The war to end all wars…..till World War II

M.A.I.N Causes of WWI Militarism- Build up of armies and weapons for protection and power. Alliances- Countries supported each other in secret. If one country is attacked then the others jump in to defend it. This pulls countries into war. Imperialism-  Competition between nations for colonies Nationalism- Big countries wanted to control smaller countries. Small countries wanted to govern themselves because they had a common culture. During a war, you fight for your country because of pride.

World War I New Technology Machine Gun- Higher casualty rates Poison Gas- First used by the Germans but everyone used it. Tanks- Not very effective during the war but better than horses and could be used as cover for soldiers in No Man’s Land. Airplanes- Used to drop bombs in trenches U-Boats- submarines used by the Germans. They attacked ships in all waters regardless of what it was.

Trench Warfare Both sides dug ditches to create fortified positions Between the trenches was “No Man’s Land” Soldiers stayed in the trenches in fear of being killed by machine guns High casualty rates Armies could not advance making the war drag on

Total War No limit to what could be attacked and not attacked Rules would slowly be erased Women, children and civilians could be attacked Anything and everything was done to win.

Russian Revolution Two classes in Russia- Autocrats (Rulers, rich) and Illiterate Surfs (poor that had to stay and work the land) Tsar(King) Alexander II began reforms and freed the Serfs Alexander dies and Russia slowly goes back to Rulers and the poor. Tsar remains the absolute power.

The Russian Revolution In 1914, a new king, Tsar Nicholas II brings Russia into World War I against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Tsar Nicholas II was inexperienced in warfare. This contributed to high casualty rates. At home, food riots and worker riots broke out. In 1917, he left the throne and Russia was now a republic (controlled by the people)

The Russian Revolution The new Russian republic refused to get out of World War I. The people wanted to get out of the War Vladimir Lenin came back to Russia to seize power with his supporters called the Bolsheviks. Lenin and the Bolsheviks took over, established the Soviet Union, and installed Communism as the government. The Soviet Union withdrew from World War I and now Germany could focus on the Western Front.

U.S enters World War I U.S was not in the war until 1917. As the War began, the U.S. sent supplies to the French and Great Britain. German U-Boats (submarines) attacked and sank the U.S. ships In response, the U.S. finally entered the War Woodrow Wilson was president at the time the U.S. enters the War

14 points and the Treaty of Versailles Woodrow Wilson came up with a 14 point plan to end World War I He wanted to create a League of Nations so that counties could solve disputes peacefully He wanted to forgive and forget.

14 points and the Treaty of Versailles Germany thought this would be the basis for the Treaty. At the Paris Peace Conference Great Britain, France and the U.S. (the Big Three) decided the fate of Germany The Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for everything and required them to pay for all damages (War Reparations) It also required Germany to give up it’s colonies to France and Great Britain as Mandates. They would be ruled like colonies but under the supervision on the League of Nations.

14 points and the Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations was also a part of the Treaty of Versailles. This was Woodrow Wilson’s idea from the 14 points. President Wilson tries to get support for the Treaty from Congress. Congress does not ratify (vote for and support) the Treaty and the U.S. does not join the League of Nations This weakens the League of Nations.