LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

NATIONALISM Loyalty and pride for one’s nation People usually share common language, history or culture In Germany, many small regions united to form one country (late 1800’s)

Problem: small disputes between 2 countries can become major issues and involve many countries Austria-Hungary and Russia: Made up of many minority groups Many had a desire to unify all Slavic people (Pan-Slavism) Austrian government was loyal to Germany (Pan-Germanism)

MANY ETHNIC GROUPS FOUND WITHIN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

ALLIANCES Fear and distrust among countries led to the formation of alliances Discouraged attacks from enemies Dangers: Gave countries a sense of security A country may deal differently with another if it has support Conflict will involve numerous countries instead of the original 2

Triple Entente: Triple Alliance: Germany Austria-Hungary Italy Great Britain France Russia

IMPERIALISM Domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region (Colonies) Major European nations began dividing up Africa, Asia and the Middle East into colonies: Supply raw materials for production Larger market to sell goods More opportunities for investments

EUROPEAN COLONIES WORLDWIDE

Britain was the world’s superpower throughout most of the 1700’s and 1800’s: However: Germany began to out produce Britain by early 1900’s Also competing for colonies worldwide Created an economic rivalry

MILITARISM Glorification (build up) of the military Military leaders began to gain more influence in national policy due to rivalry among countries The public supported military build up and the use of force to achieve national goals

Kaiser Wilhelm BRITAIN: World’s best navy Began to fear Germany’s strength British Warship GERMANY: Best trained army in world Significant increase in naval power(u-boats)

An Industrialized War Weapons were produced with the same efficient methods of mass production that industrialists had applied to other products Weapons were produced with the same efficient methods of mass production that industrialists had applied to other products

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN WARFARE Machine Gun: Accurate and rapid fire 1 man could hold off a hundred

The Machine Gun One of the most important weapons of WWI One of the most important weapons of WWI Highly effective Highly effective Land armies often found any advance difficult and costly Land armies often found any advance difficult and costly

Machine Guns

Trench Warfare Protection from machine gun fire and artillery bombardments Protection from machine gun fire and artillery bombardments Armies dug large trenches where they might live for months Armies dug large trenches where they might live for months

British boys play acting Trench Warfare

Tanks Introduced by the British Introduced by the British An armored vehicle mounted with guns An armored vehicle mounted with guns Enabled troops to break though enemy lines Enabled troops to break though enemy lines

TANKS Armored vehicle designed to break trenches Protected advancing troops Often slow and clumsy

POISONOU S GAS Various gases caused choking, blinding, or skin blisters Used to kill or disable troops during an attack Gas masks lessened the effectiveness

Poison Gas The Germans were the first to use it The Germans were the first to use it The Allies quickly followed suit The Allies quickly followed suit

American wearing a Gas MaskBritish Horse wearing a Gas Mask

American wearing a respirator Sounding the gong in preparation of a gas attack

Casualties From Gas - The Numbers Country Total CasualtiesDeath Austria-Hungary100,0003,000 British Empire188,7068,109 France190,0008,000 Germany200,0009,000 Italy60,0004,627 Russia419,34056,000 USA72,8071,462 Others10,0001,000

FLAMETHROWERS Used to clear enemy trenches Could be hazardous carrying into combat

AIRPLANES Used for observation early Later on: “dogfights” were carried out Overall, minor impact on the war

Airplanes Airplanes in the early 1900’s were neither very maneuverable nor very fast Airplanes in the early 1900’s were neither very maneuverable nor very fast They were used primarily for observing troop movements and for dropping explosives They were used primarily for observing troop movements and for dropping explosives

Gun on German Airplane Balloons were also used in WWI

U- BOATS (Unterseeboot) Underwater ships: launch torpedoes or bombs Used mostly by Germans to destroy Allied shipping and break blockades

Submarines/U-boats Did serious damage to Allied shipping Did serious damage to Allied shipping

Loading torpedoes into a French submarine

The Draft Most European wars before this time had been fought by professional soldiers who worked for money and rations Most European wars before this time had been fought by professional soldiers who worked for money and rations WWI was fought by armies of drafted citizens WWI was fought by armies of drafted citizens Those who could not fight worked at home to help the war effort Those who could not fight worked at home to help the war effort Many women participated in the war effort by working in factories Many women participated in the war effort by working in factories Governments made use of propaganda Governments made use of propaganda