1. World War I

2. A. The Big Idea:
Extreme national pride and rivalries existed between the European countries.
Nationalism- Taking great pride in your country or homeland
There were increased tensions between the countries of Europe and their colonial empires across the globe.
Countries were compelled to form protective alliances to safeguard against rivals
Alliance system caused WWI to progress from a regional conflict to a major worldwide event.
Triple Alliance- Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary (1882)
Triple Entente- England, Russia, France (1907)

3. :
3. Technology from the Industrial Revolution changed the way wars would be fought.
European nations were aggressively preparing for war
Building large armies
Creating new weapons (machine gun, armored tank)
Consequence of industrialization
Countries needed to provide protection for their homeland and their colonies

4. B. The Serbian Problem
The Serbs were an Ethnic minority living in Europe
They wanted to create their own nation that could live under their flag (Nationalism)
Supported by Russia
Austria-Hungary wanted to prevent the minority people from having their own country

5. C. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary
Serbian terrorists group “The Black Hand” planned to assassinate him to help their cause
June 28, 1914: Gravilo Princip of “The Black Hand” successfully assassinated Ferdinand

6. 4. Response of Austria-Hungary
They didn’t know if the Serbian Government was responsible, but they didn’t care.
They saw this as an opportunity to crush the Serbs.
They made sure that Germany would support them (Triple Alliance) before they attacked the Serbs
Russia agreed to help Serbia, who they had an alliance with.

7. D. Germany’s Schlieffen Plan
Plans to fight a two front war (East and West)
Germany attacks France in the west with full force in hopes of an easy victory
Planned a defensive war in the East against Russia until troops in the west were free to join the fight
Germany was stopped on both sides by the French and the Russians, a stalemate ensued

8. E. Trench Warfare
They sent thousands of men in waves of attacks hoping to break through the enemies trench
Men slept for weeks in the mud
Disease and new military technology greatly increased the amount of casualties

9. F. New Weapons
Machine gun
Armored Tank
Airplane
Submarines

10. G. America Enters the War
The Lusitania
Germany used U-boats (submarines) to attack all ships heading to England
Germany was warned against sinking passenger ships
Germany sinks the Lusitania
A British passenger ship carrying many Americans citizens
Germany warns Americans to stay off British ships

11. 2. Zimmerman Telegram Germany attempts to bring Mexico into the war
Promised to return lands Mexico lost to the U.S. (Texas, New Mexico)
Message was intercepted by the British and given to the US.
America enters the war against Germany

12. 3. America Saves the Day
Russia is the largest country in the war, but technologically inferior
Russia drops out of the war after their government is overthrown by the Bolsheviks
US brings fresh troops and new supplies into the war, sealing victory for the Allies.

13. H. Treaty of Versailles
Concluded the war, but had very harsh consequences for Germany
Lost territory to France and Poland
Lost all overseas colonies
Lost its navy
Greatly reduced German army to a police force
War Guilt Clause forced Germany to accept blame for starting WWI
Forced to pay huge reparations to the Allies

14. I. Discontent in Germany
People resented the government for accepting the terms of the treaty
To pay the debt owed to the Allies, the government printed more money
Huge inflation occurred, leading to an economic crisis in Germany
Revival of nationalist sentiment and rejection of post-war changes led Germans to look to more radical leadership

15. Aftermath Disease Casualties
Millions of men died in the war not from fighting, but from infections due to poor sanitation, as well as diseases such as influenza, typhus, and malaria
Casualties
Allies
Central Powers
Dead
5,525,000
4,386,000
Wounded
12,831,500
8,388,000
Missing
4,121,000
3,629,000