World War I Notes

Things to Know about WW I The 5 main causes. The major combatants, at the beginning and the end. The technology of the war. The results and effects. How propaganda was used to inspire Americans to support the war.

Causes of WWI – MANIA! M ilitarism - policy of building up a strong military to prepare for war A lliances – agreements between nations to provide aid and protect on another A ssassination – of Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand I mperialism – when one country takes over another country economically and politically. N ationalism – extreme pride in one’s country

Militarism Increase in Defense Expenditures France10% Britain13% Russia39% Germany73%

Alliances Triple AllianceTriple Entente

Nationalism Nationalism is a feeling of intense pride in one’s homeland. Nationalists emphasized their homeland’s culture and interests above other countries and they were willing to go to war to expand their nation at the expense of others. Nationalism posed a problem for Austria-Hungary and the Balkans, areas comprised of many conflicting national groups. Self-determination is another basic idea of nationalism. Self-determination is the idea that people who share a national identity should have their own country and government.

Imperialism Great Britain, Germany and France needed foreign markets after the increase in manufacturing caused by the Industrial Revolution. These countries competed for economic expansion in Africa. Although Britain and France resolved their differences in Africa, several crises foreshadowing the war involved the clash of Germany against Britain and France in North Africa. In the Middle East, the crumbling Ottoman Empire was alluring to Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Russia.

European Conquest of Africa

The “Spark”

Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28th, 1914.

Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand who believed that Bosnia should belong to Serbia. Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Domino Effect Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia. Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. Russia pledged their support for Serbia.

Domino Effect Germany declares war on Russia. France pledges their support for Russia. Germany declares war on France. Germany invades Belgium on the way to France. Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.

Allied Powers Central Powers World War I

Why was WWI a Stalemate? What’s a stalemate? –Neither side can make a move to win. Machine gun. How did this change war? How was it fought before? Trench Warfare = “solution”. Millions die without gaining ground.

What new weapons were used in WWI? Machine gun Poison gas Submarine Airplane Tank Why these weapons? Why now? INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!!

What were the results? Germany surrendered. Allies impose Treaty of Versailles. –Declares Germany guilty for war. –Germany must pay reparations to Allies. This sets the stage for WWII! League of Nations formed to try to prevent war in the future.

Casualties? Total troops mobilized by all countries in WW1 65,038,810 Total troops dead from all countries in WW1 8,556,315 Total troops wounded from all countries in WW1 21,219,452 Total missing or POWs 7,750,945