1. World War One

2. World War One Many factors contributed to the outbreak of WW1
Nationalism: a strong sense of pride and loyalty to one’s nation or culture, created tension between nations
Austria-Hungary included people from many cultural groups
Slavic nationalists wanted to break away from Austria- Hungary and join the independent Salvic country of Serbia

3. Imperialism
Nations competed for control of territories both in Europe and overseas
Germany took the Alsace-Lorraine region from France in 1871, and France wanted it back

4. Militarism
Nations focused resources on militarism, the aggressive strengthening of armed forces
Race to build armies and navies
Made alliances to protect themselves

5. The Great Powers

6. The great powers
In 1914, Europe was dominated by Germany, Britain, France, Russia and Austria-Hungary
Britain and France had large overseas Empires
Germany had grown in strength and ambition
Alliances were formed to prevent war (Triple Alliance, & Triple Entente)
Prussia (Germany) had defeated France in 1870 and feared revenge from France. France feared a further attack by a stronger Germany

7. Why was Colonial Rivalry Significant?
Germany was jealous of France and especially Great Britain.
Colonial rivalry heightened tension between the Great Powers in Europe. Most of the world had been discovered by 1900 – Germany would have to fight other Great Powers if it wanted more land.
Germany wanted her “place in the sun” – this heightened tension with Great Britain and France.
It made it inevitable that any future war between the Great Powers would become a world conflict.

8. The road to war Rivalry between Germany & France
Growing rivalry between Britain and Germany
Attitude of Kaiser Wilhelm I
Rivalry between industrial powers
Naval arms race
Serbian Independence
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Sarajevo, 28th June

9. The spark that lit the fuse….
Assassination of an Austrian Archduke by a Serbian
Austria demanded Serbia take responsibility
Declared war on Serbia on 28 July
Serbia called on Russia for help. Russians moved their armies to face the Austrians (31st July)
Germany saw this as a threat to Austria and declared war on Russia (1st August)
France prepared to help its ally, Russia
Germany declared war on France (3rd August)

10. Germany Attacks Belgium, 4 August 1914

11. Armies of 1914 What can we see in these pictures?
What do you think these men are thinking/feeling?

12. Pulled into Fighting Allied Powers Central Powers
Russia, an ally of Serbia
France, an ally of Russia
Belgium, brought into the fighting because Germany marched through it to get to France
Great Britain, an ally of Belgium
Austria-Hungary
Germany, an ally of Austria-Hungary

14. Early Battles

15. Technology of War
Trench warfare: fighting from deep ditches, made the war long and deadly
Cold, wet, and muddy
Disease ran rampant
Machine guns
Poison gas
Tanks
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16. Technology of War Air Sea
Airplanes use in large scale battle for the first time
Fired down on soldiers in the trenches
Gathered information on enemy locations
Battled each other in the air in “dogfights”
Sea
Used naval blockades and mines to block supply lines
U-Boats, German submarines, launched torpedoes against Allied supply ships

17. Preparing for War U.S. was initially neutral
We viewed WWI as a European conflict
We continued to trade with EU nations
Carried supplies and war materials to the Allies
Germany used U-boats to try to stop the supply lines
Often attacked without warning

18. Germans attack American vessels
March 1916: U-boat attacks French passenger ship the Sussex
President Wilson and America were angry
Germans pledged not to attack without warning
A year later, Germans began attacking without warning
Wilson responds by breaking off diplomatic relations with Germany

19. Congress Declares War March 1917: the Zimmerman note is decoded
German and Mexican plot to ally against the U.S.
April 1917: Congress declares war on Germany

20. America Prepares for War
Committee on public information is formed to help persuade the public to support the war
Rallies
Parades
Posters
Pamphlets
Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917and the Sedition Act of 1918
Restricted free speech and allowed the gov’t to arrest opponents of the war

22. Troops
1917: Selective Service Act required men between to register for the draft
Almost 3 million Americans were drafted
Liberty Bonds were issued to help finance the war effort
War Industries Board and Food Administration worked to supply the troops with materials and food supplies

