1. World War I ( )
The “Great War” was fought between two sets of alliances:
Central Powers: Germany; Austria-Hungary
Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy (1915), USA (1917)

2. World War I

3. Causes of World War I
Rise of 20th century nationalism; Created rivalries
British fear of the rise of Germany, an industrial powerhouse
Austria-Hungary & Russia fought to dominate the Balkans
Imperialism & militarism
Desire to colonize created conflicts between European nations
European belief: A nation’s strength based on strength of military
Led to a building up of large armies and an arms race between nations

4. Causes of World War I Formation of European alliances; By 1907:
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (Would switch sides later)
Triple Entente: Britain, France, Russia
The Balkans= “Powder keg of Europe”
Home of different ethnic groups
Majority of people were Slavic
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to Austrian-Hungarian Throne
Event that began fighting
Slavs were blamed, Russia supported Slavs
Allies of Austria-Hungary & Russia obligated to fight

5. The War Fought on two fronts: Western and Eastern Front
Germany developed Schlieffen Plan: Planned on quick defeat of France in the west and then heading East to fight Russia.
First battles were German losses, destroyed the Schlieffen Plan

6. Characteristics of the War
Trench warfare: Soldiers fought each other from trenches

7. Characteristics of the War
Advancing technology, use of older military strategy= Destruction
Battle of Verdun (1916)= French & Germans lose over 300,000 men each
Battle of the Somme, July-November (1916)= 20,000 British soldiers killed on 1st day; By end each side had over 500,000 casualties

10. America & the War
Tried to remain neutral, but helped supply the Allied powers
Impacted by Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare
1915= Sinking of the Lusitania
Consistent sinking of American/Allied merchant ships in the Atlantic

11. Post-World War I

12. President Wilson’s Attempt at Peace
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
1-4= End secret treaties/alliances; freedom of the seas; free trade; Reduced national armies/navies
5= Adjustment of colonial claims; fair treatment towards colonized peoples
6-13= Changing of borders/creation of new nations; Self-Determination
14= Creation of the League of Nations
Association of nations designed to keep peace in the world