1. The Great War WWI
“A Family Affair”

3. Wants From War
Russia wanted to establish social order by finding a common cause
France wanted Alsace-Lorraine back
Germany wanted an “Empire in the Sun”

5. Russian War With Japan
Both Russia & Japan were claiming Manchuria (China) and Korea
In 1903 they went to war – Sino-Japanese War
Japan won – asserting itself as a power in the Pacific able to compete with Europeans
This also demonstrated Russian weaknesses to Germany

6. “Sick Man of Europe”
Ottoman Empire had really weakened over the centuries
European powers began to pick over Ottoman Territory
Minorities in the Balkans began to rise up against the Ottoman Empire and declare independence: Greece, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Serbia…

9. Imperialism
Competition for the world’s resources increased among European powers
European powers were driven by wealth which brought them in conflict with each other as they carved up the globe
They completed disregarded the people who lived in the places they sought to control

10. Nationalism
Many minority groups within European empires resented rule by foreign rulers
Minorities were often considered secondary citizens with fewer privileges
Many minorities wanted to break free from foreign empires and form independent countries

11. Unification of Germany
Upon unification Germany became the 3rd largest industrial power in the world!!!
Germany also began to built a large navy for trade and colonization
England saw this as a threat to their control of the seas
Some of Germany’s neighbors feared its power and strength

12. Alliance System Triple Entente
France and Russia formed an alliance to unite in protection from Germany’s strength
England joined them forming the Triple Entente (Allied Powers)

13. Alliance System Central Powers
Germany saw the Triple Entente as a threat
Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire joined to form their own alliance (Central Powers)

14. Von Schlieffen Plan
Germany feared war was coming and was nervous to have enemies on each side
Germany believed Russia would be slow to prepare for war
They planned to crush France fast before Russia could mobilize
Then move east and crush Russia

16. Balkan Powder Keg
The Balkan Peninsula was home to many groups of different ethnicities and religions
Many Serbs were still under control of Austro-Hungarian Empire
Nationalism spread and many Serbs wanted independence from Austria-Hungary and to united with the country of Serbia

17. The Assassination
Gavrilo Principe was a Serb nationalist who was part of a terrorist group
The group was fighting for freedom from the Austro-Hungarian Empire
The heir to the A-H throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, came to visit Sarajevo, Bosnia – home of the Serbs
He was assassination by Gavrilo Principe

18. Who Is To Blame?
The Austro-Hungarian Empire immediately felt that the nation of Serbia was responsible
Germany pledged to support whatever action Austria-Hungary choose – a “blank check”

19. Declarations of War Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Serbia was protected by Russia because they are both of slavic ethnicity

21. Declarations of War Serbia and Russia were allied
Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary to honor its commitment to Serbia

23. Declarations of War Germany and AH are bound by an alliance
Germany declares war on Russia

25. Declarations of War France and Russia are bound by an alliance
France declares war on Germany

27. Declarations of War
Germany invades France by marching through (invading) Belgium – shortest route to Paris

29. Declarations of War
England has treaties with both France & Russia as well as an old treaty with Belgium
England declares war on Germany

31. Declarations of War
When England entered the war her colonies also entered including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa.
The world was at war

39. US Neutrality US was led by President Woodrow Wilson
The US declared neutrality – choosing not to be involved in the European/world conflict

40. Weapons of Destruction
WWI was the first major war to occur in the industrial age
The weapons were better at killing more people
Tanks
U-Boats
Poison Gas
Machine Guns
Trench Warfare
Grenades

41. Sinking Ships
German U-Boats (submarines) attacked cruise ships that carried American passengers
Sussex (French ship)
Lusitania (British ship)

42. Neutrality Violations
Both sides were violating American neutrality
England search many American merchant ships
Germany torpedoed American merchant ships
US still remains neutral!

43. Zimmerman Telegram German wrote a letter to recruit Mexico to the war
German promised that if they won Mexico would get the southwestern United States (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada…)
US was outraged

44. US Declares War Zimmerman Note was published in US newspapers
Germany continued bombing US merchant ships
January 1917 US declares war against Germany

45. Russian Revolution Russia breaks into revolution in 1917
Russia withdraws from the war and signs a separate peace with Germany
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Germany now only has a one front war

46. War Ends
An armistice (end to fighting) was signed on November 11, 1918
Major world leaders met in Paris for a series of conferences to create a peace treaty

47. Wilson’s 14 Points
Woodrow Wilson gave a speech with suggestions for peace
Right to self determination (people should rule themselves – no empires!)
No secret agreements
League Of Nations to promote peace
His suggestions were mostly ignored

48. Treaty of Versailles 1919
Germany was forced to accept blame for the war
Germany was stripped of its military
Germany was to give France important resource-rich land
Germany lost its colonies
Germany had to pay reparations to winning countries (especially France)

49. League Of Nations The League of Nations was established
The US Congress refused to join – remaining isolationists
The League of Nations would eventually fail to be able to keep peace (Japan, Italy…)

50. Collapsing Empires Empires of losing countries fell apart
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
They were broken down into smaller countries

52. Mandate System
The League of Nations gave England and France control over territories lost by the Ottoman Empire
England gained control of:
Palestine
Jordan
France gained control of:
Syria
Lebanon