1. World War I
Chapter 9, Lesson 2

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS Why did so many countries join the war?
Hypothesis:
Answer:
Why did America join the war?

3. Vocabulary
Nationalism
Militarism
Alliance
Trench Warfare

4. Causes of the War
Nationalism made Germany, Russia and France fight for power and land
Other European nations focused on imperialism, starting colonies in other parts of the world
To protect their land and empires, many countries built bigger militaries (armies and navies); militarism

5. The War Begins
To help fight other countries and defend their own land, alliances were made
The two most powerful alliances were:
1. Allied Powers (Allies)
2. Central Powers

6. Who was fighting whom?
In 1914, Austria-Hungary (A Central Power) declared war on Serbia
First, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Austria-Hungary was a Central Power, Serbia was and Allied Power

7. But… Serbia and Russia were allies…
Now you have Serbia AND Russia vs. Austria-Hungary

8. Then… Germany invaded Belgium and France Germany was a Central Power
Belgium and France were part of the Allied Power
Germany was a Central Power and invaded Belgium and France

9. However… Russia was allied with France
These events led up to the Great War (or better known as World War I or WWI)
France allied with Russia

10. The Powers that be… Central Powers VS. Austria-Hungary Germany
Allied Powers
Serbia
Russia
France
Belgium

11. The Battlefield
Nationalism had many men sign up for war, but they didn’t know how bad the war was going to be
Trench warfare was first introduced, helping soldiers crouch down in trenches and fire weapons from there

12. As a result… Millions of soldiers were killed in four years of battle
This was the first war that soldiers lived on the battlefield (in the trenches).
Weather, rats and mud made life very difficult for the soldiers

13. America enters WWI
1915: Lusitania was sank by German Submarines. The Lusitania was a British passenger ship with Americans on board. Germany agreed to not sink any more passenger ships

14. America enters WWI
1917: Germany broke the promise of not attacking any more passenger ships and started attacking U.S. ships.
April 1917: Because of the breaking of the pact, America declared war on the Central Powers. President Woodrow Wilson originally wanted to stay OUT of the war…but had to enter it.

15. New Weapons Machine guns Hand grenades Submarines
Airplanes that dropped bombs
Poison gas
Tanks that could go across trenches

16. Why this matters…
HEROES OF THE WAR
Eddie Rickenbacker- WWI Airline pilot
Manfred Von Richtofen-
Flew the Red Baron
This was the largest war ever fought up until this time.
Millions of lives were lost and one of the most destructive wars ever.

17. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS Why did so many countries join the war?
Hypothesis:
Answer:
Why did America join the war?