23. Labor Shortages Three factors led to shortages of labor in the U.S.
Factories were working non-stop to supply the war effort and factories needed more workers
The war almost completely cut off immigration
Many young men were off fighting in Europe

24. Women’s War Efforts 1 million women joined the workforce
About 25,000 volunteered to serve in non-combat positions in Europe
Other women protested America’s participation in the war

25. Labor and the War
Mexican Americans and African Americans moved to northern industrial cities for job opportunities
Union membership increased
Workers were able to demand higher wages
National War Labor Board: help management and workers reach agreements
Settled more than 1000 labor disputes
Worked to prevent strikes

26. A popular war….

29. You’re recruiting! TASK:
To design a recruitment poster to encourage men of your country to go to war.
Write a paragraph explaining your poster
Things to Think About:
Pictures are better than words
Who are you appealing to?
Why should we fight?
Who are the enemy?
In 1914, there was huge support for the war.
“Over by Christmas”
“Good v Evil”
“King & Country”

30. Christmas Truce of 1914

31. Americans Join the War
1917: U.S. troops arrive – Separate from other Allied units
Called the American Expeditionary Force
Led by General John J. Pershing
Thoroughly trained for combat
Regular army, volunteers, draftees, Nat’l guard

32. Russia Leaves the War 1917: Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian gov’t
Communists: People who favor the equal distribution of wealth and the end of all forms of private property

33. New Government Led by Vladimir Lenin
Knew the war had reached a desperate point
8 million Russians had been killed
Soldiers were deserting
Food riots raged in cities
March 1918: Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers taking it out of the war

34. Americans help the Allies
Russia out—Germany planned to smash the stalemate
Germans were unprepared for the fresh, well trained American forces
1918: Germans attempt to cross the Marne
Terrible losses forced them to stop
American forces helped to turn the tide in the war

35. Armistice More than 1 million American troops in France
Began winning victories against Germany
November 1918: Americans advancing toward Germany
Germans were tired of the war
Food shortages
Riots and strikes
Shortage of soldiers

36. Germany Defeated Germany’s allies eager to end the war
Austria-Hungary reaches a peace accord with the Allies in Nov. 1918
German leader Kaiser Wilhelm II flees
November 11, 1918: Germany agrees to an armistice or truce

37. Costs of War Allies: 5 million dead
116,000 American’s dead, 200,000 wounded
Central Powers: 3.5 million dead
Russia and Germany had the highest death tolls

38. Financial Losses 30 billion in property destroyed
Factories and farms throughout Europe ruined
Allies: spent 145 billion
Central Powers: 63 billion
Result: European nations deeply in debt

39. Influenza Epidemic 1918: spread by American Soldiers – worldwide
Contagious, deadly, spread by air, no cure
30 million people died
800,000 American’s died
Changed life in the U.S.
Quarantines were implemented in some states
Many cities banned public gatherings, including schools

40. Peace Woodrow Wilson develops plans for a post war peace agreement
Known as the Fourteen Points
Called for the creation of a League of Nations
European leaders wanted to punish Germany
Wanted to prevent Germany from ever again becoming a world power

42. Key Goals of the Fourteen Points
End secret alliances
Encourage free shipping
Remove barriers to trade
Reduce armies and navies
Resolve colonial claims
Support the right of people to choose their own government
Settle boarder disputes
Establish the League of Nations

43. Treaty of Versailles
American and European leaders meet outside of Paris at the Palace of Versailles
No representatives from Russia or the Central Powers
Allied leaders demand that Germany
Accept blame for the war
Make reparations or payments for war damages
Give up large parts of its territory

46. Senate Rejects the Treaty of Versailles
U.S. Constitution says that treaties must be ratified by 2/3 of the Senate
Lots of the usual party bickering
Senator Lodge wanted the winners to set the terms of the treaty
Republicans were worried about the League of Nations power
U.S. signs separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary

48. Remembering World War I