1. Prior to the Outbreak of WWI, tensions in Europe were caused by:
Nationalism – encouraged unity among people of the same language and culture.
Militarism – the policy to build up a strong military to prepare for war.
Imperialism – Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Italy were racing to take control of colonies in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

2. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Serbian Nationalist group that wanted Bosnia to break free from Austria Hungary and join Serbia planned the assassination.

3. Alliance
Agreement between countries to support one another in case of an attack.

4. Triple Alliance Germany Austria-Hungary
Italy (until they made an agreement with Great Britian in 1915 to join the other side.)

5. Triple Entente
Great Britain
France
Russia

6. Sequence of Events that started WWI
Arch Duke Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian nationalist group.
Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia after the assassination.
Russia who was Serbia’s ally ordered its troops to mobilize, or prepare for war.
Germany who was Austria Hungary’s ally declared war on Russia.
Germany declared war on Russia’s ally France and marched through Belgium to get to France.
Britain who was Belgium’s ally declared war on Germany

7. Trench Warfare
Soldiers spent day after day in shallow ditches.

8. Stalemate
By Nov. 1914, the war produced a deadly stalemate in which neither side is strong enough to defeat the other.

9. American Neutrality was put at risk by:
1.) The sinking of the Lusitania
(although not a direct cause).
2.) Germany unrestricted submarine warfare – In February 1917 Germany warned that it would sink any ship nearing Britain.
3.) Zimmerman Telegram – Germany sent a message to Mexico offering an alliance if the United States entered the war. Germany would help Mexico get back the territories of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

10. United States response to war
In April 1917, Congress declared war.
Over the next 18 months, over 4 million men and women signed up for military service.

11. Ending the war
Battle of Argonne Forest – largest U.S. battle in which we sent over 1.5 million troops. Pushed Germans back to their own territory.
Internal conflicts in Germany and struggles with food and supplies led to that Armistice.
Armistice – an agreement to end fighting. The armistice was signed on November 11, (Now celebrated as Veteran’s Day)

12. Armistice an agreement to end fighting.
The armistice was signed on November 11, (Now celebrated as Veteran’s Day)

13. Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Wilson’s plan for peace that will prevent a war like this from happening again. He wanted to “peace without victory” which means that no country was to be severely punished and no country was to be rewarded.

14. Four Main Goals of Wilson’s Fourteen Point Plan
1) Spread democracy
2) Open markets for trade
3) International organization for resolving disputes (League of Nations)
4) Active U.S. involvement in global affairs.

15. The Treaty of Versailles
France had a very different vision of how to create the peace treaty. Much of the destruction of the war had taken place in their country and they wanted Germany to pay.

16. The harsh terms of the treaty were:
Germany is to pay reparations – the demand was very high and placed a huge burden on the German economy.
Germany had to give up a lot of land.
Germany had to disarm their military. They had to eliminate their air force and severely reduce their navy and army.
War Guilt Clause – Germany had to take blame for the war.