World War I Causes of the war

Europe at its peak –Industrial Revolution at its peak –Major increase in steel and coal production –Europe had 25% of world population-highest percent of any time in history –Modernization led to sense that Europeans were at the peak of civilization

Causes of the war Imperial tensions European nations competed for colonies European nations competed for coloniesMilitarism Glorification of war and increase in military spending Glorification of war and increase in military spending Germany competed against England’s naval superiority Germany competed against England’s naval superiority

Nationalism Great pride in one’s country or aspiring to become one’s own country Germany and Italy had only recently became united, independent countries Many countries torn by tensions of different nationalist groups Combined with militarism and imperial competition, this increased tensions in Europe

The System of Alliances Web of treaties to protect themselves Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy Triple Entente: France, Russia, and Great Britain

War Breaks Out Nationalism in the Balkans –People with diverse religions, ethnic backgrounds, languages –As Ottoman Empire receded, new nations were born –Russia and Austria competed for control of new nations –Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia in 1908 and Serbia resents this Serbia

The Assassination of the Archduke Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria visited Bosnian capital on June 28, assassins from the black Hand, A Serbian nationalist group, plot against him 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip shot the Archduke and his wife

Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum Germany gave “blank check” of military support to Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary’s severe ultimatum to Serbia Serbia refuses to let Austria-Hungary’s officials run an investigation in Serbia Austria-Hungary declared war on serbia on July 28, 1914

The Alliance System Leads to war Russia supported Serbia and Germany supported Austria-Hungary Within one week, almost all of Europe plunged into war: –Germany declares war on Russia and France –Britain declares war on Germany

Alliances and Fronts of the War The Alliances Triple Entente-Britain, France, Russia, Belgium Central Powers- Germany, Austria- Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire

Alliances and Fronts of the War The Western Front –Germany tried to take France quickly in the Western Front and then turn to fight Russia –Instead, battle lines formed in northeastern France and changed little –Long, bloody battles: Verdun - 680,000 casualties; Somme – over one million casualties –Eastern front- lack of modern technology caused Russia enormous defeats –Treaty signed with revolutionary government in Russia- lost one-fourth of country

Battle Scene

Fronts of the War The Balkan Front- Allies abandoned attempts to land in Balkans after losing Italian Front- Italians joined the Triple Entente in 1915 and fought Austria-Hungary The War Ends –Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire were first Central Powers to be defeated –Revolts inside Austria-Hungary and Germany helped end the war quickly

New Weapons Used in the War The Machine Gun –Modern industry replaced the single-fire, short-range rifle –British machine guns fired 8 rounds per second, at a distance of 2,900 yards Artillery Greater power and carried much further 24 million shells used in the Battle of Verdun

New Weapons Weapons of the Industrial Age –75 different types of poison-gas bombs used –Flame throwers –Tanks –Airplanes Casualties of Modern Weaponry Tactics of sending masses of men toward enemy didn’t work against modern weapons

New Weapons Britain suffered 57,470 casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme Total losses for World War exceeded 10 million

The Reality of Soldiers’ Lives Patriotic Fervor –Many Europeans looked forward to war at the start Attitudes Change Soldiers changed Europeans’ optimistic fervor through letters about the horrors of war The Bitter Truth: Soldiers’ Poetry Wilfred Owen ( ) died a week before the war ended The Return Home No crowds or heroes’ welcome after the war

Trench Warfare The Race to the Sea –475 miles of trenches were dug across northern France –British troops used over 10 million shovels during the war Life in the Trenches Charging over the top, crossing no man’s land to reach enemy trenches Boring, terrifying and caused shell shock Horrible living conditions

Effect of the War on the Home Front Mobilizing for Total War –Civilians back home made huge sacrifices –Governments controlled industries, rationing New Jobs for Women Worked in jobs traditionally held only by men, who were at the front Number in paid employment rose by over one million Worked in paramilitary organizations to support soldiers at the front

The Home Front Women’s Wages –Paid less than men for same work –Industrial and civil work provided better pay and working hours than traditional jobs Women’s Changing Role Women discovered the benefits of financial autonomy and greater mobility Some refused to return to domestic service Women won right to vote throughout Europe

Paris Peace Conference Signed at the Palace of Versailles in France on June 28, 1919 Was directed by the Big Four- Great Britain, Italy, France, and the US Woodrow Wilson hoped his Fourteen Points would establish a “peace of justice” –To avoid future international crises –Based upon liberal ideals of self- determination and national independence

Fourteen Points New nations based on ethnic homogeneity would need to be formed in Europe Proposes an international body of representatives to solve future conflicts –League of Nations Orlando from Italy opposed the Fourteen Points Wanted secret treaties signed at the beginning of the war honored Italy was promised territory in the eastern Mediterranean if it came into the war on the Entente side

Paris Peace Conference Great Britain’s Prime Minister George wanted to protect Britain’s overseas empire Clemenceau wanted to punish Germany for its part in the war- “peace of vengeance” Disagreement among the Big Four led to Italy abandoning the Conference

Paris Peace Conference Wilson left Europe without a “peace of justice” Great Britain and France were left to work out the terms Treaty of Versailles meant to humiliate and cripple Germany –Germany must abandon its navy –Army reduced to 100,000 soldiers

Treaty of Versailles Return the region of Alsace-Lorraine to France Disarm the Rhineland France was to receive all coal produced in the Saar River valley for 15 years Germany must give up all its overseas colonies Germany had to pay war reparations- eventually set at 32 billion dollars

Treaty of Versailles Treaty included a “guilt clause” Harsh nature of treaty leads to the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman empires were gone New countries- Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, and Yugoslavia