Summer 1914 99 years of peace Europe was prospering in economic measures. Nothing going on. Bored. Almost an anticipation and hope for something big to happen that will excite people, create heroes, promote nationalism. What country is really the best?

ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND On June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist

Could a single assassination cause a world war Could a single assassination cause a world war? Everyone is anxious to show off how strong they were, any chance to attack/be a war-hero/show off strength. They were going to take any opportunity.

Having a strong army increased patriotism among citizens Militarism Nations glorified military power & kept an army prepared for war (called militarism) Having a strong army increased patriotism among citizens

Militarism Ex. 1: Arms race between Britain and Germany Ex. 2: Believed they had to have strong militaries to be great.

Alliances Growing rivalries among nations led to the formation of two military alliances. Question: what would cause countries to become alliances?

Example 1: TRIPLE ALLIANCE Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance

Example 2: TRIPLE ENTENTE England, France, & Russia formed the Triple Entente

Imperialism European nations competed fiercely for colonies in Africa and Asia. Anyone they could take advantage of, they colonized. Question: Why colonize? Ex 1: European rivalry and mistrust Ex 2: Germany, England, Russia argued over building a railroad in India.

Nationalism - A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country. Ex 1: Rivalries due to militarism & imperialism increased nationalism among European powers Ex. 2: European rivals tried to maintain a balance of power while also trying to overpower each other

CENTRAL POWERS During the war Germany & Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers; They were joined by Bulgaria & the Ottoman Empire

ALLIED POWERS The members of the Triple Entente became known as the Allied Powers and eventually were joined by many other nations

TOTAL WAR Factories were converted to make war equipment Industrial resources were rationed in order to prioritize military needs Governments used conscription to draft civilians into the military Propaganda was used to maintain civilian support for the war Overseas colonies were used to gain resources or additional soldiers

BATTLEFRONT

HOME FRONT

TRENCH WARFARE By 1915, the war settled into a stalemate as each side fortified their positions with trenches

In the trenches: Western Front Christmas 1914, war was dragging on In the trenches: Western Front Christmas 1914, war was dragging on. Thought it would be over by now so everyone could be with families for Christmas. Led to unofficial ceasefire for that one night… https://youtu.be/6KHoVBK2EVE

BATTLE OF VERDUN Fighting on the Western Front slowed to a stalemate as neither side could gain an advantage During the 10 month Battle of Verdun in 1916, 1 million soldiers were killed or wounded

MASS PRODUCTION To produce necessary war equipment, governments took greater control of the economy, converted factories to wartime production, & set production quotas All available citizens were put to work; Unemployment in Europe nearly ended

UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE Germany used unrestricted submarine warfare to attack the British navy & any merchant ships supplying the Allies President Woodrow Wilson demanded “freedom of the seas” but Germany refused

Americans were outraged ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM Germany proposed that Mexico attack the USA in exchange for the return of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Americans were outraged

WOODROW WILSON’S 14 POINTS President Wilson presented his own peace proposal known as the Fourteen Points

CZAR NICHOLAS II In 1894, Czar Nicolas II came to power but failed to address major problems from 1904 to 1917 The protest became known as “Bloody Sunday” when the czar’s guards fired into the crowd ; Riots broke out across Russia In 1905, Nicholas II agreed to new constitution that created a Duma (parliament) & limited monarchy; But Nicholas ignored the Duma

VLADIMIR LENIN The czar’s unpopularity & failure of the government to respond to problems increased calls for socialism In 1903, a radical socialist named Vladimir Lenin formed the Bolsheviks, a group that supported a revolutionary overthrow of the Russian government

Vladimir Lenin formed the Bolsheviks Bolshevik Red Guards seized control of the provisional government & declared themselves the new gov’t leaders of Russia The Bolsheviks arrested & executed the Romanovs which ended 300 years of rule by czars in Russia

COMMUNISM In 1922, Lenin renamed Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Lenin created the Communist Party which ruled the Soviet Union as a dictatorship

OCTOBER REVOLUTION Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia & led the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution in November 1917 Lenin’s message of “peace, land, & bread” helped him gain popularity among the Russian people

SOVIET UNION (USSR) Lenin transformed Russia into the Soviet Union, the world’s first socialist gov’t & created the Communist Party to rule the nation

JOSEPH STALIN In 1922, Lenin suffered a stroke & died in 1924; Lenin’s death led to a struggle for power in the USSR By 1927, Joseph Stalin out maneuvered his rivals & gained control of the Soviet Union Stalin quickly created a totalitarian state in which he had total control

FIVE YEAR PLANS Stalin created a series of Five Year Plans to overhaul the Soviet economy Stalin seized control of the economy & set high production quotas on steel, coal, oil, electricity Stalin’s Five Year Plans dramatically improved Soviet industry & helped modernize the military