World War I

1. World War I Glencoe World History Chapter 23 SSWH16 The student will demonstrate an understanding of long-term causes of World War I and its global impact. a. Identify the causes of the war; include Balkan nationalism, entangling alliances, and militarism. b. Describe conditions on the war front for soldiers; include the Battle of Verdun. c. Explain the major decisions made in the Versailles Treaty; include German reparations and the mandate system that replaced Ottoman control. d. Analyze the destabilization of Europe in the collapse of the great empires; include the Romanov and Hapsburg dynasties.

2. Causes of WWI • Nationalism • Thought this would lead to cooperation?!?!?! • Entangling Alliances • Triple Alliance (1882) • Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy • Triple Entente (1907) • France, Great Britain, and Russia • Militarism – aggressive preparation for war • Growth of mass armies • After 1900 draft present in most European countries

3. The Spark that led to War • June 28, 1914- A member of a Serbian terrorist organization, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie • Archduke Francis Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne • States in Southeast Europe had been struggling for many years to free themselves from Ottoman rule • Serbia wanted a large Slavic state in the Balkans; Austria-Hungary determined this was NOT happening

4. The Spark that led to War • Austria Hungary made harsh demands which Serbia refused to meet. • July 28, 1914- Austria Hungary along with its ally, Germany, declared war on Serbia, who was supported by its ally, Russia. • Within a week, Austria Hungary and Germany were at war with Russia, France, and Great Britain • Before the war ended, 30 countries on six continents would be involved

5. Two Sides • Central Powers • Austria Hungary • Germany • Ottoman Empire • Allied Powers (Allies) • France • Russia • Great Britain • Italy (joined in 1915)

7. Western Front • Germany hoped for a quick end to the war • Germany stopped at the First Battle of the Marne • 600 mile line from the Swiss border to the English Channel Western Front • No man’s land~ area in between the trenches • Thousands died, no one able to break through enemy line or end the trench warfare

8. Eastern Front • Marked by mobility • Russians faced enormous losses • 2.5 million Russians killed, captured, or wounded • Germany, Austria-Hungary, and ally Bulgaria eliminated Serbia and moved to the Western Front • Italy betrayed Germany by attacking Austria in May 1915

10. Conditions on the Warfront • Generals did not know how to deal with trench warfare in west • During 1916 and 1917 millions died in search of the elusive break through • In 1916, in 10 months at Verdun, France, 700,000 men lost their lives over a few miles of land • War of attrition • Living in holes in the ground • Decomposing bodies, rats, etc…

12. Military Situation in 1917 • By 1917, Allies had faced enormous losses • Allied offensives on the Western front had been badly defeated • Tsar of Russia deposed and new government established- Bolsheviks (Communists) • Russian Revolution in November 1917, led to their withdrawal a few months later ceding territory to Germany • American entry a bright spot to a bleak year • Provided a much need psychological boost • Fresh men • Fresh material

14. Germany’s Last Bid for Victory • March 1918~ Germany launched a powerful campaign to end the war • By April, they were 50 miles from Paris • July 18, German advance stopped at the Second Battle of the Marne by a combined force of French, Moroccan, and American troops supported by tanks

15. World War I Map Activity

16. Paris Peace Conference • January 1919 • 27 victorious allied nations met to make a final settlement but there were problems… • Secret treaties (Territories, Reparation Payments, etc…) • National interests • Germany not invited to defend themselves • Russia in a civil war and could not come

17. Big Four • Great Britain • Prime Minister David Lloyd George • Elected on platform “Make Germany Pay” • France • Premier Georges Clemenceau • Wanted national security from Germany invasion & revenge • Italy • Vittorio Orlando- Smaller role than the big three powers • The United States • President Woodrow Wilson • Wanted lasting peace… compromised believing the League of Nations would fix any unfair settlements; Senate refused to ratify the agreement

19. Treaty of Versailles • Late June 1919, final peace treaty signed • 5 separate treaties with Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey • Germany is the most significant • Germany responsible for starting war • Must pay reparations for all the damage to the Allied countries • Reduce army, navy and eliminate Air Force • Zone was completely demilitarized • Alsace & Lorraine returned to France

20. Results of the Treaties • Ottoman Empire broken up • Poland recreated from sections of East Germany • Austro-Hungarian empire disappeared • Czechoslovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Yugoslavia were created (from former Austro-Hungarian Empire)

21. Mandate System • To gain support of Arab states in the Ottoman Empire, West promised them independence, but changed their minds after the war… • Mandate system developed- a nation officially governed another nation on behalf of the League of Nations but did not own the territory • France- Lebanon & Syria • Great Britain- Iraq and Palestine

23. Impact • Death of almost 10 million people • Revolutions broke up old empires (Russian Revolution- Romanov dynasty and the Hapsburg dynasty in the Austro-Hungarian empire) and created new states • Power of governments increased; strong central authority a way of life • Communism became a factor in global conflict as other nations turned to its ideology.