • Balkan Region • Russia is considered to be a security threat • Serbian Nationalists seen as a threat – encourage rebellion in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as others… • Russia declares itself protectors of the Slavic minorities • They really want control of the Bosphor strait and the Dardanelles which serves as an entrance to the west to control the A.-H. Empire

8. Conflict – France and Germany • Franco-Prussian War(1870-71) • France accepted a humiliating treaty and seeks revenge • France seeks to acquire her former territories of Alsace and Lorraine • France fears German growth/expansion – much more significant than her own(economy, population, military) • France approaches Russia to form an alliance in 1895. This leads to Germany forming alliances with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire

9. Conflict – Germany and Great Britain • The principal of “balance of power” since Napoleon • Germany’s navy rivals that of Great Britain – first time in centuries • Great Britain signs alliances with both France and Russia

10. Triple Alliance The German Empire The Austro-Hungarian Empire The Ottoman Empire Triple Entente Great Britain France Russia WWI - ALLIANCES

12. WAR IS DECLARED! • Europe is the battle field at the outbreak • Fighting also begins in the Middle East, Africa and in the Pacific • Trench warfare – slow – many casualties • Verdun – 1916 – 500,000 casualties • La Somme – 1916 – 600,000 casualties • By the end of 1914 Russia has lost 1.3 million soldiers to the war.