U4C12 World War I: 1914-1918 World History

Main Idea A variety of powerful forces-including growing nationalism, a tangle of alliances, and decades or rivalry and competition-created conditions that transformed a single assassination into a worldwide war. After years of unprecedented bloodshed and political upheaval, the warring nations finally reached an uneasy peace.

Essential Question What are the causes and effects of World War I?

Europe on the Brink of War 1914: 4 causes of World War I: Militarism: European nations engage in a massive military buildup Alliances: European countries form partnerships to protect themselves Imperialism: Rival empires seek to keep power Nationalism: People feel loyalty and devotion to their country or culture

War Breaks Out The Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand visited the Bosnian city of Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. He and his wife Sophie were killed by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the “Black Hand” terrorist group. A-H declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914 Russia, with many Slavic people, had vowed to support the Serbs in A-H An A-H ally, Germany, saw this action as a threat, and declared war on Russia and its ally France

Schlieffen Plan Schlieffen Plan: with a war on 2 fronts, against Russia in east and France in west, Germany planned to quickly defeat France in the west, then head east to fight Russia

Fighting Begins Germany first attacks Belgium, a neutral country on its way to France Great Britain declares war on Germany due to this Main players were now in place: Central Powers: Germany and Austria-Hungary Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia, Serbia

Fighting in 1914 By 1914 the Great War had become a bloody stalemate Early battles: Battle of the Frontiers-heavy losses on both sides resulting in a German victory, Battle of Tannenberg-Germany crushed a Russian invasion Trench warfare begins: Sept. 1914-Batte of the Marne-Allies drove Germans back, and they dug a series of trenches along the Aisne (AYN) River, which allowed the Germans to fight back The Allies soon dug their own trenches, and the deadlocked region in northern France became known as the Western Front

World War I Battlefield Trench Warfare: not new but main method of WWI, neither side could significantly advance New Weapons: gas, machine guns, high-explosive artillery and shells Tanks and aircraft: both first used in WWI; tanks developed by British not useful until the end of the war, aircraft useful from the beginning

War on the Home Front Government actions: total war-using all of a society’s resources; factories produced military equip.; civilians conserved; public opinion controlled by use of propaganda Women and the war: replace men at jobs back home; worked as nurses; changed public perception of women’s abilities

Battles on the Western Front The Italian Front: joined Allies in 1915, not effective The Battle of Verdun: 1916, 400,000 casualties on each side, stalemate The Battle of the Somme: main Allied assault in 1916, Brits lost 60,000 on first day, stalemate The Third Battle of Ypres (ee-pruh): British offensive, was a disaster, front lines unchanged Other areas: Gallipoli-failed British campaign to supply Russia; Armenian Massacre- Ottoman leaders forcibly removed Christian Armenians resulting in 600,000 dead

Rasputin illiterate and believed insane self proclaimed holy man and healer trusted advisor to Russia’s Czarina Alexandra When Czar Nicholas II was fighting WWI, he helped make decisions on political appointments and military actions December 1916 murdered by nobles for hurting the country

Russia and World War I Russia was a troubled nation economically on the eve of WWI Marxist group known as Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin planned to overthrow Czar in 1914 the war caused economic conditions and patriotism to improve Russian army was unprepared, outdated; Russian transportation inadequate In 1915 Czar Nicholas took control of army, with disastrous results; left wife Czarina Alexandra in control with Grigory Rasputin to advise her

The Russian Revolution Revolution: March 8, 1917, the Duma, Russia’s legislature disbanded March 15, Nicholas stepped down; Russian monarchy ended Known as “February Revolution” in Russia Lenin returned in April 1917, with revolutionary idea of Marxism-Leninism (Bolshevism) The “October Revolution” brought communism to Russia, Lenin was the new leader

After the Revolution Russia negotiated for peace in WWI but lost large parts of territory, upsetting many Russians the “White Army” opposed the Bolsheviks and the Red Army; a civil war resulted for 3 years Bolsheviks triumphed in 1920 Russian economy boosted in 1921 with Lenin’s “New Economic Policy” 1922: Russian reunited with neighboring land to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Soviet Union Lenin died in 1924, leading to a struggle for control

United States Enters the War American Neutrality: President Woodrow Wilson did not want to enter war, but it helped him get re-elected Trouble on the Seas: German policy was “unrestricted submarine warfare;” Lusitania sunk in 1915 under this policy The Zimmerman Note: In 1917, Germany attempted to get Mexico involved against U.S. Question #1: Germany broke its promise to the United States to stop attacking passenger ships.

The End of Fighting A New German Offensive: tried a decisive blow before U.S. got involved; moved soldiers to western front, lost 800,000 troops German Collapse: Second Battle of the Marne-German assault stopped Armistice: 11/11/1918 Queston #2: The Allies used tanks and aircraft at the Marne, then broke through the Hindenburg Line, and Germans sought an armistice.

A Difficult Peace Wilson’s Vision Allied Goals Although peace had come to the battlefield, the leaders of the war’s major countries still had to work out a formal peace agreement. This task would prove difficult. Wilson announced his vision of world peace, Fourteen Points Included reduction of weapons, right of people to choose own government Proposed organization of world nations, protect from aggression Wilson’s Vision Leaders of four major Allies all had different ideas of peace treaty French wanted to punish Germany, reparations for cost of war British wanted to punish Germany, but not weaken it Allied Goals Question #3: because each of the four major Allies had different goals Italy’s leader hoped to gain territory for his nation, but was disappointed to find himself mostly ignored by other leaders during peace talks.

The Treaty of Versailles After difficult negotiations, the Allies finally compromised on the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was named after the French Palace of Versailles, where the treaty signing took place. Germany forced to pay enormous amount of money to war’s victims Treaty also assessed responsibility for the war on Germany Key points Military size limited Return conquered lands to France, Russia German land taken to form Poland Other colonies given to various world powers Weaker Germany Furious, though no choice but to sign Reparations crippled economy Bitterness would affect German politics in years to come German reaction

The Costs of the War Economic Costs Political Changes Human Costs war cost the world’s nations an estimated $332 billion 8.5 million soldiers died 13 million civilians died 21.2 million soldiers were wounded Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were broken apart Germany was greatly weakened The Russian monarchy was overthrown New countries and colonies formed in Europe and the Middle East European colonies in Africa and Asia changed hands Question #4: ): Millions of people died or were wounded. Some nations' economies were devastated while others prospered. Some people enjoyed the benefits of freedom and democracy after the war, but others remained under the control of colonial rulers.