World War I World History

Discussion Questions: ► Being in high school you are affected by rivalries with other schools. 1. What are some specific feelings/emotions you feel toward your rival team/students? 2. How could these feelings relate to how Europeans felt toward each other before WWI?

Hypothetical Scenario ► You have two groups at the park playground: Group A and Group B ► A person from Group A starts to pick on a person from Group B. ► The Person from group B comes back the next day with a friend and they both pick on the person from Group A ► The next day the person from Group A comes with 2 friends and they pick on the 2 from Group B ► The next day the 2 from Group B come back with more friends to pick on the friends from group A who brought more friends too. ► The situation has gotten out of control and now the who playground is at war.

The Stage is Set What were the M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI: 1. Militarism 2. Alliances 3. Imperialism 4. Nationalism

Militarism Militarism ► European leaders glorified war ► Militarism: the policy of glorifying military power & keeping an army ready for war. ► Social Darwinism  “Only the strong survive!” ► Sparked arms-race  Britain vs. Germany

Tangle of Alliances ► Alliances formed out of fear and distrust ► The Triple Alliance  Germany, Austria, Italy  Treaty with Russia with Russia would lapse ► Triple Entente  Britain, France, Russia ► Consequence  Made people even more nervous

Imperial Rivalries ► Germany was becoming a superpower ► Britain felt threatened by Germany aggression in Africa & SE Asia. ► France & Germany clashed over territories in Morocco – with most of Europe supporting France, Germany backed down. ► France and Britain grew closer to eventually fuse an alliance. ► A sense of rivalry & mistrust escalated friction between the rival imperialist nations.

Imperialism ► Late 1800’s European powers had colonial empires in the Middle East, Africa, Asia. ► Colonies produced natural resources and new markets. ► Imperialist nations would need strong armed forces to protect their assets.

Nationalism ► Nationalism caused international tension throughout Europe ► Alsace-Lorraine  France bitter about this lost territory ► Pan-Slavism  Russia vowed to defend all Slavs! ► Crisis in the Balkans  Austria-Hungary & Turkey feared nationalism

Nationalism ► What is Nationalism? ► Nationalism is having an intense pride in one’s country or culture. ► Is there any danger in thinking this way? Can you identify any negative aspects associated with nationalism?

Closing Activity ► Choose one cause that we discussed in class and explain how it helped lead to a hostile situation.

Warm-up ► By 1914 Europe was “an open powder keg waiting for a spark to ignite it.” ► Discuss with a neighbor what you think this means. (1 minute) ► Now explain your answer in 3-4 sentences. (2 minutes)

“Powder Keg”: The Balkans ► The Ottoman Empire was in rapid decline ► Competition between Russia & Austria ► Nationalism would be a driving force for new independent countries ► Serbia wanted to extend its borders ► Russia – Serbia ► Germany – Austria

The Guns of August ► Archduke Franz Ferdinand  Successor to Austrian throne  Visited Sarajevo, Bosnia ► Black Hand Terrorist Group  Angered over Ferdinand’s visit  June 28 th held special significance ► Decided to assassinate Ferdinand

“The Spark” ► On June 28, 1914 Ferdinand & wife were assassinated  Gavrilo Princip ► Peace unraveled  Austria gave Serbia ultimatum  Serbia refused ► WWI begins!!

Together in death

Death & Glory: Part 1 ► montage/play.php?keyindex=5241&location =local montage/play.php?keyindex=5241&location =local montage/play.php?keyindex=5241&location =local ► First 14 minutes

Inevitability of war ► June 28, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria assassinated ► July 5, 1914 Germany issues A-H “blank check”  pledging military assistance if A-H goes to war against Russia ► July 23, 1914 Austria issues Serbia an ultimatum

Austria’s Ultimatum ► anultimatum.htm anultimatum.htm anultimatum.htm ► Demand and response #6

The inevitability of war ► July 28, 1914 A-H declares war on Serbia ► July 29, 1914 Russia orders full mobilization of its troops ► August 1,1914 Germany declares war on Russia ► August 2, 1914 Germany demands Belgium declare access to German troops

“Belgium is a country, not a road” ► King Albert I of Belgium denied permission ► August 2, 1914 Germany declared war on France  Why???  The Schlieffen Plan! ► August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality

A Declaration of War

The Schlieffen Plan’s Destructive Nature

The Schlieffen Plan ► Invade western front against France through Belgium –Russia would take longer to mobilize ► After defeating France concentrate troops on the Eastern front ► Speed would be vital for this operation. ► Avoid fighting a two front war

World War I Begins ► Germany attacked first ► Schlieffen Plan  Plan to avoid two-front war ► It almost worked!  Both sides settled down for a long war

Closing Question ► Do you think Serbia was right to turn down Austria’s ultimatum? In other words, do you think Austria’s demands were justified? Why or why not? (3-4 sentences)

Warm-up ► There is a saying in the gambling world that goes: “Sometimes you just need to know when to cut your losses.” What does this mean? Think of an example in your own life when this applied to you?

A New Kind of Conflict ► Trench warfare  Thousands of miles dug  In between called “No Man’s Land” ► Over the top!  Both sides ordered suicidal charges  Millions sacrificed

No Man’s Land

Costly Battles ► Battle of the Marne  Stopped Germans from taking Paris ► Battle of Verdun  The longest battle ► Battle of the Somme  War’s most costly battle

The dead at Verdun

A war of machines ► New weaponry added to death toll:  Planes  Tanks  Submarines  Machine guns  Poison Gas

The Eastern Front ► Russia invaded Germany (1914)  Battle of Tannenberg  Russians were defeated ► Even more killed than in west  Just as indecisive

Closing Question ► Explain how “not knowing when to cut its losses” contributed to so much death and destruction in World War I.

Warm-up ► What emotions did you feel after 9/11? Did you support us attacking those responsible? ► How do you feel about the war today? Has your opinion changed since 9/11?

A Stalemate ► By 1917 Europe was tired of war ► Russia overthrew their king  Pulled out of the war ► Allies on the brink of losing

Winning the War ► The U.S. joined war  Zimmerman note ► Germany made one final push (1918)  Attack failed ► Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down ► Germany asked for peace

Treaty of Versailles ► June 28 th, 1919 WWI ended ► Germany was ordered to sign treaty  Had to accept full blame  Had to pay $30 million  Could not have a military  Had to give up territories

Closing question ► Germany, along with the rest of Europe was devastated by the war. Do you think the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were fair? Why or Why not? (3-4 sentences)